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Neuroma (Morton's Neuroma)



Neuroma (Morton's Neuroma) : Description
Description | Symptoms | Causes | Custom Treatments | Self Help



Description:
A Neuroma, or Morton's Neuroma, is a benign soft tissue mass that forms on the nerve which runs between the metatarsals, in the ball of the foot. When two metatarsal bones rub together, they pinch the nerve that runs between them. This repeated pinching, or repeated injury to the nerve, will cause the nerve to swell, and eventually a benign mass occurs at the site of the repeated injury. This mass is known as a Morton's Neuroma (named after the physician who first described this mass, in 1876).

Neuroma (Morton's Neuroma) : Symptoms
Description | Symptoms | Causes | Custom Treatments | Self Help

The most common symptoms of a neuroma may include:

  1. pain in the ball of your foot radiating to adjacent toes.
  2. neuromas can form between all of the metatarsal heads and toes, but the most commonly affected area is between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal heads and toes.
  3. the pain can be sharp, burning, or tingling in nature.
  4. the pain is usually present only when wearing shoes (especially narrow dress shoes), and gradually goes away when the shoes are removed.
  5. numbness in adjacent toes.
  6. when the neuroma is large, patients complain that they can feel a "clicking" between the affected metatarsals.
  7. swelling of the area.

Depending on the size and location of the neuroma, patients may experience some, or all of the above symptoms.

Neuroma (Morton's Neuroma) : Causes
Description | Symptoms | Causes | Custom Treatments | Self Help

Causes: A Morton's neuroma forms when two adjacent metatarsal heads rub together in the ball of the foot. The nerve that lies between these bones is thus pinched and irritated; and, if this pinching continues, a neuroma (benign nerve mass) eventually forms. In the normal foot, the five metatarsals are held tightly in place, in a precise relationship to each other, so that they do not rub together. In the Morton's neuroma foot type, the ligaments and tendons which hold the metatarsals in their normal positions are more flexible (lax) than normal. This abnormal flexibility may be a result of: biomechanical foot defects that we inherit from our parents, the weakening of muscles and ligaments caused by advancing age, or injury. A closer look at these causes of Morton's Neuroma is necessary if we are to understand how these masses can be prevented and treated: Biomechanical Foot Defects are those defects that we are born with, which predisposes us to Morton's Neuroma:

  • Hyper-Flexible Feet: The normal foot is made up of bones and joints that are held firmly together in a precise relationship. When the ligaments and tendons which hold the bones and joints together are more flexible (lax) than normal, the metatarsals are able to drift towards each other. When this occurs, the metatarsals rub together and pinch the nerve that lies between them. This abnormal flexibility is usually a result of the genes we inherit from our parents.
  • Age-Related Changes of Ligaments Muscles, and Tendons: As people age, the ligaments, muscles, and tendons of the foot begin to lose strength, and become thinner. As the aging process progresses, these structures cannot always hold the metatarsals in their normal positions. If this occurs, the metatarsals may begin to drift towards each other and pinch the nerve that lies between them. Again, if this is allowed to continue, a Morton's Neuroma may form.
  • Injury: The two classes of injuries which may contribute to the formation of Morton's Neuroma are:
    1. Macro-trauma. An example of this type of injury would be a broken metatarsal bone which does not heal straight, and is bent towards the adjacent metatarsal. This situation may allow the metatarsal heads to rub together and pinch the nerve between them.
    2. Micro-trauma. An example of this type of injury would be a woman's dress shoe with a pointed toe. These shoes are narrow across the ball of the foot and squeeze the metatarsals together. After thousands of steps in this type of shoe, the nerve between the metatarsal heads may become pinched, inflamed, and painful. Eventually a neuroma may form on the nerve.
Neuroma (Morton's Neuroma) : Custom Treatments
Description | Symptoms | Causes | Custom Treatments | Self Help

Self-Treatment and Prevention: The old adage, "An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure," is most appropriate when trying to prevent a Morton's Neuroma from forming, or when treating a neuroma in its earliest stages.

Long Term Treatment/Prevention must be directed towards:

  • Preventing adjacent metatarsal heads from rubbing together and irritating the nerve that lies between them.
  • Maintaining the individual bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the Hyper-Flexible Foot and Aging Foot in a normal alignment. This will prevent the metatarsals from drifting towards each other and irritating the nerve between them.
  • Providing shock absorption to the ball of the foot. This will help to support and protect the metatarsal heads and the nerves between them. As we age, the protective fatty pad on the ball of the foot becomes thinner, and cannot act as a shock absorber for the sensitive nerves and other structures in the ball. Thus, the tremendous forces exerted on the foot with each step we take are passed on to the nerves and bones, rather than being absorbed by the fatty pad. Eventually, these forces could help to irritate the nerves in the balls of the feet, causing a Morton's neuroma to form.

Custom-Made Orthotics are considered to be the most effective conservative treatment for Morton's neuroma, especially in is early stages; and, in preventing a neuroma from forming. Our custom-made orthotics for this condition are constructed of thin, comfortable, shock absorbent materials, which gently and effectively:

  • Prevent the metatarsals from pinching the nerves which run between them. Our custom-made orthotics use a Morton's Neuroma Pad which is strategically placed so that it can help to keep themetatarsals apart. In so doing, the metatarsals do not rub on the nerve. This greatly reduces the chances of nerve irritation and the formation of a Morton's neuroma. The Pad is made of a soft and comfortable material and is built into the forefoot of the orthotic (that part of the orthotic that lies under the ball of the foot).
  • Replace the protective fatty pad in the balls of the feet. In the construction of our custom-made orthotics, we protect the balls of the feet with materials that will absorb friction and excessive pressure, rather then passing these forces on to the nerves and bones in the balls of the feet. The "space-age" materials that we use act as though more fat and padding were added to the feet, without adding excessive bulk.
  • Support the arch of the foot so that it can aid in shock absorption. The primary shock absorber of our feet is the arch. To aid this structure so that it can properly support the foot and absorb shock, we construct our custom-made orthotics so that they provide semi-flexible support to the arch, by ""giving"" to absorb the shock of each step, rather than our foot absorbing the shock (our orthotics act in the same way a shock absorber does on an automobile). When your weight is removed from the orthotic, the arch returns to its original height since the materials we use have a built-in ""memory."" This action will help to remove excessive pressure from the nerves and bones in the balls of the feet. This reduces the chances of a Morton's neuroma from forming.
  • Adjust and accommodate for any abnormal walking patterns you have, such as pronation (a rolling out of the foot, forcing you to walk with more pressure on the inner aspect of the foot), intoeing, outtoeing, etc. This will insure proper weight distribution across the balls of our feet when we walk. Thus, our custom-made orthotics will allow the feet to function in a normal position when they strike the ground, rather than in a twisted position, thus removing excessive weight and pressure from the balls of the feet. This will reduce the chances of nerve irritation in the balls of the feet.

There are several methods of treatment for Morton's neuroma, including: wearing wider shoes, with flat heels; injections of cortisone; physical therapy; surgical removal; and custom-made orthotics with a Morton's Neuroma Pad. In my 30 years of private practice, I have found that the most effective conservative treatment for Morton's neuroma is acheived through wearing custom-made orthotics with a Morton's Neuroma Pad. This Pad comfortably prevents the metatarsals from pinching the nerve, thus relieving the pain, and allowing the foot to heal.

Our custom-made orthotics for Morton's neuroma are constructed of durable, comfortable, shock absorbent "space age" materials. From the impressions of your feet that you make with our Foam Impression Kit, and the information you provide us with, we design and construct a pair of orthotics that will:

  • Help to prevent the metatarsals from pinching the nerves that run between them.
  • Help to replace the protective fatty pad in the balls of the feet.
  • Adjust and accommodate for abnormal walking patterns.

These orthotics will fit into any shoe with a heel height up to 1 1/2 inches. Please click here for information about our custom-made orthotics for this condition. 

Neuroma (Morton's Neuroma) : Self Help Treatments 
Description | Symptoms | Causes | Custom Treatments | Self Help

Immediate Self-Treatment:

  1. Wear a wider shoe with a padded innersole. Women should wear flat shoes.
  2. Use a gel pad to cushion the ball of the foot.  Dr. Jill's Pads protect the tender neuroma and offer temporary pain relief.  These re-usable gel pads will fit in all shoe styles, including most dress shoes
  3. Apply ice to the painful area in the ball of the foot (avoid ice directly on the toes). The ice should give a soothing coolness to the area…do not freeze the area). Apply the ice for 10 minutes at a time, about every 3 or 4 hours. If the ice makes the pain worse, stop immediately.
  4. Gentle massage with a topical pain reliever can help to provide comfort. By combining the pain relieving properties of Tripod Labs Flexstat Topical Pain Reliever with gentle massage, pain, swelling, and inflammation can be reduced or eliminated.
  5. If the pain is intense or present all the time, see a doctor for treatment. Also, if you are a diabetic, have poor circulation, or have other serious medical problems, discuss your foot symptoms with your physician. Lastly, if you can feel a mass, or the area is discolored or inflamed, or an open wound is present, see your doctor immediately.

20000
click photo for product information

Custom-Made Orthotics Impression Kit For This Condition

A set of custom-made orthotics, designed by our Board Certified Podiatrists specifically for this condition, is just $184.95. A foam impression kit will be shipped to you for $44.95. When you order now, you will be billed just $44.95 for the foam impression kit. This amount will apply directly toward the purchase of your custom-made orthotics. Click here to learn more about how our orthotics are made and how they will benefit you.

Order yours from OurFootDoctor.com: $184.95
($44.95 today and $140.00 when you return your molds.) 



Item No.:

90000
Price: $44.95
Quantity:

20000
click photo for product information

Tripod Labs Flexstat topical pain reliever



Item No.:

30104
Price: $20.00
Quantity:

20000
click photo for product information

Dr. Jills Ball of Foot Cushions (Self-Sticking and Re-Usable)



Item No.:

455
Price: $12.00
Quantity:







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