What to Know About Neuromas

A neuroma is a thickening, swelling or inflammation of a nerve. A neuroma can occur anywhere there’s a nerve, but Morton’s neuroma is a common cause of a specific type of acute foot pain, usually between the third and fourth toes. If you have a neuroma, the tissue surrounding the nerve becomes irritated due to pressure or injury. Sometimes the way your foot is shaped can be a factor. The pain associated with Morton’s neuroma is a burning or tingling pain that can also cause numbness between the toes.

You may be able to ease the pain with these non-surgical strategies:

• Wear wider shoes, or more specifically, shoes with a wide toe box and put away those high heels.
• Ice the painful area a few times a day (place a bag of frozen peas on the area for about 10 minutes—just remember not to eat them).
• Use arch supports or other orthotic devices.

If your acute foot pain persists after a few days, seek help from a specialist who treats foot problems. If conservative care does not improve the pain, or if the pain recurs despite conservative interventions, there are surgical options as well.

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