A neuroma can be basically described as a tumour composed of nerve cells. It mainly occurs between the third and fourth metatarsal heads, but it can occur in the other. It is primarily caused by compression or irritation of the nerves as a result of improper footwear or over Pronation.

Symptoms

A neuroma often feels like a fiery, shooting, stabbing pain or tingling and numbness reaching into your toes. The pain and discomfort tends to come and go at will. As is the case with so many foot problems, this condition occurs largely in relation to women’s feet.

Overpronation of the foot or too much inward rolling, results in a “looser” forefoot; in other words, your metatarsal bones have more movement, more play. This excess of movement in turn irritates the nerves that run between the metatarsal heads, eventually resulting in them becoming inflamed and painful.

Treatment

If you experience a sudden shooting, burning, stabbing pain in this region of your forefoot, remove your shoes promptly and massage your foot. Relieving your foot of shoe compression often brings quick relief. If at all possible, do give your feet some ice treatment as soon as the pain arises by placing your foot on a bag of ice for five to ten minute, then off for a further five to ten minutes. Repeat several times per week. It will help relieve some of the inflammation.

It should be noted that the pain will persist and return if you continue to wear shoes that restrict your foot, indeed ifleft untreated, it can become extremely painful, to the extent that walking often becomes unbearable.

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If the pain results from an overpronating foot, you will need to move towards wearing motion-controlled shoes.  The rear foot and forefoot need stability, Ensure that the toe box is sufficiently wide so as not to compress your bones.

If changing your shoe environment doesn’t help, and this is a long-standing problem, a foot specialist can use steroid injection therapy to calm the neuroma. Orthotics are often prescribed to give more arch support and elevate and reduce the motion of the metatarsal heads, thus lessening the irritation. As a last resort in severe cases, surgery is performed to remove the tumour (scar tissue that has developed around the irritated nerve).

Prevention

Foot specialist generally view high -heeled pointed toe shoes as with considerable concern. One description that has been applied is “cruel and inhuman”! They seem to be the origin of a considerable number of foot problems. Men’s narrow -toed, snug leather shoes are also guilty, but not to the same degree. Neuromas can be prevented by not wearing this type of shoe.

However if you insist on making a fashion statement, despite the discomfort created by these shoes, then do take them off frequently during the day and only wear them once or twice per week. Better still, find some fashionable, comfortable shoes and give your feet a break for a change!