Neuroma - Pain in foot

  Neuroma by definition is a benign tumour made up of scar tissue pressing on nerve cells, it is most commonly found between the 3rd and 4th Metatarsal heads, but can be found between any of the others.The main cause is from irritation / compression of nerves in this area. This could be due to badly fitted or designed footwear or overpronunciation.

  Symptoms can feel like hot stabbing, shooting pain with tingling or numbness exteding into affected met heads into toes.Pain can be intermittant and is much more commonly found in women. Overpronunciation- rolling in of the foot, causes movement in the shoe. Therefore the metatarsal bones have more movement. This is why the nerves that run between the heads get irritated and become red,inflamed and painful.

  Treatments: if you get shooting or stabbing pain, take off shoes, rub / massage affected area of foot. Ice / heat application - 5 mins cold compression followed by 5 mins heat application, repeated five to ten times through a day. This will help with relieving inflamation.If the affected foot is left untreated the pain in foot / feet could become so unbearable, walking could become difficult or even unbearable.Appropriate shoes should be worn. These would need to control motion - the rear and forefoot of shoes need stability. The toebox should be sufficiantly wide enough so as not to compress the met heads. Drug therapy could include steroid injections. Also orthotics could give the arch support. Surgery could be an answer to remove the tumour which consists of benign scar tissue.
  
  At all costs high pointed toe shoes should be avoided. Get some practical shoes and give your feet a break.!!