| * Causes | | | | painful, to the extent that walking often becomes |
| A neuroma can be basically described as a tumour | | | | unbearable. |
| composed of nerve cells. It mainly occurs between | | | | If the pain results from an overpronating foot, you |
| the third and fourth metatarsal heads, but it can | | | | will need to move towards wearing motion-controlled |
| occur in the other. It is primarily caused by | | | | shoes. ~The rear foot and forefoot need stability: |
| compression or irritation of the nerves as a result of | | | | Ensure that the toe box is sufficiently wide s |
| improper footwear or over Pronation. | | | | [removed][removed] o as not to compress your |
| * Symptoms | | | | bones. The rear foot and forefoot need stability, |
| A neuroma often feels like a fiery, shooting, | | | | Ensure that the toe box is sufficiently wide so as not |
| stabbing pain or tingling and numbness reaching into | | | | to compress your bones |
| your toes. The pain and discomfort tends to come | | | | If changing your shoe environment doesn't help, and |
| and go at will. As is the case with so many foot | | | | this is a long-standing problem, a foot specialist can |
| problems, this condition occurs largely in relation to | | | | use steroid injection therapy to calm the neuroma. |
| women's feet. | | | | Orthotics are often prescribed to give more arch |
| Overpronation of the foot or too much inward rolling, | | | | support and elevate and reduce the motion of the |
| results in a "looser" forefoot; in other words, your | | | | metatarsal heads, thus lessening the irritation. As a |
| metatarsal bones have more movement, more play. | | | | last resort in severe cases, surgery is performed to |
| This excess of movement in turn irritates the | | | | remove the tumour ( scar tissue that has developed |
| nerves that run between the metatarsal heads, | | | | around the irritated nerve |
| eventually resulting in them becoming inflamed and | | | | * Prevention |
| painful. | | | | Foot specialist generally view high -heeled pointed toe |
| * Treatment | | | | shoes as with considerable concern. One description |
| If you experience a sudden shooting, burning, | | | | that has been applied is "cruel and inhuman"! They |
| stabbing pain in this region of your forefoot, remove | | | | seem to be the origin of a considerable number of |
| your shoes promptly and massage your foot. | | | | foot problems. Men's narrow -toed, snug leather |
| Relieving your foot of shoe compression often brings | | | | shoes are also guilty, but not to the same degree. |
| quick relief. If at all possible, do give your feet some | | | | Neuromas can be prevented by not wearing this |
| ice treatment as soon as the pain arises by placing | | | | type of shoe. |
| your foot on a bag of ice for five to ten minute, | | | | However if you insist on making a fashion statement, |
| then off for a further five to ten minutes. Repeat | | | | despite the discomfort created by these shoes, then |
| several times per week. It will help relieve some of | | | | do take them off frequently during the day and only |
| the inflammation. | | | | wear them once or twice per week. Better still, find |
| It should be noted that the pain will persist and return | | | | some fashionable, comfortable shoes and give your |
| if you continue to wear shoes that restrict your foot, | | | | feet a break for a change! |
| indeed if left untreated, it can become extremely | | | | |