The symptoms of a Morton’s neuroma tend to develop gradually over time. At first, you may only notice pain when you wear narrow shoes or put unusual stress on your foot. Pain may quickly dissipate if you massage the affected area or take your shoes off. As the neuroma worsens, pain may occur anytime you put weight on your feet (but will go away once you rest your feet). In the later stages of the condition, pain may last several days or even weeks. People with Morton’s neuromas generally report a shooting pain. The pain is localized at the base of the third and fourth toes. The pain is caused by compression of the nerve that runs between the metatarsal bones of these two toes. This compression can lead to irritation and eventually inflammation of the nervous tissue. Sometimes people report feeling a hard, round object that seems to be lodged in the ball of the foot. In addition to a shooting pain, the symptoms are sometimes described as a feeling of burning, tingling or numbness. Doctors and patients alike often misdiagnose Morton’s neuroma when confronted with symptoms that involve forefoot pain. Your chances of having a Morton’s neuroma increase if you suffer from other foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoe, claw toe or flat feet. If you’re experiencing forefoot pain but do not have a foot or toe deformity, and have no sign of inflammation or reduction in movement in the third or fourth toes, chances are that something other than a Morton’s neuroma is causing your pain. Other possible diagnoses include capsulitis (the inflammation of the ligaments surrounding the metatarsal bones) and intermetatarsal bursitis. These conditions are caused by inflammation of ligaments, tissue and joints not inflammation of the nervous tissue. In order to correctly diagnose a Morton’s neuroma, a podiatrist will first have you complete a full medical history and will examine your foot externally. He may squeeze or pinch your toes. If the pain is caused by a neuroma, a clicking sound may be heard. This “click” is the noise the neuroma makes when it pops through the two metatarsal bones, and it is often referred to as Mulder’s Click. The podiatrist will also test your toes for their range of motion. X-rays may be necessary, and a MRI scan of your foot will enable the podiatrist to see problems in your soft tissue.
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Morton’s neuromas are easily treatable with oral medication. Like most conditions, the longer you wait, the harder it is to treat. Early diagnosis by a podiatrist will go a long way when it comes to relieving your forefoot pain fast.
Jane Barron works for OddShoeFinder.com,a free online website that helps people find mismatched footwear.Get more information on deformed feet, corrective shoes or foot length difference.
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