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If you feel pain in the tip of your toe, it’s usually something simple like a blister. But if you feel it more toward the base of your toe, it could be a problem developing internally. Even if you feel like the issue comes and goes, it’s worth paying attention.
That toe pain could be something like Morton’s neuroma, which won’t go away on its own. That’s where William T. DeCarbo, DPM, FACFAS, and our team come in. Here at Greater Pittsburgh Foot & Ankle Center, we can help you figure out what’s going on with your toes. If it is Morton’s neuroma, we work with you to find treatment to address the pain. With options from medication to custom orthotics, we can help you find relief.
Warning signs of Morton’s neuroma
Morton’s neuroma develops because inflammation in your foot presses on a nerve. To understand how it works, it helps to break down the anatomy in this part of your body. You have five long bones in your feet called metatarsals. These are the bones in each of your toes. They continue into your midfoot.
You have nerves between your metatarsal bones. Morton’s neuroma develops when the tissue around the nerve between your third and fourth metatarsal bones gets thickened. This presses on the nerve, causing specific, painful sensations.
Seven signs you might be dealing with Morton’s neuroma include:
- Burning or stabbing pain at the base of your toe or in the ball of your foot
- Feeling like a pebble is in your shoe
- Pain that’s worse when you wear high heels or narrow or pointed-toed shoes
- Pins and needles sensations in your third and fourth toes
- Pain when you stretch your toes
- Swelling between your toes
- Pain that gets worse with activity
If you’re experiencing any of these signs, come see Dr. DeCarbo. He can perform a physical exam to get a better idea of what’s going on inside your foot. He may use additional diagnostic tools, like an X-ray or ultrasound.
What you can do about Morton’s neuroma
If you have Morton’s neuroma, Dr. DeCarbo works with you to find ways to relieve the pressure on the affected nerve. Sometimes, people stop their symptoms with footwear changes and adding orthotics to their shoes. The orthotics can help to keep your metatarsals in alignment. Icing the area also helps to bring the inflammation down.
If you don’t get relief with more conservative treatment, Dr. DeCarbo scales up treatment. Corticosteroid injections give you a way to target the inflammation. If nothing else helps, you can explore surgery.
Morton’s neuroma doesn’t usually resolve on its own. If you’re experiencing the warning signs of this condition, call us or book your appointment online today.