MORTONS NEUROMA
Yes, of course, Morton's Neuroma
A Mortons neuroma (Morton's) is caused by an irritation of the nerves the runs between the so-called metatarsals, the five little bones that connect your midfoot to the toes.
What causes this irritation, that is the question? There are seemingly multiple causes: - Obesity. Simply put, more weight on the bones of the forefoot than they were designed to carry.
- Old injuries to the foot and ankle. Possibly they were not properly cared for, or simply serious injuries that must surely leave their mark.
- Tight fitting shoes. These put pressure on the metatarsals, forcing them too close together, irritating the interdigital nerves.
- High-heeled shoes. Here there is no simple answer as some women claim, probably justifiably, that they have less foot pain in high heeled shoes, than a low heel. Having said that, shoes which force more weight onto the forefoot are likely to cause Morton's neuromas.
- Almost invariably, the toes jut upwards, callus forms under the ball of the foot, and a Morton's neuroma is the result.
- In practice one finds sunken arches, fixations of the little bones in the foot, often the cuboid and one of the cuneiforms, muscle weakness and overly tight plantar fascia. The foot is complex.
Symptoms
Mortons neuromas hurt, and some times hurt a lot. Nerves are the most sensitive tissue in the body, and nerve pain = PAIN!You may experience - Tingling
- Pain in the toes and forefoot
- A burning sensation
- Ultimately it leads on to numbness that may need to be distinguished from a Polyneuropathy and Diabetes.
- A feeling that there is 'something' in the ball of the foot. Indeed there may be, a Morton's neuroma. See the 'nerve swelling' in this picture below (in red)?
Chiropractic management
As in all conditions, your doctor of chiropractic will look for the cause, rather than focus on the symptoms. It will probably be in the foot, but yes it could be as remote as the
Sacro-Iliac joint.
It is only very rarely, never??, that surgery is needed. It is not often that chiropractic treatment of Mortons neuroma fails. I confess to having no research at hand, but I love to treat Morton's neuroma.Treatment includes inter alia: - Adjustment of the fixated joints. This may be painful, particlarly the toes (MT-P joints).
- Mobilisation of the metatarsals.
- Stripping of the plantar fascia.
- Rehab exercises.
- Orthotics.
- Carefully checking the Achilles tendon and particularly the Soleus muscles, but frankly all the muscles in the lower leg.
METATARSALGIA
Pain under the ball of the foot, due to a dropped transverse arch, goes hand in hand with a Morton's neuroma. The key sign is build up of thick skin under the ball of the foot.
Read more about Metatarsalgia …
Links
Plantar myofascitis
Foot pain
Sprained ankle
Heel spur
Go from Mortons neuroma to FOOT and ANKLE EXERCISES
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