Do You Feel Like There is a Pebble in Your Shoe?

Have you ever had the sensation of a pebble in your shoe when nothing is there or a burning, tingling sensation between your toes that goes away when you rest? If you have, then you may have a neuroma. A neuroma occurs when part of your nerve becomes entrapped and the constant rubbing against it causes inflammation and a scar like substance to build up on your nerve. In an area that is so small, this build-up can cause a great deal of discomfort. Depending on how large it is or how small your foot is, the pain can be downright unbearable. In the foot, the most common place for a person to get a neuroma is in between your 3^rd and 4^th toe.

Neuromas are a bit of a conundrum, because they can be tricky to diagnose and treat. However, many people have had a great deal of success and relief after treatment. As with most things, we always want to start with the simple treatments first. This means anything that is going to potentially relieve your pain without operating. So, for a neuroma, this includes orthoses that have padding built in to cushion your neuroma, wider shoes so that your toes are not pushing against the nerve, and steroid shots to numb and treat the neuroma.

Sometimes, conservative treatment doesn’t work though, and we are left with surgery as our last option. Typically before this point though, an x-ray and other imaging modalities will be used to determine if there is another cause for your pain or not. If it is indeed a neuroma then the surgical procedure is pretty straight forward and gets you back on your feet quickly.

If you or someone you know has been experiencing pain between their toes, our office would be more than happy to schedule you an appointment. We see people in the Methuen, Reading, North Andover and Tewksbury, Massachusetts area. Through a thorough clinical evaluation and diagnostic studies, Dr. Wachtel will be able to determine your diagnosis and the best treatment plan for you and your lifestyle.