4 Tips for Treating Neuroma Pain at Home
The holiday season is finally coming to a close, and parties, family get-togethers, and frantic errand-running is wrapping up. If you feel like you spent the last several weeks constantly on your feet and on the go, you may be ready for life to get back to normal so you can finally sit down and rest. You might be especially anxious if you have that burning, tingling, uncomfortable ball of the foot neuroma pain. Fortunately, you don’t have to continue hobbling around on swollen nerves. You can take steps to relieve your discomfort right in your own home!
A neuroma in the ball of the foot is called a Morton’s neuroma. It develops when the sensitive nervous tissue between two metatarsal bones, usually the third and fourth, gets pinched and irritated. The nerve swells, thickens, and misfires, causing neuroma pain.
Reducing the pressure and irritation on the nerve alleviates some of that discomfort. There are easy ways to do that at home:
Ice the foot – An ice massage right where it hurts can help lower some of that uncomfortable irritation and swelling in and around the nerve, relieving some of your pain.
Use pads in your shoes – Sometimes pressure on your forefoot makes the problem worse. A little extra padding can help absorb some of that stress. Custom orthotics can also do the trick, and they correct the foot problems that may have led to your neuroma to begin with.
Wear the right shoes – Your shoe choices matter! Stick to styles with low heels, cushioned soles, and plenty of arch support. This also helps minimize the pressure on sensitive nerves.
Take a break – Spend a little time giving your feet a rest. Cut back on hard-impact activities and stretch out your lower limbs. A little R&R may be all your feet need to recover.
Neuromas can sometimes take a while to resolve, but the sooner your address the issue, the easier it will be to recover. If these home treatments don’t help your neuroma pain, you may need more involved remedies. Let Gulf South Foot & Ankle, LLC help you stay happily on your feet! Use our website or call (504)-708-4810 to reach our Metairie, LA, office for an appointment.