Here at Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin, we see many new patients hobbling into our office seeking consultation for their aches and pains. Sometimes that hobble is due to foot pain. “It feels like I am walking on a marble!” patients may exclaim. Well, our foot and ankle specialists, Dr. Viehe and Dr. Zhu, know how to handle those marbles. The marble is more formally referred to as a ‘neuroma’ and worry not! We know what to do.
Neuromas are masses, or growths, that form in the foot, specifically a non-cancerous accumulation of thickened nerve tissue. They most often occur between the third and fourth toes-a Morton’s neuroma. The body lays down excessive tissue when trying to heal an injury and nerves are no different. If the nerve is lacerated, stretched, or compressed, a neuroma could result as the body tries to put itself back together. Ill-fitting footwear can also cause neuromas to occur. Repetitive activity such as running could also cause a neuroma to develop.
Patients most often report numbness and tingling in the adjacent toes. They may also report burning pain and the sensation of a small marble or pebble in their shoe. Because neuromas are composed of nerve tissue, they can cause either diminished sensation or hypersensitivity in the surrounding region. However, the good news about neuromas is that treatment options are available if the symptoms cannot be tolerated. The first recommendation your physician is likely to make is a change in footwear as well as placing a metatarsal pad in your shoe to take the pressure off the painful area. If this doesn’t alleviate your symptoms, they may offer to provide a cortisone injection at the site of the neuroma to help calm down the irritation. If conservative measures do not alleviate symptoms, excision of the thickened tissue could be considered. This is a relatively small procedure and is most often performed at The Orthopaedic Surgery Center at our main clinic.
If you’ve been walking on marbles, call our Scheduling Department to set up a consultation today!
This blog is written by one of our very own-Morgan. She is a certified athletic trainer working in our clinic with our providers each and every day. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Carroll University in Waukesha and a master’s degree in Kinesiology from Michigan State University.