A neuroma is very painful growth and swelling of the nerve.

If this occurs in between the toes it is called a Morton's Neuroma. Often a patient with a Morton's Neuroma will say it feels like a pebble or a folded up sock in their shoe behind the toes. When they take their shoes off and check - there is nothing there.

The pain is usually at its worst during walking. Often the pain is lessened by taking of the shoes and massaging the toes.

The pain usually feels like a burning, tingling or numbness between the toes. It may shoot from between the toes out to the ends of the toes.

The pain may also be worse when wearing high heels or shoes with narrow toes.

This condition most often happens in women. The most common place for a Morton's Neuroma is between the 3^rd and 4^th toes, although it can occur between any two toes.

There are many treatments for neuromas.

First is change shoes. Wear shoes that don’t squeeze the toes together.

Strapping and padding underneath the foot can take pressure off the Morton's Neuroma.

When this helps, foot orthotics can easily be made by your Dr to protest the foot long term.

Sometimes your Podiatric Physician and Surgeon may inject the neuroma area with a steroid.

A newer injection is the sclerosing alcohol injection series that actually can shrink the painful nerve.

Often we use ultrasound to guide the injection for the best placement.

If none of these conservative treatments work, then surgery is available.

There is a minimally invasive decompression of the nerve surgery available – done through a ½ inch incision.

Sometimes the neuroma is just surgically removed.

After the surgery, patients usually wear a surgical shoe and rest a few days.

Please contact our office for your leg, ankle, foot nerve pain.

We have many tests, medicines and treatments available to ease the sharp pain, burning pain and tingling pain that nerves can cause.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

(RSD – Reflex Sympethetic Dystrophy)

Complex regional pain syndrome (new name) is a progressive disease that often involves the foot and ankle. It is nerve related pain and symptoms.The disorder can spread to other parts of the body.

CRPS is caused by dysfunction of the nervous system and can cause severe pain and disability in the affected areas. It used to be called RSD – Reflex Sympethetic Dystrophy.

There are 2 types of CRPS. Type 1 involves no injury to a nerve, whereas type 2 shows clear signs of nerve damage. The exact cause of CRPS remains unknown, however often injury and sometimes even surgery, can be the event that lead to CRPS development.

CRPS effects people of all ages but usually strikes during middle age and is 3 times more common in females. Risk factors include peripheral nerve injury, cigarette smoking, and having a “type A” personality.

CRPS nerve pain symptoms begin near the site of an injury. Usually the injury or surgery has been minor, as with an ankle sprain, with no expectation of much pain or long lasting effects.

Patients describe symptoms such as burning, tingling, and shooting pains. Local muscle spasms, swelling, sweating, cold and hot skin, and redness are commonly reported. The nerve pain worsens.

A diagnosis of CRPS can also be made based on a history of pain levels much greater than expected given the original injury diagnosis. In some cases, CRPS is a diagnosis of exclusion, since at times there is no actual nerve injury or damage.

This condition can be difficult to treat. Early recognition and treatment is key to providing maximum relief . 

Physical therapy, various medications and injections are used in treatment More invasive treatments and pain specialists are sometimes needed.

Treatments are most effective when begun early.

Call your Podiatric Physicians, Dr Superstein or Dr Bouldin, if you think you may need an evaluation for nerve pain or CRPS.