
Diabetes – Nerve damage (or neuropathy) occurs in about 1 in 4 people who have diabetes, and the odds of damage rise as the disease progresses. The feet are an especially likely target for diabetic neuropathy, as reduced blood flow caused by the disease makes providing nourishment to the nerves at the extremities more difficult.
Compression – Any circumstance that causes the nerves to be crushed or pinched can cause chronic pain. This can include pinched nerves, trauma, and conditions such as tarsal tunnel syndrome or Morton’s Neuroma.
Cancer – There are several ways in which cancer can contribute to nerve pain. A tumor may press against or pinch nerves, nutritional deficiencies resulting from the disease can affect nerve health, and in some cases cancer treatments can produce nerve pain.
Chronic nerve pain does not always need to take the form of a “traditional” pain or ache. Feelings of numbness, tingling, burning, pins and needles or prickling can also be experienced.
Many times, nerve damage can be entirely healed. In some cases, there are plenty of treatments that can reduce your discomfort. The sooner symptoms are recognized and addressed, the more likely they can be treated without permanent effects. Once the cause of the nerve distress is identified, steps can be taken to address it. If you have diabetes, this may include better regulation of blood sugar levels. Changes of medications or new prescriptions might also prove effective. Diabetes causes the nerves to swell which can lead to pinched nerves that can cause more nerve damage.
Ever feel like there’s a pebble in your shoe, but when you go to dump it out, nothing’s there? This is a tell-tale sign of Morton’s neuroma, and it can not only be annoying, but downright painful as well! What exactly is Morton’s neuroma? How is it caused and what can you do about it? Read on to learn more about this condition so you can ease the ball of foot pain and get back to the activities you enjoy.
Why do I have Pain in the Ball of My Foot?
There is a nerve that runs beneath the ligament connecting your toe bones. Excessive pressure, trauma, or frequent irritation can all aggravate the tissues surrounding this nerve, causing them to thicken and swell. When this happens, the swollen tissues compress or “pinch” the nerve, resulting in pain, along with other symptoms like burning, tingling, numbness, and that feeling of walking on a mysterious pebble or wadded up sock. Morton’s neuroma usually occurs between the third and fourth toes but can develop between other toes as well. If left untreated, the problem will only worsen until it interferes with your daily activities. Don’t let that happen to you!
Women are most often afflicted by this condition. However, this isn’t the only factor that can put you at risk. Certain sports that repetitively put stress on the balls of your feet can cause a neuroma to form as well. Ballet dancers, basketball players, runners, and rock climbers are all vulnerable to this injury. In addition, those with deformities like bunions or hammertoes, structural problems like flat feet or high arches, are at a higher risk of developing a neuroma due to an uneven distribution of weight. Make an appointment with our specialist, Dr. Mary K. Benjamin-Swonger in Phoenix, Arizona to find out how she can help you to eliminate your pain.
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