been dealing with a neuroma for over a year... orthotics and a metarsal pad kicked the neuroma to a whole new place..from a single hot spot to now a tightness in my toes and various sore spots. Very upsetting, and has put me in a real funk...
NO shoes feel comfortable...flip flops only seem to work at this point...
any ideas of getting some kind of comfortable sandals, etc.?
and any tips of how others deal with the depression that comes with really uncomfortable, seeingly incurable foot problem?
My 4th toe is loose and pulling up, little toe and middle toe pushing down to escape, it's thought, the neuroma pain.
Sorry to hear what you are going through. Neuromas aren't incurable though...have you seen a dr about it? There are many people who have been successfully treated for this.
hi... yes, didn't really mention that...been seeing a foot/ankle person / podiatrist... actually treats local sports team... for 10 months now... started with cortisone shot last year which seemed to help...then orthotics, which made the neuroma feel worse, so discontinued (did NOT try to re-tool the orthotics at that time)...lived with it till October (just did Dr. Scholl pads which weren't bad)...BUT then in the fall realized my little toe and middle toe had just started to pull down while the lose 4th toe was pulling up a bit. the younger podiatrist discussed going back to orthotics and adding metarsal pad underneath the orthotic...tried that, and over two weeks we resized the pad and did a little adjustment...they were uncomfortable..and finally I discontinued.
by that time, it had reshifted the nerve pain to various parts of the foot instead of one place...made the little toe a little numb...and well, exacerbated the whole condition.
a cortisone shot two weeks ago worked for a day...then now worse than ever.
VERY discouraging and depressing, to say the least!
one person suggested going to an neurologist/neuroma specialist...
Yes, my next suggestion would be a neurologist. I went down to Johns Hopkins for my nerve surgery last month because Hospital for Special Surgery doesn't have a peripheral nerve surgeon of the lower extremity and they sent me there for my surgery because they knew I needed surgery, but start with a neurologist first...hopefully this can be treated non surgically.
Be prepared though, some nerve tests are not well...pleasant. EMGs in particular are just..well, mean.
Having had 6 ankle surgeries and 2 nerve surgeries in the last 5 years I do understand frustration and depression...been there, still there in fact, but you can get through this
Kim
The following user gives a hug of support to kimberp: RonC11 (01-21-2012)
The best permanent treatments for neuroma are alcohol injections to kill the nerve or surgery to remove it. If your doctor isn't even discussing these possibilities, ask. If he won't, see someone else.
I've read about the alcohol injections but not much about results..have you had it? how does it work? the exacerbation of this condition drives me nuts...from ONE hot spot that was really bothersome to various sensations in a couple of toes and a middle hot spot that is new...they say nerve stuff moves around...
this has been 15 months of off and on stuff...and the 6 weeks of now various foot aches... crazy...
I had two neuromas removed from my left foot in 2003. I also have one in my right foot. My new doc made my custom orthotics in 2008 and they have relieved the pain in both feet. Yes, the surgery in 2003 made walking on a hard surface - like hardwood floors - uncomfortable. You should find a good podiatrst and try orthotics. (Flip-flops will only make the problem worse) Good luck!
The Following User Says Thank You to bestyet02 For This Useful Post: RonC11 (01-22-2012)
thanks for the advice. My somewhat complicating factor is the loose toe pulling up and the little toe and middle toe now pulling down, creating other pressures there.
honestly, a little nervous about any kind of foot surgery, although you two seem to have had good outcomes. Did you have any other issues after your surgery (besides the hard wood issues?)-- how long is recovery--i.e.- how long do I need to stay off my feet? that becomes a big deal with my job.
right now next step I believe is to see a neurologist about the nerve damage.
also, this is I believe a result of having smashed a ladder on my foot 2 1/2 years ago (where the loose toe came from originally)... which later lead to the neuroma...so there is probably some other peripheral tissue damage in that area...again, I think...
spent the afternoon trying to find a pair of shoes and socks that I can wear to work that are somewhat comfortable...unfortunately not..
will also probably talk to another foot/ankle person who just might know more (like the alcohol injections)
already had the EMG so fine there, I believe... now foot feels worse after many things done, including cortisone shot that didn't work... :- ( that was so disappointing...
