Injury Diagnosis - Toe Tingling May Be Neuroma

Several years ago I began experiencing a strange and rather painful tingling sensation in the ball of my left foot. Sometimes, the pain was so intense it was painful to walk, especially when I wore certain street shoes- especially those with a small toe box.

With a little research I found out that what I had was a neuroma - a growth of nerve tissue which occurs between the third and fourth toes of the foot and can cause a sharp, burning pain the ball of your foot. Basically what happens is the tissue around the nerves that lead into your toes thickens causing pain, toe cramps and in some cases, numbness in the toes.

Doctors don't really know what causes this condition, but it seems to occur in response to irritation, pressure or injury to one of the digital nerves that lead to your toes. Hill running seems to be a common cause of neuromas in runners, and evidently, wearing high heeled shoes that box your toes together can exacerbate the situation.

Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms. Doctors will likely recommend trying conservative approaches first. This may include laying off the hills for a while, changing to better-fitting shoes, trying orthotics  and taking over-the-counter medications to reduce inflammation and relieve pain (NSAIDs). More severe, or persistent pain may require anti-inflammatory injections or even surgery in particularly severe cases.

For those of us who prefer to treat at home before going the doctor route, try Advil or Motrin for inflammation reduction and the application of ice to the area three times a day.  Try to avoid high heels, or other footware that pushes your toes together. If the pain is really severe, try taking a break from running a few days.

TIP: If you suffer from neuroma, the toe box on your running shoes may be too small. To check for this, take the insert out of your shoe and stand on it.  If any part of your foot is hanging off the insert, the toe box is too small. There are several styles of running shoes that have broader toe box construction.  Head for your local running store for a shoe change.

I was able to "cure" my neuroma by laying off the high heels and buying shoes with a broader toe box.  If your pain persists after trying any of the above methods, seek medical attention. Healthy feet make for happy running!

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