No matter how great an athlete you are, a painful foot injury makes it difficult to compete. While minor aches and pains in the feet are common for athletes, experiencing constant pain in or around the ball of the foot may be an indication of Morton's neuroma. The pain associated with this nerve condition is similar to the feeling of having a rock in your shoe and is more common in women than men. With a little understanding of this condition, its causes, symptoms and treatments, you can take steps to prevent it from interfering with your training and competition.
Symptoms
Although physical symptoms like bruising or a hard lump are not usually present with Morton's neauroma, there are non-visible symptoms to indicate the condition. You may experience tingling between the third and fourth toes, toe cramps and shooting pain in the ball of your foot. The symptoms in athletes may also include pain that increases when certain shoes are worn or direct pressure is applied; this pain may increase over time.
Causes
While the exact cause of Morton's neuroma is unknown, doctors think it is caused by an injury to the nerves leading to the toes. The thickening of tissue around a nerve -- a neuroma -- is a common response to nerve injuries. Poor arches, bunions, hammer toes and tight shoes may cause this condition. Athletes who expose their feet to continous impact are especially susceptible to Morton's neuroma.
Treatment
Most doctors will first try to correct Morton's neuroma with nonsurgical methods. Common treatments include taping the toes, adding padded inserts, taking pain killers and anti-inflammatory medications and injecting steroids and pain blockers into the affected nerve. Other more invasive treatment procedures may include exposing the nerve to extreme cold to disrupt transmission of pain signals and cutting ligaments to relieve nerve pressure. Nerves that do not respond to treatment may be surgically removed, which will relieve the pain but will also cause permanent numbness in the toes.
Athletes and prevention
You can prevent most cases of Morton's neuroma by wearing proper fitting shoes. While you may not be able to prevent all cases of Morton's neuroma, to keep it from becoming worse, take ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling, ice the nerve to relieve pain and take a break from high impact activities that involve running and jumping until the pain and irritation subsides. Massaging the affected area of your foot can also promote healing and stimulate the nerve tissue.
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