Nervous About Nerve Disorders? A Podiatrist Can Help
Have you experienced numbness, tingling, loss of balance, or a burning sensation in your feet or toes? How about a constant feeling that you're wearing a wrinkled sock or one that has rolled up under your toes?
If you answered any of the above questions with a “yes,” it’s possible that you’re experiencing a nerve disorder. Today, the team at PodiatryCare, P.C. and the Heel Pain Center want to blog about two common forms that nerve disorders take: Morton’s neuroma and peripheral neuropathy.
Morton’s Neuromas
A neuroma is a benign enlargement of a nerve that typically manifests on the ball of your foot between the third and fourth toes. It can be caused by several factors, including:
Foot structure: Certain bone formations or flat feet can put extra pressure on nerves.
Shoes: Ill-fitting shoes that crowd the toes can irritate nerves over time.
Trauma: Injuries like stubbed toes or repetitive stress can damage nerves.
Treatment Options
Podiatrists offer a range of non-surgical solutions for managing the pain and discomfort, such as:
Custom orthotics: Specially designed shoe inserts can help distribute weight more evenly and improve foot biomechanics.
Alcohol sclerosing therapy: This minimally invasive procedure involves injecting a solution to shrink the nerve tissue.
If conservative treatments aren't effective, surgery to remove the neuroma might be considered.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy has more than 100 known causes, including:
Diabetes: This is a significant risk factor, as high blood sugar can damage nerves over time.
Autoimmune diseases: Conditions like Lupus or Sjogren's syndrome can attack nerves.
Vitamin deficiencies: Lack of B vitamins can harm nerve function.
Podiatrists can perform a simple skin biopsy to assess nerve health and determine the best course of action. As far as treatment goes, we might try:
Nutritional supplements: Addressing vitamin deficiencies can improve nerve function.
Injection therapy: In some cases, injections can alleviate pain and inflammation.
Surgery: In rare instances, surgery may be necessary to address nerve compression.
Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, and Dr. Laura Vander Poel provide best-in-class podiatric care and compassionate, responsive treatment to patients in Hartford County. To contact us or schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.