All About Feet: Neuromas

Have you ever tried to walk with a stone in your shoe? This sensation is similar to the discomfort one experiences when they have a neuroma--a benign tumor made up of nerve tissue that causes pain between the toes. Often times a person with neuroma will stop in the middle of an activity, such as walking, remove their shoe and rub the painful area to obtain relief.

No one really knows what causes neuroma, but it's been attributed to bio mechanical deformities, high arches, flat feet, improper footwear, and/or repeated stress or injury to the foot. Symptoms of neuroma include pain in the front of the foot, or between the toes, pain in the ball of the foot when body bearing weight, numbness, tingling, or perhaps swelling. You can try to help yourself if you experience these problems by wearing shoes that are well fitted. Avoid high heels; rest and massage your feet in the painful area. Ice packs can be helpful.

Typically neuromas are treated by a podiatrist. He/she can help you to ensure that your shoes are well-fitting; they can pad or tape your foot to help relieve discomfort. The use of orthotics or even surgery may be necessary to treat this painful condition.

Sources: APMA.org; Flickr

Comments

Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately? Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members. Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain. This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story. Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube

The Multimodal Approach to Pain Management

OK..so if you've been following this blog you will notice that there are a good number of ideas to help manage chronic pain. You might ask yourself, "Which one of these ideas is best for me ?" I would suggest that you might try any number of these things, depending on your level of ability/disability, health care team recommendations, and your personal interests. There are a number of reasons for doing this: 1) The patient is in control..with few exceptions, it is your decision what to try/not try and how many different things you want to experiment with at any time. 2) Non drug pain management ideas do not have any of the drug interactions or side effects that medications have. You may have to set limits or modify activity according to personal circumstances, but usually it does not hurt to try any of them. 3)You usually do not need a prescription for most of the ideas I have described. There are a few exceptions, such as physical therapy. There ...

Beware Of The Tick!

It's tick season, everyone! And while we all know about Lyme Disease and its lingering effects, a new problem has entered the scene. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is another tick-borne disease that has recently been recognized. The CDC says symptoms become apparent anywhere from one week to one month after infection. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, problems with speech and seizures. Approximately half of those infected by this virus have permanent neurological symptoms, which can include muscle wasting, problems with memory, and recurrent headaches. Many people who have been infected with Powassan virus required hospitalization and sometimes even respiratory support (i.e., a respirator). Treatment is focused on supportive measures. In the meantime, preventive measures are the best way to avoid Lyme disease, Powassan virus , or any other tick-borne virus. You can read more about preventive measures by clicking here . Sour...

Everyday pain management ideas

Search This Blog