What is Morton’s Neuroma?
Morton’s neuroma is thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves in the foot. The body most likely forms this tissue to protect the nerve from stress and pressure. For many athletes with foot pain, this can feel like you are stepping on a pebble, or that you have a fold in your sock. When the foot pain progresses, it can feel sharp, burning, tingling, and very irritating. Your toes may also feel numbness, burning and tingling. Most often, Morton’s neuroma is located in the padding below the 3rd and 4th toe at the ball of the foot area.
Causes of Morton’s Neuroma
The most common reason for people to have Morton’s Neuroma is a condition is misalignment which causes the foot to not strike and/or leave the ground as it is supposed to. Other common factors that lead to foot pain are:
- Footwear – High heels or shoes that are too tight can increase pressure and stress, while shoes that are too loose can let the foot slide and rub, creating friction.
- Overuse and exercise-related problems can also cause foot pain.
Treatments for Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma may be relieved or resolved by changing footwear or using arch supports or foot pads to help reduce pressure on the nerve and modifying or taking a break from activities that cause stress to the foot. In more severe cases, corticosteroid injections or surgery may be recommended.
However, in many cases Morton’s neuroma does not resolve on its own and this is where acupuncture can help. Acupuncture can be of great assistance because of the way in which it supports the body’s healing processes.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Morton’s Neuroma
Acupuncture therapy for Morton neuroma often involves a combination of holistic practices such as:
- Acupuncture
- Electrical stimulation (TENS unit)
- Massage and heat therapy
- Herbal soaks that provides warmth to the inflamed tissues in order to enhance healing
Why acupuncture can resolve Morton’s Neuroma?
- Alleviation of ongoing tissue inflammation. Persistent inflammation weakens the tissues and delays the process of regeneration of tissues.
- The key trigger of pain and discomfort in the setting of Morton’s neuroma is thickening of soft tissues around the nerve (or scarring). Acupuncture may serve to break down the scar tissue formation; thereby promoting the tissue rejuvenation. Various clinical and research studies indicate that acupuncture may accelerate the connective tissues of the joints to restore strength and endurance.
- Insertion of needles at specified points improve the overall circulation by stimulating the release of neurotransmitters and powerful mediators (growth factors).
- Acupuncture is complimented with Chinese herbal treatments and herbals soaks to reduce the swelling and pain.
At B&Q Acupuncture, we find acupuncture can usually give positive results fairly quickly, and with continued treatments can help to resolve the condition by diminishing the neuroma in size, eventually allowing many people to return to their former activities.