Tag Archives: bunion

Nerve entrapment / Neuroma

Summary

  • Thickening of the tissue that surrounds the nerve leading to the toes. Burning pain in the ball of the foot that may goes into the toes which generally intensifies with activity or wearing shoes. There may also be numbness or an unpleasant feeling in the toes.

How did I get this?

  • Anything that causes compression or irritation of the nerve can lead to the development of a neuroma (e.g. wearing high healed or tight shoes). Foot deformities are risk factors. Injury and trauma to the feet can also lead to this condition.

What can I do about it?

  • Placing an icepack on the affected area helps reduce swelling.
  • Activities that put repetitive pressure on the neuroma should be avoided until the condition improves.
  • Wear shoes with a wide toe box and avoid narrow-toed shoes or shoes with high heels.
  • Padding techniques provide support lessening the pressure on the nerve and decreasing the compression when walking.

What help can I get for this?

    • Podiatry consultation for treatments that include footwear advice, padding, orthotics, and may advise guided injections for alleviating the pain.
    • Surgery may be considered if not responded adequately to non-surgical treatments.

When will it get better?

  • Appropriate treatment can provide swift relief, but you will still need to consider long-term measures to help keep your symptoms from returning.

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Hallux Valgus – Bunion

Summary

  • It is a deformity of the big toe joint, which pushes it towards smaller toes causing pain, inflammation, swelling, and stiffness around the joint, especially with pressure from tight shoes.

How did I get this?

  • Arthritis can be a risk factor.
  • Family history of Hallux Valgus.
  • Wearing tight shoes can contribute to the problem.

What can I do about it?

  • Wear good fitting shoes.
  • Avoid high heels.
  • Wear a pad over the bunion.
  • See a podiatrist.

What help can I get for this?

  • Podiatrist may advise on appropriate footwear, padding, night splints.
  • Podiatrist may consider prescribing orthotics.
  • Foot and ankle surgeon may advise on surgery if the joint is too painful.

When will it get better?

  • The symptoms may well settle, especially if you are careful with shoes, but the deformity is likely to progress.Surgery is the only effective way of correcting the deformity (but it may still reoccur in the future).

Stress Fracture

Summary

  • Stress Fracture occurs when excessive repetitive force is applied to a localized area of bone. Activities such as walking, running, and repeated jumping can subject the bones of the foot to large forces that often lead to microscopic cracks in the bone.

How did I get this?

  • Generally, it is repetitive stress (i.e. running, marching, sport etc.) although some bone diseases can pre-dispose to thin bones which therefore fracture more easily. In people with osteoporosis (thinning of the bone) there is an increased risk of stress fracture.

What can I do about it?

  • Rest the area and stop sporting activity.
  • Wear good fitting shoes with adequate support and cushioning.
  • Avoid high heels.
  • You can try a protective pad.
  • See a podiatrist.

What help can I get for this?

  • Podiatrist may advise appropriate shoes, consider prescribing orthotics, consider immobilisation, and advise on surgery.

When will it get better?

  • In the majority of cases, conservative care allows the bone to heal and normal activity can then be resumed. Surgery is sometimes necessary to stabilise the fracture site which allows longer time to resume activity.

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Nerve entrapment – Neuroma

Summary

  • Nerve entrapment – Neuroma is caused by thickening of the tissue that surrounds the nerve leading to the toes. Burning pain in the ball of the foot that may goes into the toes which generally intensifies with activity or wearing shoes. There may also be numbness or an unpleasant feeling in the toes.

How did I get this?

  • Anything that causes compression or irritation of the nerve can lead to the development of a neuroma (e.g. wearing high heeled or tight shoes). Foot deformities are risk factors. Injury and trauma to the feet can also lead to this condition.

What can I do about it?

  • Placing an icepack on the affected area helps reduce swelling.
  • Activities that put repetitive pressure on the neuroma should be avoided until the condition improves.
  • Wear shoes with a wide toe box and avoid narrow-toed shoes or shoes with high heels.
  • Padding techniques provide support lessening the pressure on the nerve and decreasing the compression when walking.

What help can I get for this?

    • Podiatry consultation for treatments that include footwear advice, padding, orthotics, and may advise guided injections for alleviating the pain.
    • Surgery may be considered if not responded adequately to non-surgical treatments.

When will it get better?

  • Appropriate treatment can provide swift relief, but you will still need to consider long-term measures to help keep your symptoms from returning.