In this video, Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, discusses foot neuromas. A neuroma is an enlargement of a portion of a nerve and is caused by nerve irritation. Foot neuromas most commonly occur between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones. Dr. Ray states that foot neuromas are a relatively easy problem to treat if there is an understanding of what causes irritation of the involved nerve. Three design features built into conventional footwear play a major role in irritating foot nerves, including heel elevation, toe spring, and tapering toe boxes.
Choosing footwear without these design elements is crucial in treating or preventing neuromas. Other natural approaches to neuroma care involve the use of Correct Toes (to reduce squeezing pressure on the nerve) and metatarsal pads (to help restore the forefoot fat pad to a position that protects ball of foot structures, including the nerves). Conventional podiatric care for neuromas may involve any of the following: Cortisone injections, alcohol injections, anti-inflammatory medication, and custom orthotics. If these approaches fail, surgery is often performed to remove the irritated portion of the nerve.
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The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.
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A neuroma is an often painful enlargement of one of the body’s nerves. Though neuromas can develop in any part of the body, they most commonly occur in the foot, usually in one of the intermetatarsal nerves. Interdigital neuroma is the name used to describe this nerve mass or enlargement. An interdigital neuroma is more likely to occur in women than men. A neuroma can arise between any of the...
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A neuroma is the thickening, or enlargement, of a nerve segment. Neuromas can develop in any part of the body, states Dr. Ray McClanahan, a natural sports podiatrist at Northwest Foot and Ankle and the inventor of Correct Toes, in this informative video, though they tend to occur with greater frequency in certain parts of the foot. Conventional footwear, notes Dr. Ray, is one of the leading causes of nerve...
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Curious about your thoughts on the Newton running shoes. I have been dealing with plantar fasciitis and also possibly some Achilles issues. My chiro also thinks I have a Morton’s neuroma due to a symptom of numbness in my forefoot, particularly when running, and also on occasion the feeling of a pebble in the middle of my forefoot, below the toes, but that is sporadic. I went from a shoe with an 8 mm drop to a 4 mm drop. Is that good enough or should I be looking at zero drop?
Hi, Josie,
Thank you for your message. We can’t comment on the specifics of your injuries without a full medical history and in person examination). We can tell you, however, that it’s very important for running shoes to provide enough space in the toe box to allow your toes to splay. Tapering toe boxes, as well as toe spring, are a leading cause of plantar fasciosis. To our knowledge, Newton running shoes have both of these characteristics.
Moving forward, we’d recommend reading the following articles. Each provides comprehensive information that might be helpful for you.
Plantar Fasciosis:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17889104-plantar-fasciosis
Definition of a Healthy Shoe:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17878244-definition-of-a-healthy-shoe
Feel free to contact us at info@naturalfootgear.com with any other questions!
Kind Regards,
Andrew Potter
If I have a neuroma in the left foot must i wear a metatarsal pad in the right?
Greetings, Donna,
Thank you for your inquiry. In our experience, we have found that metatarsal pads are best used on both feet simultaneously, and that they are useful for a number of purposes (above and beyond helping to address foot neuromas):
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/product-info/17922840-metatarsal-pad-benefits
I hope this information is helpful. Wishing you all the best in addressing the health of your feet!
Kindly,
Sarah K. Schuetz
I have just come across this video clip by accident and I am so intrigued! I have two neuromas in the third and fourth interspaces of my foot. I went to a foot surgeon to find out what was causing this pain. The surgeon convinced me that the way forward was to have two ligaments cut to release the nerves otherwise I would have permanent nerve damage. I had the surgery six months ago. I am now so sorry I had the surgery, as it was a failure, and now I am worse off with the scar tissue.
I am for sure going to order the Correct Toes toe spacers and give them a go, but I’m a bit unsure what size to order. I love the idea of the toe socks and the Primal 2 shoes too.
You have given me hope that I could possibly be able to run and play racket sports again!
Hi, Glynis,
Thank you for your message. I’m glad you enjoyed the video and have drawn hope and inspiration from our site and message!
In terms of Correct Toes sizing, we have found that most women do best with the Medium size, as this size is recommended for anyone who wears a US women’s size 7 to 12 shoe.
I hope this info helps!
Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC
I have a problem with my left foot, such that no matter how loose I tie my shoes I have pain on the upper part of my foot. It sounds (and feels) like I may have a neuroma in that foot. I am in the Denver, Colorado area—do you have a recommendation for a podiatrist for me to see about this issue? Thanks.
Hi, Bill,
Thank you for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your foot pain! Here are another couple of resources for you that discuss the topic of neuromas:
Neuromas:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17888848-neuromas
Neuromas & Natural Foot Health:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17888880-neuromas-natural-foot-health
You might consider checking out this list of healthcare providers to see if there is one in the Denver area. Most of the practitioners on this list have at least some familiarity with natural foot health concepts and approaches:
www.nwfootankle.com/resources/122-healthcare-providers
My recommendation is to call these providers first to get a better sense of their foot health philosophies.
Good luck to you!
Kind regards,
Marty Hughes, DC
I had neuroma surgery (two neuromas were decompressed but not removed) in January of 2020. It was supposed to be a 2-week recovery, but the problem is worse than before the surgery, and every step is painful now on the bottom of my foot (burning, stabbing pains). Would the toe separators help me?
Greetings, Jen. Thank you for your comment and question. We’re sorry to hear that you’ve been experiencing ongoing foot pain following your neuroma decompression surgery. Unfortunately, this is a fairly common occurrence with invasive procedures such as this, as the surgery, in many cases, fails to address the true underlying cause of the neuroma and may generate significant (painful) scar tissue and lead to foot instability.
When it comes to neuromas—an enlargement of a portion of a nerve—we’ve found that the most helpful approach is to adopt footwear that possesses a sufficiently wide toe box, as this reduces or eliminates the pinch forces that, in part, trigger the development of the neuroma in the first place. The other footwear factors that contribute to the development or ongoing irritation of the affected nerve are heel elevation and toe spring, common design inclusions in conventional footwear that serve to unnaturally stretch the nerves in the foot. Footwear that’s completely level from heel to toe, then, eliminates this problematic stimulus and assists in recovery.
So, being judicious in your footwear selection is one way to start the healing and rehabilitation process. Another possible approach is to combine said footwear with the toe separators, Correct Toes (www.naturalfootgear.com/collections/correct-toes), that you inquired about. Correct Toes helps splay your toes in their optimal anatomical configuration, which helps reduce pressure on the interdigital nerves—the nerves in which neuromas most commonly form in the foot. Another helpful item to deploy is Pedag metatarsal pads (www.naturalfootgear.com/products/pedag-metatarsal-pads). These pads help spread the metatarsal bones and reduce focal pressure on the affected nerve as it travels through the ball of the foot. A metatarsal pad will also help restore your forefoot fat pad to a position that protects ball of foot structures, including the interdigital nerves.
Here are some additional resources from our site that you might find helpful:
Neuromas
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/educational-articles/neuromas
Neuromas & Natural Foot Health
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/educational-articles/neuromas-natural-foot-health
Metatarsal Pad Placement
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/educational-articles/metatarsal-pad-placement
Six Ways to Restore Foot Health After Surgery
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/educational-articles/six-ways-to-restore-foot-health-after-surgery
Of course, every set of feet is unique, and the approaches that work well for one person may not work for someone else. That’s why it’s important to be evaluated by a foot care professional who can offer you personalized advice based on your specific case and presentation. We always recommend consulting with a health care provider before implementing any strategies or approaches designed to restore foot form or function, so that you have as many options available to you as possible.
We hope this info helps! Please feel free to leave a follow-up comment here or reach out to us via our site’s contact form: www.naturalfootgear.com/pages/contact.
Yours in Foot Health,
Drs. Marty & Robyn Hughes