Neuroma Treatment in Kalamazoo, MI

Relieve Nerve Pain and Get Back to Comfortable Steps

A neuroma—most commonly a Morton’s neuroma—is a thickening of the tissue around a nerve, usually between the third and fourth toes. It can feel like walking on a pebble or cause burning, tingling, or numbness in the forefoot and toes.

At Kalamazoo Foot Surgery, we offer specialized neuroma treatment to relieve nerve irritation and help you walk, stand, and move without discomfort. Our experienced team provides both non-surgical and surgical options tailored to your symptoms and lifestyle.

Common Causes of Neuromas

You may be at higher risk of developing a neuroma if:

• You frequently wear tight, narrow, or high-heeled shoes
• You have high arches or flat feet
• You engage in repetitive impact activities like running
• You’ve sustained trauma or irritation to the ball of the foot
• You have underlying biomechanical imbalances or instability

Over time, these factors can lead to nerve compression and inflammation.

Symptoms of a Neuroma

Patients with neuromas often describe:

• A burning or tingling sensation in the ball of the foot
• Numbness in the toes, especially the third and fourth
• A feeling of walking on a pebble or fold in your sock
• Sharp pain that worsens with walking or pressure
• Relief when removing shoes or massaging the foot

Symptoms may come and go at first, but tend to worsen without treatment.

Diagnosis

During your visit to Kalamazoo Foot Surgery, one of our experienced podiatrists will:

• Take a detailed history of your foot pain and footwear habits
• Perform a physical exam and apply pressure to the affected area
• Use diagnostic tools to rule out other causes of forefoot pain
• Recommend imaging such as ultrasound or MRI if needed

These steps help us confirm the presence of a neuroma and determine its severity.

Treatment Options for Neuroma

The goal of neuroma treatment is to reduce pressure on the affected nerve and relieve pain. Early treatment typically involves conservative measures, while chronic or severe cases may require a surgical approach.

Nonsurgical Treatments

For many patients, symptoms improve with:

• Switching to wider shoes with low heels and cushioned soles
• Custom orthotics to offload pressure from the metatarsal heads
• Padding and taping to realign foot structure and reduce nerve compression
• Oral anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling
• Corticosteroid or alcohol sclerosing injections to shrink the neuroma
• Activity modification and stretching

Our team may also recommend regenerative medicine options in some cases.

Surgical Options

If conservative care fails and nerve pain persists, surgery may be considered. Surgical neuroma treatment may include:

• Neurectomy – Removing the enlarged portion of the nerve
• Decompression – Releasing the ligament placing pressure on the nerve

Surgery is generally performed on an outpatient basis. While some numbness between the toes may occur post-operatively, most patients report lasting relief.