Author: Foot Doc
Date: 6/15/2007 8:58 am PDT
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Owing to its being the 3rd and 4th toes, and your comment about pressure on the ball exacerbating the pain, my first suspicion would the need to rule out a Morton's neuroma, although the characteristic pain produced by this problem is not generally state to be at the end of the toe as you have described.
You may be able to test this for yourself:
1. Sit down in a chair and cross the foot and ankle of the painful foot over the knee of the other leg.
2. Apply firm pinpoint pressure to the inter-space just proximal to the web between the 3rd and 4th toes (being certain to avoid pressing on bones and joints) using the thumb on the plantar and the index finger on top.
If done correctly, if you have a neuroma, this will generally cause decided discomfort over and above what normal such squeezing would produce.
If, in fact, it is a neuroma, conservative management with padding, orthotics and corticosteroid injections will probably be attempted, but in most cases does not produce permanent relief. Some form of invasive procedure to remove, decompress or destroy the neuroma is generally necessary for permanent relief.
But it is premature to consider any of the above treatments before a professional diagnosis can be made. See a ABPS board certified podiatrist. |
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