Pain in the fourth toe on the left side (interdigital neuroma) improved with toe exercises and stretching! (Wearing comfortable sneakers is essential!)

There is pain in the fourth toe on the left side whenever I step on my foot.

It seems like it's been more than ten years since I repeatedly disappeared again.

I thought it had disappeared, but it started again last year.

 

 

Let's go to the hospital, even though we keep saying let's go.

I have to work at the company and take care of the children, but I keep procrastinating.

While seeking help from Cashdoc and searching for information, I found out that

 

I found that the symptom is called "tarsal tunnel syndrome." It is also known as interdigital neuroma.

Upon closer inspection, it was exactly similar to my symptoms.

Usually, pain occurs in the fourth toe, with vague, localized pain developing.

It was the same when it disappeared and reappeared, and it was especially noticeable when I frequently wore high heels.

 

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What is a Morton's neuroma (or 'interdigital neuroma')? 

Tarsal neuroma (or 'interdigital neuroma') is a condition caused by abnormality in the nerve bundle of the foot responsible for toe sensation, and it is a disease that orthopedic surgeons specializing in the foot can frequently encounter.

The patient complains of severe pain in the toes or the front part of the foot that makes it difficult to stand, despite showing no apparent external features on the foot. There are no noticeable abnormalities externally, and in the early stages of the disease, symptoms may occur suddenly and disappear as if by magic, leading to misunderstandings that it is a malingering. The pain can be transient or persistent depending on the individual, but because the pain is very severe and makes walking difficult, it can interfere with daily life.

 

The most common area affected is the nerve trunk between the third and fourth toes, which can cause numbness or loss of sensation in those toes, often accompanied by abnormal sensations. Additionally, some people experience burning or electric shock-like pain in the thick front part of the sole, called the forefoot. There are also cases where individuals complain of numbness in the top of the foot or toes, and symptoms range from vague pain to localized stabbing sensations. Continuous pain lasting 24 hours is rare; instead, it often occurs suddenly when standing, putting on shoes, or walking.

 

"Symptoms can gradually become chronic, occurring after prolonged walking or sports activities and lasting for a long time," and "the symptoms vary depending on the type of footwear; high-heeled shoes, thin-soled shoes, and narrow-toed shoes generally worsen the symptoms."

Since symptoms accompanying the big toe or the fifth toe are extremely rare, if there is pain in the second, third, or fourth toes or nearby areas of the sole, Morton's neuroma should be suspected. If the symptoms are very typical and other conditions are not suspected, a diagnosis can be made without tests, but radiographic examinations may be performed to differentiate bone structure or joint problems of the affected joint. To confirm the location and size of the lesion, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to determine the appropriate treatment method.

 

If a person who walks a lot or has a job that involves standing for a long time experiences severe pain in the second, third, or fourth toes or the nearby sole, they should first reduce the standing time and avoid shoes that tighten or put weight on the front part of the foot. However, if the symptoms do not easily disappear, it is necessary to visit a hospital for an accurate diagnosis and to discuss treatment and management options.

 

"It is important to prioritize non-surgical treatments such as replacing footwear, adjusting activities, toe exercises, medication, and injections," and "if there is no improvement, surgical treatment may be considered, which is rarely to tear the ligament or remove the thickened nerve itself."

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After finding this information, I looked for ways to treat intermetacarpal neuroma.

I'm not yet at a very severe stage, so I was wondering if self-treatment might be possible.

 

This is the stretching method for the first trigeminal neuralgia!

 

Interdigital neuroma develops because excessive pressure is applied to the toes.

A proper gait is important.

I looked for and tried a stretching exercise to skillfully use my toes for proper walking.

 

First, sit on the chair and leave enough space between your feet for a fist to fit comfortably.

2) Next, only the thumbs on both sides are attached.

3) In that position, do not force your toes, lift your heels, and hold for 5 seconds.

 

Second toe exercise!

Toe exercises are performed while walking 10,000 steps to prevent plantar fasciitis.

It's a workout started with stretching, but

It also helped with interstitial neuralgia.

 

I am doing the plantar fascia stretching below, the up-and-down movement of the big toe, and the exercise of picking up a towel with my toes.

It also helps with interstitial neuralgia.

I think it was good to spread my toes apart and exercise each toe individually.

 

 

And third! Wear your shoes healthily.

I think the reason for developing optic nerve atrophy is,

My feet are very small, about size 220, and I am also short, so I always wear high-heeled shoes more than 3-4 days a week.

As a result, nerves pass between the toe bones, but intermetatarsal neuroma is located between the toes.

The weight keeps leaning forward on the high heels, pressing on this nerve repeatedly, which causes nerve damage.

 

Since taking parental leave after having the second child, I hardly attend company meetings unless there are major ones.

I only wear sneakers. I wear sneakers that are a bit roomy, like size 225.

And last year, when the pain returned, I happened to buy a pair of sneakers, and they were so comfortable!

So I don't need expensive brands, and I found these shoes so comfortable that I switched to that brand for my sneakers.

 

If the condition worsens, using an insole (insole) shaped like the one below, which is effective for interdigital neuroma, may also be beneficial.

I am currently seeing results from stretching, toe exercises, and wearing athletic shoes, so I haven't purchased insoles yet.

 

 

Last year, I posted about my toe pain concerns here.

Look up information, do stretching and toe exercises.

While finding and wearing comfortable sneakers

After about a year, the interosseous neuroma almost completely disappeared.

 

I hope this can be helpful to those who are suffering from toe pain like I am~

I have been uncomfortable with toe pain for several years.

Because I kept postponing due to being busy and didn't go to the hospital...

Certainly, after looking up information, I found that everything has a cause and a way~~ ^^