How to Treat a Neuroma
A neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that develops into a noncancerous growth or tumor. While they can develop in various parts of the body, neuromas are most often seen in the head and feet. Acoustic neuroma and Morton's neuroma are the most common types. Acoustic neuroma is a slow growing tumor that develops on a cranial nerve next to your brain and can cause hearing loss. Morton's neuroma affects nerves in your foot. Symptoms include stinging, burning and numbness in the toes, and sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot. Its cause is unknown, but Morton's neuroma may be triggered by injury, pressure or irritation. Treatment includes medicine and surgery.
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Instructions
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Acoustic
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See a doctor. Get a doctor to diagnose your condition and its severity to determine proper treatment if you have a neuroma.
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Monitor your neuroma. Your doctor will want to watch an acoustic neuroma for its growth and development. Monitoring may include regular imaging tests such as X-rays, and hearing tests to determine how the tumor and hearing loss is progressing.
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Have stereotactic radiosurgery. A surgeon will numb your scalp and attach a lightweight head frame. The doctor will not make an incision but will find the neuroma by using imaging scans. Radiation beams will be aimed at the neuroma to stop its growth.
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Have surgery. Your doctor will surgically remove the neuroma while trying to preserve the facial nerve. This will prevent facial paralysis and keep hearing intact.
Morton's
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Try ice. For pain relief, roll ice over the area of pain three times a day.
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See a doctor. You need an accurate diagnose to determine treatment for your neuroma. Your doctor may recommend foot rest, better-fitting shoes, orthotics such as arch supports, and over-the-counter medicines for pain and inflammation.
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Have foot injections. When initial treatments aren't successful in treating your neuroma, a doctor may try corticosteroid injections to reduce pain and inflammation. Your doctor may also try diluted alcohol injections.
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Consider surgery. If other treatments don't relieve pain, you may need to have the neuroma surgically removed. Surgery is used as a last resort because the nerves in the foot will also need to be removed and this could leave you with permanent toe numbness.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid high heels and tight shoes to relieve the pain of Morton's neuroma. Wear shoes with more depth and space for toes. Take a break from jogging, dancing and other activities which are high impact for your feet.
You may have permanent hearing loss, facial weakness and numbness, and problems with balance without treatment for acoustic neuroma. Long-term use of corticosteroid injections for Morton's neuroma may cause weight gain and high blood pressure.
