How to Treat a Neuroma With Acupuncture
A neuroma is simply a tumor in the nerve cells. While a neuroma can affect different parts of the body, there is one particular type, known as Morton's neuroma, that can be effectively treated with acupuncture. Morton's neuroma is a condition that affects the health of your foot, and it can cause sufferers a great deal of pain and discomfort. Swelling and scarring of a small nerve between your toes characterizes this neuroma, which causes a tightened ligament and a pinched nerve, as well as irritation, thickening and scarring of the nerve. Because acupuncture can help reduce inflammation and swelling, it's an important step in the process of treating and curing a neuroma in your foot.
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Instructions
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Discuss your symptoms with your primary care doctor. Make sure you take the necessary steps to start correcting the possible causes of the neuroma before seeking the help of an acupuncturist. Wear shoes that fit your feet properly, aren't too tight, and have small heels. Rule out possible injuries and diabetes-related foot problems before deciding if acupuncture is a viable treatment option for your condition.
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Ask your primary care doctor to recommend an acupuncturist. Your doctor most likely knows an acupuncturist she recommends often and trusts to give you quality treatment. If your medical insurance plan covers acupuncture, be sure the acupuncturist your doctor recommends is covered before making an appointment. An acupuncturist who is familiar with the causes and symptoms of Morton's neuroma would be ideal.
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Be prepared to receive several treatments of acupuncture, as well as other Chinese medical treatments, before the symptoms of the neuroma are decreased or eliminated. Acupuncture treatments are used primarily to reduce inflammation, which should eventually eliminate the pain, scarring and swelling caused by the neuroma.
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Make sure you're physically prepared for acupuncture treatments. Avoid eating heavy meals immediately before or after receiving an acupuncture treatment. There are also certain activities you should avoid six hours before and after acupuncture treatments, including sexual activity, heavy exercise and alcohol consumption. Make sure you have a few hours to rest after the session is complete.
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Keep detailed notes about how you feel before and after each acupuncture treatment session. Pay close attention to the pain and discomfort you feel, and write down how intense the pain is after the treatment as compared to before. Share these notes with your primary care doctor and your acupuncturist. The more detailed your notes, the easier it is for them to determine the best course of treatment for the pain you feel as a result of the neuroma.
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