Neuroma: Is Surgery the Answer for You?
A neuroma is an issue with the nerve. It is an abnormality and the nerve has been damaged. The damage may have occured due to trauma or because of an irregularity of the foot. Neuromas are frequently located in the ball of the foot. Your podiatrist may recommend surgery in cases of chronic nerve pain caused by neuromas.
During surgery for a neuroma, an incision is made on the top of the foot where the neuroma is located, which is typically between the second and third toes or the third and fourth toes. When the affected nerve is found, the surgeon will remove it.
Neuroma surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis. A local anesthetic is used for the procedure and the incision made during the procedure will be covered with a dressing when the surgery is done. It must be kept dry until the sutures are removed, which is usually between ten to fourteen days after the procedure. Patients are also usually restricted to limited walking until after the sutures are taken out.
The majority of patients go home after the surgery with a surgical shoe, but crutches could be recommended in cases where the incision is made on the bottom of the foot. Elevation and icing will be needed for the first few days following the procedure to help reduce swelling. Patients usually can return to normal shoe wear after approximately three weeks. The overall recovery time is usually four to six weeks.
