Can A Chiropractor Help With Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition of the foot, wherein there is a thickening of one of the nerves going to the toes. There is swelling and inflammation from within and one feels as if he is standing on a small stone all the time.

When chiropractic is used for Morton’s neuroma, it primarily focuses on energetic tugging of your toes. The concept behind this is that this tugging will relieve any stiffness, which might have been responsible for the tightening of metatarsals and their movement towards each other; which might be responsible for rubbing on the nerves.

According to some studies however, the manipulation technique used in chiropractic may help in improving the function of the foot and this may be beneficial in the early stages of the Morton’s neuroma; but there is doubt as to whether this technique will help in getting rid of the neuroma altogether.

Chiropractic treatment is a mode of treatment in which the chiropractors make use of spinal manipulation and several other treatments. The concept of chiropractic treatment is to align the body’s musculoskeletal system properly, especially the spine. The chiropractors believe that this will help the body in healing itself without the need of any medications or surgery. This kind of spinal manipulation is also used to bring back the mobility in joints that are compromised due to tissue injury caused due to an accident or trauma, like falling, or putting repetitive pressure on joints like sitting in an inappropriate posture.

Chiropractic is mainly used for giving a pain relief in muscles, bones, ligaments, and cartilage and tendons problems. It is many times used as a supportive treatment for conventional treatment methods in medicine.

Chiropractic care and spinal manipulation is usually considered a safe method of treatment. It Is especially found to be beneficial in cases of acute pain. However, a chiropractor should have an in-depth knowledge of your condition, medical history, current treatment or medications, surgical history, history of trauma and your way of living. Also, it is always better to check with your doctor to know whether it is safe and beneficial for you to undergo chiropractic treatment for your condition.

Most doctors go for a conservative line of treatment in the beginning to treat Morton’s neuroma. This includes recommending ample rest, ice massage, compression and elevation of the foot above the level of the heart. This method also involves recommending orthotics like paddings and arch supports for the affected foot. These are available over the counter or can be custom made so that they can fit properly. This will help in relieving any pressure exerted on the affected nerve. This method also includes anti-inflammatory medications or steroid injections in order to alleviate the inflammation and pain caused by the neuroma.

When conservative treatment is of no help or in cases where any of these above methods cannot be used, doctors recommend surgical procedure. This surgical procedure can be done in two ways- decompression and neurectomy. Decompression involves cutting of the neighboring structures that are causing a pressure on the affected nerve, while keeping the affected nerve intact. Neurectomy involves extraction of the neuroma by cutting-off a segment of the affected nerve. This is done by reaching the affected site from the top of the foot and cutting the nerve far off so that there is no nerve-scarring at the ball of the foot.

Chiropractic is a type of treatment which involves spinal manipulation in order to align the musculoskeletal system properly, so that the body can heal itself without there being a need for any medicines or surgery. Chiropractic is seen to be of some help in Morton’s neuroma, especially in its early stages. However, whether it can get rid of the neuroma completely is still a debatable question.

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Also Read:

• Morton’s Neuroma or Morton’s Metatarsalgia or Plantar Neuroma: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
• Does Physical Therapy Help Morton’s Neuroma?
• How Big Is Morton’s Neuroma?
• Is Massage Good For Morton’s Neuroma?
• Where Do You Place The Pad For Morton’s Neuroma?