Is nerve damage in my feet reversible?
If the underlying cause of your neuropathy (such as diseases like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, or exposure to toxins or alcoholism) is addressed with treatment or avoidance, the nerves can sometimes heal again. It will take some time, but you should not give up hope. Your body may also adapt to the damaged nerves, feeling less pain if your brain learns to ignore faulty signals. You may relearn how to use hands or feet that feel numb, too.
Healing is not guaranteed, however, so many times the nerve damage can only be managed to give you the best quality of life possible. There are many medications available to treat neuropathy pain. They include pain relievers, anti-seizure drugs, and anti-depressants. Depending on the underlying condition, medications like prednisone, cyclosporine, and others may halt damage by keeping your auto-immune disease in check as well.
At Rocky Mountain Foot and Ankle Center we will do all we can to make your feet and legs as comfortable as possible, and hope that eliminating the causes for the disease will reverse damage to nerves. Call us in Wheat Ridge or Golden, CO, by dialing (303) 423-2520 for more information or help.
Why does it feel like there’s something in my shoe?
You’re walking along and feel something in your shoe under the ball of your foot, but when you take it off there’s nothing there. If you straighten your sock, put the shoe back on, and still feel the lump, it is probably in your foot. A condition called Morton’s neuroma entails swelling or extra growth around the nerve between two of your smaller toes. The thickened area can feel like something under your foot when you walk. It can also cause a lot of pain—because the nerve is pinched—and numbness—because its normal function is impaired.
Fortunately, this condition usually responds to conservative treatment involving resting from certain activities for a while, icing and elevating the foot, choosing better-fitting shoes, and padding or using orthotics to reduce the pressure on the nerve. If all else fails, there are surgical procedures to release the tissue around the nerve or even remove it.
Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center in Wheat Ridge, CO, can help you sort out what’s happening and find the best treatment to get rid of your symptoms. Call us at (303) 423-2520 or set up an appointment through our website today.
