Will a Neuroma Go Away on Its Own?
Neuromas are a common type of foot problem that can cause a lot of pain. Read to learn more about neuromas, including what you need to do to make a neuroma go away.
Causes of Stabbing Foot Pain
Your feet contain numerous complex components that work together to give you full mobility. Because your feet handle so many stresses, they can be vulnerable to pain.
But not all foot pain feels the same. The differences in types of foot pain can indicate the underlying cause. If you have foot pain that feels stabbing, you may be dealing with plantar fasciitis or with a neuroma.
At Town Center Foot & Ankle, our board-certified podiatrist Stephen Eichelsdorfer, DPM, better known as Dr. Ike, can diagnose the cause of your stabbing foot pain. From offices located in Kingwood and Atascocita, Texas, he treats new and existing patients with a variety of podiatry problems
Stabbing foot pain: a symptom of plantar fasciitis
If you feel a stabbing pain in your heels every day when you first stand up after getting out of bed in the morning, you're likely dealing with plantar fasciitis.
In this condition, the band of connective tissue in the sole of your foot called the plantar fascia becomes inflamed and irritated, leading to pain. The pain may ease to a dull ache after those first stabbing moments.
Typically, getting moving helps with plantar fasciitis pain. After a physical exam to confirm your condition, Dr. Ike can recommend other simple self-care treatments to help. Surgical treatments or steroids may be needed for severe cases.
Could your stabbing foot pain indicate a neuroma?
If your foot pain is concentrated in the ball of your foot, you could have a neuroma. Patients with Morton's neuroma often describe discomfort similar to walking on a sharp stone, often felt between two toes.
Morton's neuroma occurs when the tissue around the nerves between your toes grows thickened, and it often causes symptoms that feel worse after activity or wearing shoes.
Dr. Ike can recommend orthotics to help decrease the pressure on your toes or steroid injections to support the affected area. In severe cases of Morton's neuroma, you may need surgery.
Other potential podiatry issues
Several other types of conditions may be causing your stabbing foot pain. Among the other potential causes of foot pain are:
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Related to nerve compression in your feet, tarsal tunnel syndrome typically presents with shooting, burning, or aching foot pain, sometimes accompanied by numbness or tingling.
Metatarsalgia
A condition related to deterioration in the bones of your forefoot, metatarsalgia can leave you feeling sharp pain around the bottom of the balls of your feet, similar to stepping on a stone.
Ingrown toenails
This condition causes ongoing irritation that can lead to infection as the sharp edges of your nails press into your sensitive nail bed.
We can help ease your stabbing foot pain
No matter the reason for your stabbing foot pain, Dr. Ike and our care team at Town Center Foot & Ankle can diagnose your condition and recommend the right treatments to resolve your symptoms.
After professional diagnosis and treatment, you may be able to live completely free of foot pain.
To talk with the Town Center Foot & Ankle care team about your stabbing foot pain, reach out today. You can schedule your initial consultation over the phone or with our online booking tool.
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