<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Happy Holidays Everyone, Here are most of the replys I received about neuromas. After all of this, I don't know for sure if I really have a neuroma. Mine is on the plantar area of my foot which doesn't seem like the normal place. I'm going to a specialist. Suzanne >>I had a neuroma in my foot and huge pain. The doctors thought the neuroma >>was causing the pain, so it was taken out. You don't know what pain is >>until you have a nerve removed!!!!!!!!! >> >>Anyway, the original pain never got better. It turned out the pain is >>caused because one of my foot bones is in the wrong proportion to the rest >>of the foot. So I have to wear a little bump inside my shoe to lift up the >>front part of the foot. Then, no pain. I could have done THAT without the >>surgery. >> >>So be sure you know what you are doing, and why, if you decide to do >>anything about this neuroma. > > >>I believe I have a Morton's Neuroma, if this is what you are referring to. >>It specifically affects the nerve between the metatarsal bones of the 3rd. and >>fourth toes. I don't know if there is a connection with Celiac Disease. I have >>to wear shoes (sometimes rather ugly ones) that are square or very round toed. >>I love summer because I can wear sandles and it feels much better. >>In general, they don't like to operate to remove the neuroma unless absolutely >>necessary. Let me know if there is a connection with CD. >> >> >>I have had neuromas on both feet and in my case they became very painful. I >>eventually had surgery to remove them. They're a type of nerve tumor so the >>nerve can get inflamed and cause great discomfort. I felt like I was walking >>on rocks and my feet would burn. I still experience some discomfort but >>nothing like it was before my surgery. >>Yes I have neuromas--have to wear orthodics to relieve the pain. It >>started out with just a little numbness, but after years went to serious >>pain. Had to give up 20+years of running. >>I posted a similar question to the list about 1-1/2 weeks ago. My podiatrist >>wanted to give me some cortisone injections that may or may not help. Then >>after he gave me up to 3 he would do surgery to remove the inflamed nerve. I >>was asking the list if the medication in the Novocain and cortisone were GF. >>I had several responses saying the shot was very painful but the surgery was >>okay. One person said the shot helped and was not too painful. No one said >>whether the medication was GF. I have decided to try some inlays or insoles >>in my shoes to see if that will relieve the pressure. I'm not sure after that. >>I have had neuromas on the ball of my feet for many years. One is worse than the other. I have used special orthodics for years. The podiatrists all want to remove them, but I do just fine with orthodics. I have pre-plantar facitis condition (pre bone-spur condition) too, but after spending $600 for orthodics to cure both problems, I am using my old orthodics plus a heel wedge. I'm fine. It's important for me to do foot stretching exercises. >> >>These conditions have no relevance to CD, I'm sure. >>I had two neuromas on the bottom of one foot, and I had them surgically >>removed about eight years ago. That foot continues to be pain free. My >>other foot has at least one neuroma, but it isn't nearly as bad (painful) >>as the other foot was, so I haven't done anything about it. >>Wearing wide shoes so you don't pinch those nerves any more than necessary >>is a big preventative step toward warding off surgery. Also your >>podiatrist might fit you with a special support to help spread that part of >>your foot, again to relieve the neuroma and hopefully keep it from getting >>worse. >>Surgery takes care of the problem, if you have a very good surgeon, but >>it's nice to be able to just manage the neuroma so you don't have to have >>surgery. >>Cortesone (steroid) shots can help to alleviate the pain somewhat, when it >>gets very severe, but you are limited to three shots within six months, and >>frankly, my neuromas were so bad, the shots didn't help much. >>For my foot that still has at least one neuroma, I just make sure my shoes >>are wide enough (which means double wide) and Very Comfortable. Any shoe >>that pinches gets given away immediately. >> I saw your message on the celiac list. Morton's Neuroma is a >>common problem in the ball of the foot, between the toes. Lots of people >>have them. For some people, they tend to get larger and sometimes require >>treatment. I had one and finally went to the podiatrist. Tried Advil and >>even injections into the area of the neuroma--this would give temporary >>relief. After a few months it was so painful I decided to have it >>removed. No more pain!!! The only negative after the surgery was having >>to wear a special shoe for a few weeks. No pain. Much better. Now I can >>wear normal shoes, exercise without pain, etc. >>Wearing tight toed shoes or high heels makes it worse. This isn't medical >>advice--only my experience. I was able to find a lot of opinions and info >>at this web site: http://www.hotbot.com/ >>In the search box, just enter Morton Neuroma and you'll see a lot of info. >>I have a Neuroma between two toes on my left foot. It was diagnosed by a >>Podiatrist. After two previous Doctor visits and an x-ray. The woman >>Podiatrist that discovered it, said "Hasn't anyone else dis >>I have a Neuroma between two toes on my left foot. It was diagnosed by a >>Podiatrist. After two previous Doctor visits and an x-ray. The woman >>Podiatrist that discovered it, said "Hasn't anyone else discovered this >>yet!?" It was so evident to her. I then had three cordisone shots and >>started to wear wider shoes and low and behold it hasn't bothered me since. >> >> Thought this might be of interest to you. I don't think it has anything >>to do with being a Celiac. Have a nice holiday. >>I didn't want surgery either, because my understanding is that then there >>is numbness which I don't want. So far the orthodics are evening out the >>foot pressure and relieving the pain so I can walk (boring) and hike with >>ease. Of course orthodics don't fit in dress shoes so it's only for tennis >>shoes and hiking boots that they fit. My theory was that eventually they >>may worsen and I will at that point do surgery. Insurance with preapproval >>will often cover orthodics. Hope you can trip the light fantastic soon! >>I also have celiac and neuroma on both feet. I tried cortisone >>shots and they worked great, but didn't last forever. I now use blue >>inserts produced by Birkenstock which fit into my walking shoes (but not >>into dress shoes). It would be impossible to function without them. >>I have had three neuroma surgeries and am about to have a forth! The >>first two were on both feet and took a very long time to heal as I was not >>yet diagnosed. The next was a repeat on the left foot called an amputation >>neuroma. The tumor had grown back because they didn't get it all the first >>time. Now they tell me I have yet another in a new area in my left foot >>AGAIN! I may also have another in the right foot, but that isn't bothering >>me that much yet. This has all been in the last five years and I'm pretty >>disgusted over it as I can't walk in anything but well padded sneakers with >>orthodic inserts. I can't wear shoes at all, too painful. Please post to >>the list to let us know if this is something common to celiacs. Hope you >>have better luck than me. >> >>>Yes, had neuroma on both feet. Had surgery approx. 5 years apart--takes >>some time to get off crutches and a shoe on but sure beats the pain >>before--toes are rather numb because they removed the nerve w/the neruoma. >>Had an orthopedic surgeon do mine but a foot doctor that does surgery can also >>do. I would recommend-I waited too long the first time--lots of pain when the >>neuroma would get caught between the bones! Remember taking shoe off in >>public and rubbing my foot-didn't care who thought I was nuts--! Good >>luck. >> I have neuromas in my feet and have gotten great relief with >>accupuncture. They persist however and I am pain free only after several >>treatments with the acupuncurist. I go once a week and after 5 weeks, I >>thought I was cured and got to do aerobics again! Now it's creeping back. >>I'm curious what you found out about this neuroma thing and what has helped >>others. Can you share with me your findings, I'd really appreciate it.