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I have bunions that do not hurt on the side of my big toe. The pain is on the bottom of the big toe when I stand or try to walk. Pads, arch supports, and soaking my feet do not help. What else is there to try? (I need to be able to walk)
Optional Information: Person's Gender: Female Person's Age: 68 Already Tried: Foot soak preperations, gel pads, arch supports,foam pads, mole skin
Hello
Does it feel like you are walking on hot coals?
since you are offline, I will paste in the biggest reason for this type of problem, but it may not be exactly your problem. It is called a Morton's neuroma, it is a nerve enlargement or tumor that grows on the bottom of your foot. Please take a look at this webpage and get back to me if you would like to discuss your problem.
Morton's can involve the second interdigital space, or the space between your great toe and your second toe
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/401417-overview
Dr Frank T.
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Sorry for delay. Computer problems. Answer was really interesting considering I did not give enough info. I've had this foot problem for a year. However, I was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, even though I cannot feel a nodule. If it's arthritis, or if it's an enlarged nerve, what corrective action can be taken? I was looking for a suggestion as to what to do (I know I didn't give enough info the first time).
So a major decision point here is the quality of the pain that you are feeling. Is it nociceptive or neuralgic? Nociceptive pain in more point tenderness, increased with pressure on the spot, and suggests a tendonitis or joint capsular inflammation as would be seen in RA. Is your joint red, hot and painful more in the AM? those are the standard questions, and there could be some variance, but that is the general theme.
Neuroma pain is hyperalgesic pain, so you just touch it and you jump, and you have lancinating components, shooting pain up and down the nerve. It isn't positional. They say Morton's Neuroma (which can be very common in women more than men) is a sensation like walking on hot coals. Is that neuralgic pain here? the meds to try would be starting with elavil or amityptaline for neuralgic pain, or you could start with capsacin creme on the site. You can inject and/or cut out the neuroma (check that website page on particulars)
If I were to bet (which is all I can do because I don't get the chance to examen you) I would bet on RA if you were diagnosed, and this is nociceptive pain. and you need treatment for RA.
get back to me if I can help. there is an imaging study you can do of your feet with MRI to look at all the interdigital nerves, which would be the next step for you if you think this might be a neuroma.
I hope I was able to put you in a direction, please get back to ask more questions, or if satisfied, rate my performance as that is how I get compensated ,, Dr Frank T.
Experience: General Adult Neurologist. Board Certified. Experimental Neuroimaging and Neurodiagnostics