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| Q: |
I have Morton's Neuroma on my left foot. Can acupuncture help this painful condition or do I need to have surgery?
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| A: |
A neuroma is a swelling or scarring of a small nerve between your toes.
When your body mechanics are not aligned, the space between your
metatarsals decreases and the ligament becomes tight. The nerve becomes
pinched between the bones or is constantly pulled over the ligament.
This irritates the nerve and causes the nerve to thicken and scar.
Causes of foot problems
As
with Morton’s Neuroma, the most common reason for people to have foot
problems is a condition is misalignment which causes the foot to not
strike and/or leave the ground as it is supposed to. Other common
factors that lead to foot pain are:
- Footwear - High heels or
shoes that are too tight can increase pressure and stress, while shoes
that are too loose can let the foot slide and rub, creating friction.
- Overuse and exercise-related problems can also cause foot pain.
- Diabetes
Acupuncture
and Chinese medicine are able to treat Morton’s Neuroma, bone spurs,
bunions and other common foot problems and foot pain with great
success.
Recommended Treatment:
- The
first step is to get fitted for orthotics or inserts. This helps
control the abnormal mechanical structure of your foot and allows the
metatarsal bones to splay or spread out naturally.
- Secondly, acupuncture and herbs are used to decrease the inflammation, break up any scar tissue and stop the pain.
- I combine acupuncture, a Chinese herbal supplement and warm foot soaks with a Chinese herbal tea.
As
with all conditions, your acupuncturist will have to look at the onset
of your condition and what your constitutional diagnosis is to
determine if Oriental Medicine can help you. Each case is unique and it
would be difficult to determine how effective acupuncture will be for
you without a full assessment. Please contact a licensed acupuncturist
in your area for a consultation.
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