Question
My doctor diagnosed an irritated nerve in my foot and told me to take anti-inflammatory medication and stay out of my high heels. I'm doing both, but I'm still in a lot of pain. Will anything else help?
Answer
I am sorry to hear about your foot pain. If you have an irritated nerve in your foot (neuroma), then it was excellent advice to change out of your high heels and take an anti-inflammatory, as it is important to reduce the pressure on the ball of your foot and calm the nerve. I will often give my patients a therapeutic injection with cortisone and local anesthetic, if there is still a lot of pain. Ice and physical therapy can also relieve pain and swelling.
If these treatments do not provide significant relief, then your doctor may consider injecting the nerve with a chemical or surgically decompressing the nerve. An x-ray or MRI can help rule out other causes of forefoot pain.