Do you experience a burning or tingling sensation in the ball of your foot or between your toes? You may have what’s known as a foot neuroma — and treatments like cortisone injections or shockwave therapy can help relieve your pain and discomfort.
What Is a Foot Neuroma?
A neuroma (often called a Morton’s Neuroma) is a thickening or irritation of a nerve in the foot, most commonly found between the third and fourth toes. This can cause sharp, burning pain, numbness, or the feeling that you’re standing on a pebble. Footwear that compresses the toes or repetitive pressure on the ball of the foot can make symptoms worse.
How Cortisone Injections Can Help
Cortisone injections are a common and effective treatment for reducing inflammation and pain associated with a neuroma. Cortisone (a corticosteroid medication similar to the natural hormone cortisol produced by the body) works by calming nerve irritation and surrounding tissue inflammation.
Because the cortisone is delivered directly to the site of pain, it can provide faster, more targeted relief than oral anti-inflammatory medications. The injection typically includes both the corticosteroid and a local anesthetic — the anesthetic provides immediate numbing relief, while the cortisone reduces inflammation over the following days.
Benefits
- Rapid reduction in pain and nerve irritation
- Allows healing to occur more effectively when paired with orthotics or modified footwear
- Relief can last anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months
Shockwave Therapy for Neuromas
Shockwave therapy (also known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy or ESWT) is another non-surgical treatment that stimulates healing in damaged tissue around the neuroma. The therapy uses acoustic waves that increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and encourage tissue regeneration.
Benefits
- Non-invasive and drug-free
- Encourages natural repair of the nerve environment
- Typically performed over several short sessions with no downtime
Side Effects and Safety
Both cortisone injections and shockwave therapy are generally safe and well-tolerated. However, as with all medical procedures, there are some potential side effects and precautions.
Cortisone Injections
Minor risks include:
- Temporary soreness or “cortisone flare” lasting 24–48 hours
- Bruising or localized numbness
- Slight elevation in blood glucose for people with diabetes
- Rarely, tissue thinning or tendon rupture with repeated injections
Resting for 24 hours after a cortisone injection and avoiding strenuous activity for a few days helps ensure the best outcome. A maximum of 3–4 injections per year is usually recommended for safety.
Shockwave Therapy
Possible temporary effects include:
- Mild bruising, redness, or tenderness in the treatment area
- Short-term discomfort during or after the procedure
Most patients can resume normal activity immediately following shockwave sessions.
Is One Treatment Right for You?
Not everyone responds the same way to treatment. Some patients benefit most from a combination of shockwave therapy or cortisone injections, along with supportive care like custom orthotics or footwear modifications to reduce pressure on the affected nerve.
If you think you may have a neuroma, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider or one of BioPed’s lower limb clinicians. They can assess your symptoms and recommend the most effective treatment for your needs.
Come See Us
Cortisone injections and shockwave therapy are available at select BioPed clinics where Chiropody and Pedorthic services are offered.
To book an appointment or find your nearest location, visit bioped.com.
We’re here to help relieve your foot pain and get you back to comfort.
