We’re thoroughly enjoying the 2018 Australian Open, though there was much interest leading up to this year as to who would be able to make it and who would have to sit this one out due to injury. Canadian tennis star, Milos Raonic, is one of the players that has suffered from significant injury and foot pain over the last decade. It saw the Wimbledon finalist sidelined for a month and pulling out of the French Open while he had surgery, and multiple competitions prior.
So what caused Milos’ pain? A Morton’s Neuroma.
A Morton’s Neuroma describes the inflammation of one of your nerves that runs between the toes. It often occurs between the third and fourth toes and can be extremely painful! It is often described as constantly walking on a pebble beneath your foot.
The cause is repetitively rubbing or compressing the nerve. This can occur due to:
- Poorly fitting footwear that squeezes the front of the foot
- Injury to the ball of the foot
- Repeated high force or pressure to the front of the foot – including being on your feet and stopping/starting for tennis almost every day!
Other symptoms include:
- Intense pain at the ball of the foot
- Numbness or tingling that can spread to the toes
- A burning sensation
- ‘Clicking’ during walking or manipulating the toes
- Pain can come and go
Neuroma’s may resolve on their own, but unfortunately for many, they will persist for years. Milos Raonic admitted that he had been suffering on and off with the injury for seven years before he had the surgery.
Treatment
While Milos sought surgery for treatment after failing to resolve the issue using conservative methods, there are several conservative treatment options that should be tried first.
These start by having an expert Podiatrist assess the likely cause of your neuroma, that is, what is causing increased pressure or is compressing the ball of your foot. A comprehensive biomechanical and footwear assessment will be carried out and a treatment plan will be made.
Using an in-shoe device like a neuroma dome or an orthotic with this feature can help relieve your pain by removing pressure away from the neuroma.
Don’t worry – Milos still made it to the Grand Slam final in the 2016 Wimbledon Championships following his treatment, so you’ll still be able to keep doing the things you love!
Our team at Sole Motion Podiatry are experts in sports medicine and love seeing our patients back on their feet and performing at their best! If you’re suffering from an injury to the feet and legs or want to prepare for your next sports season, give us a call on 1300-FX-FEET.
