A Joplin’s Neuroma or neuritis is a pinching or entrapment of what is known as the medial plantar digital nerve. This specific nerve gives sensation on the medial part and areas of the top and bottom of the big toe. This specific pinched nerve was initially identified b y Joplin in 1971 in three cases that happened soon after bunion surgical treatment. The reason behind a Joplin’s Neuroma is normally because of a continual compression about the big toe or hallux with repetitive irritation to the medial plantar nerve. This is mostly more likely to happen when you use tight fitting footwear, especially if there is an underlying deformity such as a bunion of the big toe. It may also happen in some cases following a solitary incident of trauma rather than the recurring irritation from footwear. Other cases are caused by an restriction of the nerve in scar tissue formation following bunion surgical procedures.

The typical signs of a Joplins neuroma can vary from a dull ache pain and a bit of pins and needles to an acute shooting or radiating pain occurring around along the side of the great toe. Those features may generally be made more serious by the prolonged using of tighter footwear. There could also be some numbness as well as prickling around the area. Should you very carefully palpate the area of the nerve, it is sometimes possible to feel a lump over the big toe and the pressing on this lump may cause the signs and symptoms which the person is having. There are many different disorders which may mimic these types of symptoms as the signs and symptoms of a Joplin’s neuroma might be to some degree vague. You should get the medical diagnosis right before carrying on with treatment. The differential diagnosis includes almost any other problems that affects the large toe joint. This could include osteo arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms or even gout. The signs and symptoms of these usually happen more within the big toe joint as opposed to radiating pains around the big toe joint. There could be inflammation from a bunion with a bit of bursitis that will not entail the nerve getting squeezed. A sesamoiditis may also be considered, however this causes pain underneath the big toe joint and doesn't shoot forwards. There in addition might be a traumatic damage to the big toe joint or even the tissues around the joint.

The initial aspect of the therapy for a Joplins neuroma is to find some reduction from the pain if it is bad enough. This might include the use of ice along with medications to alleviate the signs and symptoms. The most important aspect of the treatment is using wider fitting shoes or to alter the shoes to enable a lesser amount of strain around the big toe or hallux joint. This may be problematic if tight shoes is required to be used in sports activities like football. Adhesive felt accommodative padding to get force off of the affected area may be very useful. This adhesive felt pads can be shaped like a ‘U’ or a doughnut. This is required so that there is no stress on the big toe the symptoms are coming from. A shot of corticosteroid is sometimes required to settle the problem. If none of this works, then a surgery of the affected nerve may be required.