Traumatic neuroma is a painful condition that occurs when nerve cells grow in a disorderly way after an injury. Surgery is the most common treatment, but it can recur. The cause is unclear, and different aftercare regimens do not appear to have a significant effect on neuroma formation.
A traumatic neuroma is an area of heightened sensitivity, and sometimes pain, that develops as a result of physical trauma to a nerve. Surgery is the most common cause, but traumatic neuromas can also be caused by cuts, needle sticks, and other events. Treatment of this condition usually involves evaluation by a neurologist and may require surgery to remove the damaged nerve. This must be done carefully to avoid aggravating the situation.
After an injury, nerves will try to regrow, stretching to cover or fill a gap created by the injury. Sometimes, nerve cells start growing in a disorderly way. They regenerate rapidly and randomly, creating a cluster of nerve cells that fire in all directions instead of a series of aligned fibers that can easily send signals about sensations. This is a traumatic neuroma, also known as an amputation neuroma, after one of the most common causes of this condition.
Any pressure on the area around the nerve can cause sharp, stabbing pain and discomfort. Sometimes the nerves fire randomly, without any sensory input, and may cause phantom pain and irritation to the patient. In some cases, the pain from a neuroma can be severe, and the patient may develop emotional distress and physical fatigue as a result of the chronic pain. A neurologist can evaluate the site and pinpoint the location of the traumatic neuroma.
Surgery to remove the bundle of erroneous nerve fibers is often the most appropriate and effective solution. The surgeon can carefully remove the neuroma and the patient’s chronic pain should cease. One potential risk of surgery is that the traumatic neuroma may recur after surgery, potentially requiring multiple surgeries to remove new nerve growths. If it becomes persistent and unresponsive to surgical treatment, your doctor might consider options such as nerve blocks to limit pain signals or electrical nerve stimulation.
The reasons for the formation of traumatic neuroma are unclear. Surgeons who perform the same procedures repeatedly may find that some patients develop neuromas, but others do not. Such growths may but not necessarily be related to the nature of the trauma, and different aftercare regimens do not appear to have a significant effect on neuroma formation. Some people who experience a violent spontaneous amputation, such as in a car accident, recover without nerve complications, but patients who undergo routine surgery with carefully controlled trauma may develop recurring neuromas.
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