Neuroma
Mr. Arch Custom Orthotics
Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma happens when the nerve between the toe bones becomes inflamed. Symptoms of Morton’s neuroma include pain between your toes and feeling like you’re stepping on a pebble. Initial treatment includes medication, injections and custom orthotics. If the pain is severe, you may need Morton’s neuroma surgery.
What is Morton’s neuroma?
Morton’s neuroma affects your forefoot or ball of your foot, between the metatarsal bones and toes. It’s also called intermetatarsal neuroma. When you have Morton’s neuroma, the nerve between the bones of your toes may become swollen and inflamed. You usually feel it on the bottom of your foot, between your toes. The neuroma can feel painful and make it hard to walk.
Getting treatment for Morton’s neuroma is important. The neuroma can become larger without treatment. The nerve damage may become permanent
Where does Morton’s neuroma happen?
Usually, the neuroma happens between the bones of your third and fourth toes. Those are the two toes closest to the pinky toe (toe No. 5). But Morton’s neuroma can form between the second and third toes as well.
Who gets Morton’s neuroma?
You may face a higher risk of developing Morton’s neuroma from:
- Foot shape: If you were born with flat feet, high arches or toes in an unusual position, you might have instability around the toe joints. That instability can lead to Morton’s neuroma.
- Certain medical conditions: Some foot conditions that develop over time can raise your risk of developing Morton’s neuroma. Examples include bunions and hammertoes.
- Sports: Sports such as running, tennis and other racquet sports require a lot of pressure on the balls of your feet as you run. Athletes are also more likely to injure their foot, which can lead to Morton’s neuroma.
- Shoe choice: High heels (more than 2 inches high) can cause problems. So can tight-fitting, narrow or pointed-toe shoes. All these shoes put extra pressure on the balls of your feet and limit toe movement.
What are Morton’s neuroma treatments?
Treatment depends on the severity of the neuroma. There are several treatment options, from those you can do on your own to those done by a healthcare provider. You may need a combination of treatments to get the most relief.
Can I treat Morton’s neuroma at home?
These steps may improve your symptoms:
- Wear good shoes:Choose supportive shoes with a wide toe box. Shoes with shock-absorbent soles and proper insoles can help. Don’t close the top of the shoe too tightly. And avoid shoes that are tight, have pointed-toes or have heels more than 2 inches high.
- Use shoe pads: Put these over-the-counter pads into your shoe to relieve pressure.
- Use an ice pack: Place an ice pack on your toes to reduce pain and swelling.
- Rest: Try to rest and massage your feet. Avoid sports and other activities that put a lot of pressure on your foot.
Will I need Morton’s neuroma surgery?
If medications and other treatments haven’t worked, your healthcare provider may recommend foot surgery. A neurectomy is the most common surgery for Morton’s neuroma. The surgeon removes part of the nerve tissue. Surgery can be a successful treatment for Morton’s neuroma. Some people have permanent numbness in the affected toe, though.
Surgeons may also recommend using extreme cold, either before the operation or as stand-alone treatment. This therapy, called cryogenic neuroablation, can help reduce symptoms. It destroys some nerve cells, as well as the myelin sheath covering the nerve. Treatment temperatures get as low as 94 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (70 degrees below zero Celsius).
Another minimally invasive procedure is radiofrequency ablation. This procedure uses an electric current to heat up your nerve tissue, helping with the pain. For most people, this procedure helps with pain relief — which can last anywhere from six to 12 months or longer.
Can Morton’s neuroma be prevented?
You can take steps to prevent Morton’s neuroma:
- RDon’t wear tight or high-heeled shoes for long periods.
- RWear shoes with a wide toe box, so your toes aren’t cramped.
- RWhen you’re more active, wear athletic shoes with plenty of padding to cushion the balls of your feet.
- RMaintain a healthy weight, since extra pounds put more pressure on your foot.
- RFor athletes, talk to your coach or trainer to discuss tweaking activities for less pressure on the foot.
