Morton’s Neuroma Treatment – Pain in the ball of the foot

Morton’s Neuroma Treatment – Pain in the ball of the foot

Morton’s Neuroma Overview

A Neuroma is a damaged or irritated nerve located between the toes. This can be painful and uncomfortable, which in turn can cause difficulty with footwear.

A Neuroma typically affects the nerve between the 3rd and 4th toes, which is known as a Morton’s Neuroma, and somewhat less often between 2nd and 3rd.

Morton’s Neuroma Symptoms and Diagnosis

Morton’s Neuroma symptoms typically include:

  • Sharp radiating pain
  • The sense of walking on pebble
  • Numb or tingling sensation at the toes

Painful symptoms can worsen over time, especially if you exacerbate symptoms with poor fitting footwear or strenuous activity.

Morton’s Neuroma Causes

There are several causes of the irritated and damaged nerve that causes Morton’s Neuroma. It is often associated with:

  • High activity, such as strenuous walking, running or exercise
  • High heeled, pointy or shoes that put a lot of pressure on the toes
  • Other foot conditions, such as Bunions, Hammertoes or Flat Feet

Morton’s Neuroma Treatment and Prevention

Simple treatments include:

  • Wear appropriate shoes that take pressure off the affected area
  • Maintain a healthy weight, which can relieve foot pressure and decrease symptoms
  • Over the counter pain medication can be used to help control the pain
  • Orthotics can help redistribute your weight across the foot and away from the neuroma location

Injection therapy

Your specialist may use steroid or alcohol injections with anesthetic to reduce inflammation and painful symptoms. This resolves a neuroma in around 50% of cases.

Neuroma Surgery

Surgical treatment of neuroma can be used should other treatments fail.