It began as minor pain in the ball of your foot that quickly improved with rest or by removing your shoes and lightly massaging the base of your toes. But the pain never went away completely, and in fact, it always seemed to return, gradually worsening when you spent any amount of time on your feet.
Then, you found out your irritating foot pain problem had a name: Morton’s neuroma.
At Premier Foot and Ankle Center, with two offices in Worcester and one in Whitinsville, our team of board-certified podiatrists offers a full scope of treatment solutions for Morton’s neuroma. Here’s how we can help you.
Morton’s neuroma develops when a nerve situated between two bones in the ball of the foot becomes irritated and swells, pressing into adjacent structures.
Typically, Morton’s neuroma is the inflammation and enlargement of the interdigital nerve between the metatarsal bones in the ball of your foot.
Although the term “neuroma” is used to describe a noncancerous tumor that develops on a nerve, it’s a bit of a misnomer in this case. Morton’s neuroma is not an abnormal mass of tissue growing along a nerve in the ball of your foot. It’s the swelling and entrapment of existing nerve tissue.
Anything that irritates, compresses, or injures any of the interdigital nerves in the ball of your foot — most often those between the third and fourth toes or second and third toes — can lead to Morton’s neuroma.
Wearing high-heeled or tight shoes with a tapered toe box is commonly associated with Morton’s neuroma, as is engaging in activities that involve repetitive pressure on the ball of the foot, such as running or court sports like basketball.
Morton’s neuroma can feel as though you’re stepping on a stone or marble every time you bear weight on the ball of your foot. This acute pain may be accompanied by:
Although Morton’s neuroma symptoms get better with rest, they can also progress over time without intervention.
Anyone can develop Morton’s neuroma, and many people do. Experts estimate that one in three people feels the effects of this common repetitive stress injury at some point in life.
The condition is more likely to affect people who walk a lot, engage in forefoot-intensive sports, or wear tight, high, or unsupportive shoes. Certain foot deformities, including bunions, hammertoe, or flat feet, increase the risk of neuroma.
Without intervention, Morton’s neuroma can lead to irreversible nerve damage and chronic foot pain. Luckily, the problem is also highly treatable.
The goal of treatment is to reduce pressure on the affected nerve, ease inflammation, and promote healing . Strategies, include:
Choosing footwear with a wide, roomy toe box, low heels, and a soft, cushioned sole allows these bones to spread back out and takes pressure off the inflamed nerve.
One or more corticosteroid injections can provide fast pain relief by reducing nerve inflammation and swelling.
Apply cloth-covered ice packs to your affected foot to ease pain by reducing inflammation and swelling. Padding techniques, including OTC pads made for Morton’s neuroma, reduce pain by lessening nerve pressure and compression when walking.
Temporary use of oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is sometimes recommended to help ease inflammation and pain.
Wearing custom orthotic inserts helps alleviate neuroma-related pain and irritation by keeping your toes in the correct position, minimizing pressure and compression on the affected nerve.
Avoid activities that put pressure on a compressed interdigital nerve, at least until the condition improves. This may mean cross-training with another activity if you’re a runner, or seeking accommodations at work if your job keeps you on your feet.
While most people don’t need surgery to resolve Morton’s neuroma, the condition won’t just go away on its own — it needs expert care and a comprehensive treatment approach. We’re here to help: Schedule an appointment at your nearest office today.
