Morton's Neuroma

What is Morton’s neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma is a non-cancerous growth of nerve tissue that develops in your foot. A neuroma or pinched nerve is most commonly seen between the third and fourth toes.

Morton's neuroma may exhibit the following symptoms.

• Tingling in your toes
• Burning pain in the ball of your foot
• Numbness in your toes
• Swelling between the toes

Many patients with Morton’s neuroma also describe it as feeling like you have a rock in your shoe, causing you to limp or not put all your weight on your affected foot. REPETITIVE?

What are the risk factors associated with Morton’s neuroma?

While the cause of Morton’s neuroma is uncertain, it seems to occur when the nerves leading to your toes experience pressure, irritation, or injury. This can be caused by:

• Foot deformities - having bunions, high arches, or flatfeet create instability around the toe joints
• High heels - tight and narrow-toed shoes create extra pressure around your toes when they’re squeezed together
• Foot trauma - Repetitive stress from high-impact activities such as running

Depending on your risk factors and daily activities, the Kalmar Family Podiatry doctors can create a customized treatment plan so you remain active and healthy.

What treatments exist for Morton’s neuroma?

There are a variety of treatments available for Morton’s neuroma which depend on several factors like the severity of the symptoms and how long they’ve been present.

When you visit Kalmar Family Podiatry, your podiatrist typically begins by asking you to change your shoes because many people experience pain relief by not wearing as high of heels and having shoes with wide toe boxes. Additionally, foot pads or arch supports can help reduce the pressure on your nerve.

If changing your shoe gear doesn’t make a difference in your pain levels, then your podiatrist may recommend a corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation and pain or a series of alcohol sclerosing injections to destruct the nerve.

There are two surgical options available if none of the non-surgical treatments work. The first is a minimally invasive surgery where your podiatrist decompresses the inflamed nerve allowing it to heal. The second option is to cut and remove the inflamed nerve.

Do you want to walk normally without the burning pain in your foot associated with Morton’s neuroma? If so, you need to contact the experts at Kalmar Family Podiatry today by calling the office or schedule your appointment online.