When you have foot pain, it may start as something minor and grow until it interferes with your daily enjoyment and living. For some people, their ongoing pain in the ball of the foot is more than discomfort. It could be a sign of Morton’s neuroma, a condition affecting the nerves between the toes. It most commonly occurs between the third and fourth toes.
Morton’s neuroma is a nerve entrapment that is related to swelling or thickening of tissue around a nerve leading to the toes. Individuals suffering from this condition typically describe the feeling as having a fold in their sock or walking on a pebble. If you are an athlete, someone with foot pain that is unexplained, or you often wear shoes that are tight-fitting, it’s important to understand more about Morton’s neuroma.
Symptoms Related to Morton’s Neuroma
One of the key indicators of Morton’s neuroma is pain in the ball of your foot that is described as sharp or burning. The pain may radiate into your toes and may come and go in the initial stages of this condition. If it is left untreated, pain may become more persistent. The pain you feel can also worsen with activity that puts pressure on your forefoot, from activities like wearing high heels or running.
Individuals with Morton’s neuroma may also have numbness, tingling, or report feeling pins and needles in their toes. These symptoms occur due to the nerve becoming inflamed and compressed between the metatarsal bones. As time goes by, symptoms may become more noticeable as the nerve thickens and becomes increasingly sensitive to stimulation.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
If you are in the early stages of Morton’s neuroma, non-surgical treatment options may be effective. One of the first steps is to switch to footwear that has room for your toes and adequate arch support to relieve pressure on the forefoot. A pre-metatarsal dome or pad can help redistribute pressure by lifting the metatarsal heads.
Over-the-counter inserts or custom orthotics may also help cushion the affected nerve and redistribute the weight on your foot. Another non-surgical option would be corticosteroid injections, which can reduce the inflammation around the nerve and may offer pain relief that is longer-lasting.
Surgical and Advanced Treatment Options
If more conservative treatment options do not provide relief, then surgical options may be considered. One common procedure for Morton’s neuroma is to perform a neurectomy, where the nerve is cut and the neuroma removed. This will cause numbness on the inside of the toes that were served by the affected nerve.
Advanced procedures that are less invasive than surgery include cryoablation and radio-frequency ablation. These use targeted cold or heat energy directed at the nerve with a goal of interrupting the pain signals. These treatments may need to be repeated at a later time.
Morton’s neuroma can escalate and significantly impact your quality of life and mobility. If you feel you have symptoms of Morton’s neuroma, you should consult a foot specialist so they can properly diagnose your condition and start you on a treatment plan. With early intervention, you can avoid considerable pain and begin treatment and take steps toward recovery.
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