If you feel like there is constantly a small stone in your shoe, you may be suffering from what is called a Morton’s Neuroma, says Dr. Adam Teichman. As owner and founder of East Penn Foot & Ankle Associates in Allentown, Easton, and Reading, Pennsylvania, he can recommend treatment and prevention to take care of this often annoying and painful inflammatory condition.
A Morton’s Neuroma usually occurs within the third interspace of the foot. The ideology behind Morton’s Neuroma is the inflammation of one of the plantar digital nerves of the foot. Usually it affects the third and fourth toes.
Symptoms of the condition can include sharp pain, burning and even a lack of feeling to the affected toes. Some people may note they feel like there is a rock or pebble in their shoe. It is not comfortable, and most people seek medical treatment to return their foot to normal.
Causes of Morton’s Neuroma
As mentioned, Morton’s Neuroma is caused by an abnormal function of the foot, which sometimes leads to the bone squeezing on the nerve. That usually occurs with the third and fourth metatarsal heads, which usually lead to the inflammation of the nerve and resulting irritation.
Incidents of Morton’s Neuroma often occur after placing significant pressure on the forefoot areas, such as walking, standing, jumping or sprinting. This can also be caused by poor footwear selection, as high heels or footwear with pointed toes can often lead to a Morton’s Neuroma developing in the foot.
Treatment and Prevention
The first preventative step is to select proper footwear with a wide toe box. The next step would be possible steroidal injection therapy to calm down the inflammation of the nerve. Also an orthotic, which is an insert for the shoe, is helpful when it is designed with metatarsal load, which can help alleviate pressure and relieve the pain cause by the neuroma.
If the pain becomes chronic and is not alleviated with the aforementioned treatment, there is something called sclerosing injection therapy, which is a non-invasive surgical procedure to deaden the nerve and alleviate the pain. And the last resort is surgical intervention where we excise the neuroma.
If you suspect you have a Morton’s Neuroma, see your podiatric foot and ankle surgeon for the correct diagnosis and treatment. Neuromas can feel worse the longer they are left untreated, so it’s important to get them taken care of as soon as possible for best results.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
