You are probably wondering what Neuroma is? It is caused by compression when nerves become inflamed and are pushed against the bones in the locality – this is 1st thing you need to know. The classic Morton’s Neuroma is located in the foot, between the third and fourth toe – 80% of sufferers are affected here, but 15% of sufferers are have irritation between the second and third toe. Morton comes from the physician Thomas G. Morton who described the condition in 1876. Although Thomas got the cause wrong, his name stuck for the condition.
The 2nd – the Symptoms – What does it feel like?
Having Morton’s Neuroma, can feel like one or more of these symptoms:
- Tingling, burning, or numbness
- Pain in your foot
- A sensation that something is inside the ball of the foot
- It can feel like there is something in your shoe, some people describe it as feeling like ‘walking in marbles’ or your sock is bunched up
If left untreated symptoms can progress with severity increasing. In the initial stages the discomfort can fluctuate and depend on your footwear. However, as the neuroma enlarges the temporary changes in the nerve become permanent.
The 3rd – How it occurs
Morton’s Neuroma commonly occurs in middle-aged women (but not exclusively). It can arise from the following:
- Wearing the wrong shoe – wearing high heals too much, having wrong shoe size
- Previous foot problem – bunions, flatfeet, hammertoes or over flexible feet are all at risk of the condition
- Sport damage through repetition – Tennis, running
- Past injuries – broken foot
The 4th – How to get diagnosed
With this condition it is better to see a podiatrist (a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower leg) rather than a doctor.
The 5th – How it is treated
- Padding / Orthotic devices - supports to improve the arch of the foot (particularly in the metatarsal bone). This alleviates some of the compression on the affected area
- Icing –cold reduces the swelling and therefore the compression within the foot
- Activity modifications – if identified early look at activities that decrease the amount of pressure on your foot. Look at your exercise, if you run a lot, for example, consider changing some of this for swimming to reduce impact on the foot.
- Shoe modifications – look at better footwear or consider specialist shoes
- Anti-inflammatorymedications - i.e. ibuprofen to reduce swelling
- Injection therapy – treatment may include a course of cortisone, local anesthetics or other agents.
- Surgery – in severe cases or when non-surgical treatments have not responded adequately as a last result surgery may be necessary. Your surgeon will recommend long-term measures i.e. referral to podiatrist, to stop the symptom returning.
If you have concerns make sure you speak to a specialist. Podiatrists in your area can be easily located through the yellow pages or online NHS resources.
Feel free to check out Morton’s Neuroma Blog for more tips and to connect with other patients.
