Morton’s Neuroma
What is a Morton’s Neuroma?
A Morton’s Neuroma, also known as plantar digital neuroma, affects the forefoot or the ball of your feet, in between the metatarsal bones. Mostly, it affects the 2nd-3rd or 3rd-4th web spaces. Either foot, or both feet could be affected. This arises as an entrapment pathology of the nerve running in between the metatarsals, causing localised thickening of the nerve.
There are several factors that predispose the development of a Morton’s Neuroma. Some of these include:
- Biomechanical influences of the foot on the plantar digital nerve
- Frequent use of high heeled shoes
- Poor footwear choices that are too tight
Morton’s Neuroma
In this video, we explore what Morton’s Neuroma is, what you will experience and how Podiarty can help with the pain in Morton’s Neuroma.
What will I experience?
Typically, you may not see any visible signs of a Morton’s Neuroma on your foot. However, you could experience pain or discomfort that arises when the plantar digital nerves are irritated or pinched, causing symptoms of numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or burning sensations.
Sometimes pain can be exacerbated when wearing high heeled footwear or standing on the ball of the foot. In the early stages, individuals may relieve the pain by removing footwear and massaging the ball of your foot. However, if the root cause of the neuroma is not resolved, symptoms tend to get worse over time.
How can we help you?
Most of the time, the diagnosis of Morton’s Neuroma does not need special investigations such as X-rays or MRIs. But, these investigations may help to exclude conditions such as stress fractures or arthritis.
Treatments also depend on how severe the neuroma is. If you are suspicious that you may have a Morton’s Neuroma, you may rest and massage your foot. Try to reduce activities that will place large amounts of pressure on your forefoot. You may also try icing the foot.
Footwear alterations into a better and wider fitting shoe may also help to reduce the pressure on the injured area. However, resumption of use of ill-fitting shoes will likely cause the symptoms to recur.
However, if your pain does not get better, please schedule a visit to consult our Podiatrist. Treatment of Morton’s Neuroma should also address the predisposing factors. Our Podiatrist will be able to perform a full biomechanical assessment to determine if anomalies in forefoot or rearfoot positioning could be contributing to your symptoms. If required, an orthotic may be offered as a treatment option and prescribed for your foot.
If all conservative treatment methods have been exhausted, our Podiatrist may recommend you to a surgeon for foot surgery to remove the neuroma.