Morton’s Neuroma

Morton's neuroma, also known as intermetatarsal neuroma, is a painful condition that affects the foot, specifically the area between the toes (most commonly the third and fourth toes). It is caused by the thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to the toes, typically the common digital nerve that provides sensation to adjacent toes. This condition often occurs due to irritation, compression, or entrapment of the nerve.

Symptoms of Morton's Neuroma include:

1. Pain: Individuals with Morton's neuroma often experience sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot, especially when walking or wearing tight shoes. The pain may radiate into the adjacent toes.

2. Numbness or Tingling: Some people may feel numbness or tingling in the affected area or in the toes supplied by the affected nerve.

3. Feeling of a Lump: You may feel like you’re stepping on a pebble, or feel a lump under the ball of your foot. This can often feel worse when you are wearing tight shoes.

4. Worsening with Activity: The pain is often exacerbated by activities that involve pressure on the foot, such as walking, running, or wearing tight shoes.

Treatment options for Morton's neuroma can range from conservative approaches to more invasive interventions. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the condition and the individual's response to different options. Here are some common treatment approaches:

1. Rest: A period of activity avoidance and rest can help settle the inflammation around the nerve sheath, but is often not a long term solution.

2. Footwear Modification: Wearing shoes with a wider toe box and lower heels can help alleviate pressure on the affected nerve.

3. Orthotics: Custom-made or over-the-counter shoe inserts can help redistribute pressure and provide cushioning to the area, reducing discomfort.

4. Padding: Padding or taping the area around the neuroma can provide relief by reducing pressure on the nerve.

5. Medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol can help manage pain and inflammation associated with Morton's neuroma.

6. Physical Therapy: Stretching exercises involving the achilles may relieve symptoms and improve your biomechanics.

7. Injection Therapy: Corticosteroid injections can be used to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. However, their effects might be temporary.

8. Surgical Intervention: If conservative treatments do not provide relief, surgery is considered. We remove the neuroma and surrounding offending tissue that is putting pressure on the nerve. Surgery can offer long-term relief but is a procedure done in hospital..