If you’re having foot pain in the front of your foot that radiates into your toes or back towards your ankle, you might have a Morton’s neuroma. Don’t be intimidated by the term neuroma! Morton’s neuroma is actually a misnomer, as the issue is really a neuritis (swelling or thickening of the nerve). If you are experiencing metatarsalgia (ball of foot pain), is might be due to a neuroma or other condition!
Most patients describe a Morton’s neuroma as feeling like there is something on the bottom of their foot such as a bunched up sock. Patient also state that the pain in the ball of the foot can be a tingling, burning, numbness, or sharp ache type of pain. The pain might radiate (travel to another part of the foot) towards the toes or towards the ankle.
A neuroma of the foot is usually caused by increased friction or pressure on a nerve. The nerve reacts by slowly increasing in size over time. In terms of a Morton’s neuroma, it is usually cause by the heads of the metatarsals (the long bones in the feet) compressing the nerve between each other. Neuromas of the foot are more common in patients who wear tight shoes, have higher than normal arches, have hammertoes, have bunions, have lower than normal arches, have increased range of motion in the feet, or a history of injury.
It is important to treat any type of foot pain, as the pain can affect your daily life and lead to other problems after you start changing the way you walk. At our office, we offer our patients a variety of conservative and surgical interventions based on your condition.
They include:
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Goldfine to treat your foot neuroma
Information and pictures about Morton’s neuroma from American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons 2004 www.acfas.org.
