Morton’s Neuroma

Pain in the Ball of Foot

What could be my problem?

Morton's Neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of your foot, most commonly the area between your third and fourth toes.  It may feel as if you are standing on a pebble that's worked it's way into your shoe or on a fold in your sock.  Morton's Neuroma develops due to a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes.

What causes Morton's Neuroma?

  • Wearing high heels
  • Irritation, pressure, or injury to one of the nerves that lead to your toes
  • High-impact athletic activities or repetitive trauma
  • Activities that feature tight shoes; such as snow skiing, ballet dancing, skating, etc.
  • Foot deformities, bunions, hammertoes, high arches, flat-feet, etc.

When should you see a foot doctor about Morton's Neuroma?

  • If you have a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot
  • If your toes sting, burn, or feel numb

If I have Morton's Neuroma, what are my treatment options?

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

  • Switching from high heels to lower heeled shoes with wider toe boxes
  • Corticosteroid injection therapy
  • Custom orthotics
  • Physical therapy

Surgical Treatment Options

If conservative treatments have not helped, surgical treatments that might be considered are:

  • Decompression surgery - Your surgeon will relieve the pressure on the nerve by cutting nearby structures, such as the ligament that binds together some of the bones in the front of the foot.
  • Neurectomy - Which is the removal of the nerve. During an neurectomy, an incision is made on the top of the foot and the nerve is carefully removed.