Morton's neuroma facts

• Morton's neuroma is a swollen, inflamed nerve in the foot.
• Morton's neuroma causes a "burning" sharp pain on the bottom of the foot.
• Treatments for Morton's neuroma include resting the foot, better-fitting shoes, anti-inflammation medications, ice packs, and operation.

What is Morton's neuroma?

A neuroma is growth (benign tumor) that arises in nerve cells. A Morton's neuroma is a swollen, inflamed nerve located between the bones at the ball of the foot. The most common location of a Morton's neuroma is in either the second or the third spacing from the base of the big toe.

Typically, there's no outward sign of this condition, such as a lump. Instead, you may experience the following symptoms:

• A feeling as if you're standing on a pebble in your shoe
• A Burning Pain in the ball of your foot that may radiate into your toes
• Tingling or Numbness in your toes

When to see a doctor

It's best not to ignore any Foot Pain that lasts longer than a few days. See your doctor if you experience a Burning Pain in the ball of your foot that's not improving, despite changing your footwear and modifying activities that may cause stress to your foot.

Morton's neuroma seems to occur in response to irritation, pressure or injury to one of the nerves that lead to your toes.

Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor will likely recommend trying conservative approaches first.

Therapy

Arch supports and foot pads fit inside your shoe and help reduce pressure on the nerve. These can be purchased over-the-counter, or your doctor may prescribe a custom-made, individually designed shoe insert — molded to fit the exact contours of your foot.

Surgical and other procedures

If conservative treatments haven't helped, your doctor might suggest:

• Injections. Some people are helped by the injection of steroids into the painful area.
• Decompression surgery. In some cases, surgeons can 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.
• Removal of the nerve. Surgical removal of the growth may be necessary if other treatments fail to provide pain relief. Although surgery is usually successful, the procedure can result in permanent numbness in the affected toes.

Factors that appear to contribute to Morton's neuroma include:

• High heels. Wearing high-heeled shoes or shoes that are tight or ill fitting can place extra pressure on your toes and the ball of your foot.
• Certain sports. Participating in high-impact athletic activities such as jogging or running may subject your feet to repetitive trauma. Sports that feature tight shoes, such as snow skiing or rock climbing, can put pressure on your toes.
• Foot deformities. People who have bunions, hammertoes, high arches or flatfeet are at higher risk of developing Morton's neuroma.