What we Treat / Morton's Neuroma

Morton's Neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of your foot, most commonly the area between your third and fourth toes. Morton's neuroma may feel as if you are standing on a pebble in your shoe or on a fold in your sock.

Causes

Morton's neuroma involves a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes. It may occur in response to irritation, injury or pressure. In some cases, Morton's neuroma causes a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. Your toes also may sting, burn or feel numb.

Contributing factors include:

• Footwear - Wearing high-heeled shoes or shoes that are tight or ill-fitting can place pressure on your toes.
• 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 also put pressure on your toes.
• Foot deformities - People who have bunions, hammertoes, flatfeet or excessive flexibility are at higher risk of developing Morton's neuroma.

Symptoms

Usually there is no particular obvious symptom of this condition, such as a lump but instead you may experience:

• 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

Treatment

Our Podiatrist will be able to assess your condition and provide you with the correct treatment depending on the severity of your symptoms.

Treatment for Mortons neuroma is simple:

1.      address footwear issues

2.      correct biomechanical issues and make the forefoot stable

3.      refer for steroid injection

4.      surgical removal

Orthotics devices and arch supports for your shoes can help reduce pressure on the nerve. Our podiatrist will work closely with our physio’s who specialise in biomechanics, and will assess your condition and determine whether you will need custom made orthotic devices or over the counter insole, which we have available in our clinics. For full details on this service click here