Morton’s neuroma is a thickened, irritated nerve between two of the toes, most often the third and fourth. People describe it as a burning or electric pain in the ball of the foot, numbness in the toes, or a feeling of walking on a pebble or a fold in the sock.
It’s usually worse in tight or high-heeled shoes and better when you take them off and rub the foot.
Getting the diagnosis right
Other problems in the ball of the foot can feel very similar, so the first step is a proper examination, and often an ultrasound or MRI scan to confirm it.
Treatment
- Footwear and insoles. Wider shoes and a small pad to spread the bones can take the pressure off the nerve.
- Injection. A guided steroid injection can settle the inflammation, and for some people that’s enough.
- Surgery. If the pain keeps coming back, the nerve can be released or removed. This is a day case, and I’ll talk you through the recovery and the pros and cons for your foot.
What to expect at your consultation
I’ll ask about your symptoms and the shoes and activities that bring them on, examine your foot, and arrange a scan at NovoClinic if it’s needed. Most people start with simple changes and an injection if required. If it comes to surgery, it’s done at NovoClinic during one of my visits, with follow-up in person and by video call.
