Morton's Neuroma

 

A neuroma is an enlarged, benign growth of nerves most commonly between the third and fourth toes caused by tissue rubbing against and irritating the nerves. Morton’s Neuroma is a thickening of tissues around the nerve that leads to these toes.

Causes
Anything that causes compression or irritation of the nerve can lead to the development of a neuroma. One of the most common causes is wearing shoes that are too narrow, high-heeled shoes, trauma or activities that involve repetitive irritation to the ball of the foot, like running or court sports.

Symptoms
Symptoms can begin gradually and occur only occasionally. They may going away temporarily, but over time get progressively worse. You may have Morton’s Neuroma if you have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Tingling, burning or numbness
- Pain
- A feeling that something is inside the ball of the foot

Treatment
Treatment approaches vary according to the severity of the problem. For mild to moderate neuromas, options include:
- Padding
- Icing
- Orthotic Devices
- Activity Modifications
- Shoe Modifications
- Medications
- Injection Therapy
- Surgery may be considered in patients who have not responded well to non-surgical treatments.