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.

It involves a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes. 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.

It may occur in response to irritation, injury or pressure. Common treatments include changing footwear or using arch supports. Sometimes corticosteroid injections or surgery may be necessary.

You may experience a feeling as if you are standing on a pebble in your shoe, or a burning pain in the ball of your foot that may radiate into your toes and there could be tingling or numbness in your toes.

A doctor is likely to order x-rays of your foot to rule out other causes for your pain like a stress fracture. There could be an Ultrasound done to reveal soft tissue abnormalities like neuroma or a MRI is also good at visualizing soft tissues.

Arch supports or orthotics help reduce pressure on the nerve and can prescribed by your doctor. Some people are helped by injecting steroids into the painful area.

Risk factors that appear to contribute to Morton's neuroma are high heels. Wearing high heeled shoes or shoes that are tight or ill-fitting can box in your feet and place pressure on your toes. People who have bunions, hammertoes, flatfeet or excessive flexibility are at higher risk of developing Morton's neuroma.

Try to avoid activities like jogging, or aerobic exercise or dancing that subject your feet to high impact and avoid wearing high heel or tight shoes. Choose shoes with a round toe box and extra depth.

So if you feel like you have pebbles in your shoes and have burning and pain in your toes, give Dr. T. F. Vail a call at 419-423-1888