Morton’s Neuroma treatment Midland
Feel like you’re constantly standing on a pebble? You may have Morton’s Neuroma.
What is Morton’s Neuroma?
Morton’s Neuroma occurs when the tissue around one of the nerve bundles in the forefoot becomes thickened and inflamed, which may cause pain. It’s most common in the nerve between the third and fourth metatarsal bones, which connects to the toes.
This is a condition that usually only affects one foot, and it’s incredibly rare to have two neuromas at the same time in a single foot.
Morton’s Neuroma symptoms
While the most common symptom is a sensation of a lump under the foot (often described as similar to standing on a pebble), for some people, Morton’s Neuroma may cause other symptoms such as:
- Pain when standing for long periods
- Pain when standing on tip-toes
- Pain when walking
- Burning, tingling, or numbness in the area
Causes of Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s Neuroma may occur for many reasons, and some are still unknown. Potential known causes include:
- Footwear– The main cause is tight or poorly fitting shoes, as this may cause the nerves in the feet to become compressed or irritated. The nerve may gradually become thickened and inflamed, eliciting a pain response when excess pressure is applied.
- Gait abnormalities– Some gait abnormalities (like flat feet, high arches, and bunions) have been linked with the development of Morton’s Neuroma.
- Participation in sports– This condition has also been linked to some sports, specifically high-impact athletics (such as running) and those that require tight-fitting shoes (such as skiing, ballet, and rock climbing).
Morton’s Neuroma treatment options
Potential treatment options will ultimately depend on the severity of your Morton’s Neuroma but, even so, your podiatrist will likely recommend some conservative treatments initially before jumping to more invasive options.
Conservative treatment options
After their assessment, your podiatrist may recommend taping, shoe additions (such as metatarsal domes), footwear adjustments, orthotics, stretching and strengthening exercises, and ice.
The main aim of these treatments is to potentially reduce pressure on the affected nerve, allowing the surrounding tissue to settle down and heal.
In most cases, conservative management is successful and the patient’s symptoms will resolve– providing they wear the right shoes moving forward.
Surgical treatment options
If the pain persists, your podiatrist may recommend trying anti-inflammatories or cortisone injections. These treatments may also be prescribed short-term alongside other conservative options to aid in immediate pain relief.
Surgery may be recommended if all other options have been exhausted. This involves removing the neuroma, which may also resolve the symptoms.
Your Morton’s Neuroma treatment questions answered
Often, the description of symptoms (specifically as if they’re standing on a pebble or numbness in the third and fourth toes) is enough to diagnose Morton’s Neuroma. Your podiatrist may, however, perform a ‘squeeze test’ and order ultrasounds to get an idea of how severe the neuroma is and its exact location.
This will depend on the severity of the neuroma, however, we would like to see a vast improvement in symptoms by the 12-week mark. If there has been a change or worsening of symptoms, additional treatments may need to be explored.
Even though most cases are related to improper footwear choices (and overuse of said footwear), this condition is unfortunately not preventable. However, symptoms may be managed in an effort to prevent it from flaring up or worsening. Some people are completely asymptomatic and never experience flare-ups as a result of proper footwear selection.
Why Choose Midland Podiatry?
Personalised solutions
We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to podiatry– we tailor our treatment options to best support our patients and their feet.
Local healthcare
Our team takes pride in being a local provider of exceptional podiatry services for the Midland and eastern Perth area. We love this little community as much as our patients do!
Experienced team
With more than 30 years experience in the provision of high-quality podiatry services, rest assured that your feet are in the very best hands.
Book Your Podiatry Appointment Today
Never ignore unusual symptoms, like the feeling that you’re standing on a pebble when there’s nothing there, even if they don’t seem overly painful or limiting now. These sorts of conditions rarely resolve on their own and instead tend to get worse if not addressed.
If you’re experiencing forefoot pain, the team at Midland Podiatry is here. Our knowledgeable team aims to accurately assess and diagnose the cause of your pain, whether it’s Morton’s Neuroma or another injury or condition, and will work with you to create a personalised treatment plan. Book your appointment today!
