That Sharp Pain in the Ball of Your Foot Can Be Morton's Neuroma

If you're feeling persistent pain located in the ball of your foot and it feels like you're walking on a marble, you could have Morton's neuroma and could benefit from coming in to see our leading Chicagoland podiatrist, Dr. Gary M. Kazmer, DPM at Kazmer Foot & Ankle Centers.

What is Morton's neuroma?

You may not have heard of Morton's neuroma, but it is a fairly common condition, particularly in middle-aged women who have an incidence rate of a minimum of four to 15 times greater in women. Wearing high-heeled shoes or narrowly pointed toes regularly can increase your risk of developing Morton's neuroma.

Both feet are rarely affected typically, but it is common to find a couple of neuromas on the same foot. The most common locations for neuromas are between the third and fourth long bones in the foot, known as your metatarsals.

In a nutshell, Morton’s neuroma is a condition that affects the ball of your foot and is quite painful. You'll experience a tissue thickening around one of the nerves that leads to your toes, which may cause a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. The condition received its name after a doctor explained the condition back in 1876. 

Symptoms of Morton's neuroma

You may experience symptoms such as:

• Burning pain from the ball of your foot that radiates into your toes. Activity or wearing shoes can generally intensify the pain.
• There normally aren't any outward signs like a lump since it's not exactly a tumor.
• You may experience an unpleasant feeling or numbness in your toes.

Although scary by name, Morton's neuroma is benign and is highly treatable, fortunately.

Treatment of Morton's neuroma

With this condition, you might need to take painkillers, change your footwear, conduct exercise, or receive steroid injections. Sometimes surgery is required for releasing the pressure on it or removing the affected nerve. The earlier you receive a diagnosis of the condition, the less likely you'll require surgery.

If your symptoms are persistent or severe and self-help measures haven't helped, Dr. Kazmer might recommend:

• Alcohol sclerosing injections: These decrease the size of Morton's neuromas and ease your pain. You will likely receive an injection every seven to 10 days. To experience maximum relief, you may require around four to seven injections.
• Corticosteroid injections: These include a steroid medicine that reduces pain and inflammation and is injected into the location of the neuroma.

Surgery for Morton’s neuroma

You may require surgery if you're not responding to other therapies and your symptoms persist after nine to 12 months.

While surgery is generally effective, it can cause permanent numbness in your affected toes, which is why Dr. Kazmer recommends you trying other options first. In surgery, he will either remove the nerve pressure by cutting surrounding fibrous tissue or ligaments or remove the nerve itself.

Two types of potential surgery are:

• Plantar approach: Dr. Kazmer makes an incision on the sole of your foot. You need to use crutches during recovery for a few weeks. You may get a scar that makes walking uncomfortable. But, he can reach the neuroma easily and remove it without having to cut any structures.
• Dorsal approach: Dr. Kazmer makes an incision on the top of your foot. This allows you to walk soon after your procedure since the stitches aren't on the weight-bearing side of your foot.

After any surgery, you have a slight risk of infection around your toes.

If you're suffering from Morton's neuroma, give us a call at Kazmer Foot & Ankle Centers or book your appointment online for the Barrington, Chicago or Elgin office.