Morton's Neuroma
Though Morton’s neuroma is one of the three most common disorders of the foot, it seems to receive less attention than plantar fasciitis or bunions - Podiatry Associates
HWN Suggests
The Pros and Cons of Neuroma Surgery
Have you ever gotten a pebble stuck between the bottom of your foot and your shoe? Or how about an irritating fold or bunch in your sock that you had to take off your shoe to smooth out? If so, you probably have an idea of what a Morton’s neuroma can feel like. Of course, if you already have a neuroma, then you live with this irritation every day. And no amount of smoothing out your socks or shaking out your shoes can make it go away.
As with many progressive foot conditions, there are two broad treatment categories we can pursue for a neuroma: conservative and surgical.
Articles of Interest
Is there a link between Plantar Fasciitis and Morton’s Neuroma?
Morton’s neuroma on the other hand is a far less common condition, which causes a burning pain in the ball of the foot and toes. Sufferers experience numbness, pins & needles and sharp, stabbing pains in the forefoot, most commonly between the 3rd and 4th toes, and sometimes between the 2nd and 3rd toes. The cause of the pain is degeneration and thickening of the small nerves that sit between the long bones of the forefoot; the metatarsals. When the thickened nerves reach a certain diameter in thickness they run out of space, leading to the nerve becoming squeezed and irritable. Like plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma sufferers gradually alter how they walk, choosing to slightly rotate the foot outwardly "pushing off" less forcefully through the ball of the foot.
Morton’s Neuroma: A Closer Look
It took some digging to discover how a foot neuroma was named Morton’s neuroma. Turns out there were two Dr. Mortons: Thomas G. Morton was a professor of orthopedic surgery at the Philadelphia Polyclinic in 1876. He also was surgeon to the Pennsylvania Hospital and to the Orthopedic Hospital and Infirmary for Nervous Diseases. T. K. Morton, a professor of clinical surgery at the Pennsylvania Hospital and consulting surgeon to the Philadelphia dispensary, is thought to have been Thomas G. Morton’s son; he also described the neuroma, in 1890.
What Is Morton’s Neuroma
Do you sometimes feel like there’s a rock inside your shoe when you’re walking? But when you check to see what’s causing the discomfort, you can’t find any rock or pebble. If this sounds familiar, you might have a condition called Morton’s neuroma.
Resources
MortonsNeuroma.com
We believe we treat more Morton’s neuroma and Plantar Fasciitis patients than any other place in the country. We are the only center that we know of to provide such a wide spectrum of treatments for Morton’s neuroma so we can offer you the most appropriate non-surgical procedure to cure your Morton’s neuroma or Plantar Fasciitis.
StatPearls
The most common symptoms are plantar pain between metatarsal heads that are aggravated by walking and wearing tight-fitting, high-heeled shoes and relieved by resting and removing shoes. Patients describe the pain as burning, stabbing, or tingling with electric sensations.
