Neuroma Treatment

Morton’s neuroma can be painful. You should see your doctor if you are experiencing:

• A sharp pain between the toes
• Sharp, burning pain while walking or standing
• Inflammation between the toes
• Numbness and tingling between the toes
• Pain and swelling under the balls of the feet

Surgery is normally a day case procedure, performed under a general anaesthetic, with a post-operative local anaesthetic administered in the foot to minimise pain. A miniscule incision is made between the toes, either to make more space around the nerve by taking away the neighbouring tissue or to remove a portion of the nerve itself, which will result in the area between your toes becoming permanently numb. It is highly recommended that you stop smoking at least eight weeks before surgery because smoking affects your ability to heal and leads to health issues, such as greater risk of pulmonary embolism (blood clots forming in the lungs) or deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the calf).

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:

• Excess bleeding
• Problems from anesthesia, such as wheezing or sore throat
• Infection
• Pain returns
• Numbness in the nearby toes

It’s possible to avoid and even reverse Morton’s neuroma by taking good care of your feet. Here’s what we suggest:

• Change your shoes:Since narrow, uncomfortable shoes are the number one cause of Morton’s neuroma, your first treatment method should be to start wearing shoes with wide toe boxes and low heels. Avoid high-heeled shoes, and choose athletic footwear with ample padding to cushion your feet when playing sports.
• Wear custom-made orthotics:Adhesive neuroma pads are designed to slip inside your shoes under your forefoot, allowing you to counteract structural problems with your foot that contribute to nerve compression. Orthotic inserts are available at drug stores, but fitting custom-made versions to your feet provides better results
• Treat inflammation:When your feet are irritated, taking over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help. If you can, sit down and take your weight off your feet. Icing and massaging your feet can also provide much-needed relief.
• Corticosteroid injections: This medicine can ease the pain of an irritated nerve without making permanent changes to your foot’s structure. Injections are considered a short-term treatment option—you will need to make other lifestyle changes to eliminate Morton’s neuroma.
• Cold therapy: This treatment is intended to kill irritated nerve cells by applying freezing temperatures to the affected area. Having this procedure done may decrease the chance that Morton’s neuroma will return.
• Decompression surgery: Only consider this option as a last resort if all other treatment options fail. The goal of surgery is to reduce pressure on the nerve or remove the nerve entirely. This comes with a long list of risks and drawbacks, and surgery doesn’t guarantee success.