Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s Neuroma describes a painful condition in the forefoot, and can be quite tough to treat and manage. Morton’s Neuroma is a pathology of the interdigital nerve between either the 2nd and 3rd toe, or between the 3rd and 4th toe. It is really important with this condition to educate patients on how they can manage symptoms, perform their normal levels of exercise, and if necessary, seek intervention via an Orthopaedic Consultant.

‘How do I know if I have a Morton’s Neuroma?’

Although most people share similar symptoms, this condition can present differently in deifferent people. In some patients, the pain starts rather abruptly, over a few days/weeks, while others will feel the progression over a much longer period of time. The swelling of an interdigital nerve can cause intense pain in the forefoot, but can also cause paraesthesia or pins and needles in the affected toes. Although some patients report a trauma leading to this injury, for most patients there was no clearly defined injury that caused the onset of pain.

‘Is there a pebble in my shoe?’

A classical complaint from patients is that it feels like there is a small stone stuck in their shoe constantly. This pain can be increased by wearing narrower dress shoes, by walking longer distances, or by high impact sports like running or HIIT workouts. Wearing wider/softer footwear and resting the foot can reduce pain in the majority of early cases of Morton’s Neuroma

‘How do I solve this issue?’

Alongside your physio, you can manage your pain initially, while still being able to exercise. With the addition of specific load management, a look at gait biomechanics, and avoiding detrimental habits, a non-surgical approach can be successful. In some cases, referral onwards to an Orthopaedic Consultant may be required to discuss other possible causes of this pain, get imaging, or discuss interventions such as injections or surgery.