Morton’s Neuroma is a condition in which you get a thickening of the outer layer of a nerve in the foot.

It commonly occurs in the 3rd and 4th digits and patients complain of a sharp-shooting pain, pebble like sensation on the bottom of your foot. You may often feel burning, numbness and a tingling sensation in the ball of the foot and toes.

Conservative Care – First Line of Treatment

You may have already trialled conservative care from your podiatrist, GP or allied health professional. This will include footwear modifications, orthoses, padding and strapping and corticosteroid injections. In the majority of cases this helps to reduce the symptoms and the neuroma doesn’t progress or get worse.

When Is Surgery Needed?

In some cases, patients have not responded to conservative care (and injections) so surgery is considered. A neurectomy is a procedure we often complete with little complications. The thickened nerve is resected/cut and removed so there is no longer any sharp shooting pain through the toes. Removing this thickened portion of nerve does not affect any motor control (local muscle strength, tendon strength) and some long term numbness can be expected through the webbing of the toes. Patients are able to weight bear in a post-operative sandal immediately after the procedure. Patients have to limit their activity levels for some weeks to allow for the wound to heal, sutures to be removed and adequate soft tissue healing to occur.