Morton’s neuroma

[Suzanne0812]

Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?

[thelegges]

Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?

You have 3 options for MN. PT probably didn’t change much of the issues.

One injection that may give you relief,
Two surgical interventions that could help, stay the same, or cause other issues.

Three which is the only way you have left is live with it. If you become too immobile you will have to look at the first two options. MN doesn’t go away on it’s own.

[oldtimes]

Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?

I had the injections back up north which helped greatly. Since then I have just been very careful about shoes. I have had very good luck with Teva sandals and New Balance (with a wide toe box) Anything that pinches the toe area will make it come back.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I've had neuroma for around 20 years now. It used to be bad enough to get it checked by a podiatrist. He said it wasn't severe enough to do surgery (they would simply sever the nerve, but it's a painful recovery), and he wanted me to try non-invasive options first. So I stopped wearing high heels, favored open-toe sandals and sneakers with a wide toe-box. Then I discovered that the discomfort was much less severe when I bought hard-arched insoles (similar to prescription orthotics but not custom, I think Dr. Scholl's even makes them now). I also found that Birkenstocks, with the ridge at the toe base, were incredibly comfortable.

What you need to do (which my podiatrist explained at the time) is to keep your toes from squinching together. If you press the sole of your foot right in the plantar midsole, you'll discover your toes automatically spread a little bit. That's what you want to happen with whatever shoes you wear.

So a firm (hard) arch support, a mid-foot ridge, and a ridge where your toes meet your feet will create a solid foundation to help relieve the discomfort. Also, the flatter the heel, the better.

[RICH1]

SEE ANOTHER DOCTOR .... You may have other problems that need immediate attention....

[jacksonla]

Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?

A podiatrist diagnosed me with Morton's neuroma about 2 years ago and wanted me to have a CT scan then injections. If the injections didn't work, surgery. I decided not to have the scan or injections and to try and live with the painful foot awhile longer. I hadn't worn heels in years and have worn only Sketches brand shoes on my wide feet. Last month I was traveling overseas and had 4 foot rubs in a month. The 1st foot rub I told the lady to stop rubbing on that hard lump it hurt so much. The 2nd foot rub, it hurt but not enough to say stop, the 3rd foot rub the pain was almost gone completely. By the 4th foot rub the lump was gone. It seems the massages worked for me (for now) I'd say it's worth a try. My insurance covers massage therapies by licensed masseuses, maybe yours will too.

[MrFlorida]

I had the surgery about 7 years ago, complete recovery, no more pain.

[oldtimes]

I've had neuroma for around 20 years now. It used to be bad enough to get it checked by a podiatrist. He said it wasn't severe enough to do surgery (they would simply sever the nerve, but it's a painful recovery), and he wanted me to try non-invasive options first. So I stopped wearing high heels, favored open-toe sandals and sneakers with a wide toe-box. Then I discovered that the discomfort was much less severe when I bought hard-arched insoles (similar to prescription orthotics but not custom, I think Dr. Scholl's even makes them now). I also found that Birkenstocks, with the ridge at the toe base, were incredibly comfortable.

What you need to do (which my podiatrist explained at the time) is to keep your toes from squinching together. If you press the sole of your foot right in the plantar midsole, you'll discover your toes automatically spread a little bit. That's what you want to happen with whatever shoes you wear.

So a firm (hard) arch support, a mid-foot ridge, and a ridge where your toes meet your feet will create a solid foundation to help relieve the discomfort. Also, the flatter the heel, the better.

I agree. You would think soft memory foam shoes would help but they don't. Birkenstocks are very good.

[bobeaston]

Had one in the ball of my foot a number of years ago. I used a Dr. Schols pad in my shoe under that spot for a few months. It gave relief by distributing pressure, and after a time, that nerve submerged back into the muscle where it belongs. No more problems since.

[Susan1717]

My doctor had me use cold cans, like a Coca-Cola can and roll them under the balls of my feet back and forth for 10 minutes. WOW did it help. Out the cans on the floor in front of you while sitting. Out the balls of your feet on top and roll. It helped straighten my toes out.

[Trident2]

Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?

Nothing! I’ve had many injections, 3 surgeries and used 2 different docs. Just living with it for now. Using oversized, very wide, soft sole shoes. Stump neuromas can be the cause of pain after the neuroma is removed….. look it up. Everyone is different. Best of luck to you.

[La lamy]

OOFOS sandals are AMAZING. A little pricey, but outside of playing pickleball, they are the only type of shoes/flip flops I wear and much decreased foot/ arthritic toe pain.

[NancyDB]

I had a steroid injection over 20 years ago and have never been bothered by MN since.

[TeresaA]

Morton’s neuroma is painful. I’ve had the surgery twice. I really had no choice. I would avoid walking correctly, to avoid stepping down on the area that hurt. But with that, I created a new back problem. I took the chance & got the surgery but it took several years to learn correct placement of walking, because I had been avoiding that painful area. Therapy wasn’t any help, I had to adjust on my own. But without the surgery I would avoid doing so much. That’s why I decided on the surgeries. Best of luck to you!

[bshuler]

Crocs work for me. They are cheap. Give them a try.

I am considering installing thickly padded carpeting (gasp!) over my vinyl floor. It is crazy talk..

[kcwhel]

Nothing! I’ve had many injections, 3 surgeries and used 2 different docs. Just living with it for now. Using oversized, very wide, soft sole shoes. Stump neuromas can be the cause of pain after the neuroma is removed….. look it up. Everyone is different. Best of luck to you.

x2 Fjpresti, I have had almost the exact same experience with stump neuromas following surgery. Took the 4th surgery to fix and I now have uncomfortable scar tissue after 2 years.

[RoboVil]

Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?
Try getting a pair of tennis shoes with front and back gel cushion.

[kcwhel]

Try getting a pair of tennis shoes with front and back gel cushion.

Right idea. New Balance makes a shoe that oofos and similar could not match. Had to go to an New Balance outlet store to find.

[Nancy@Pinellas]

I was sure I had a knot on the bottom of my foot. The podiatrist said it just felt like one was there. It is Morton’s Neuroma. I opted for the painful shot. It helped, stretching exercises help, and changing footwear. Good luck with your struggle to find relief.

[millegn]

This may seem strange but I went to two different Dr’s over two years and neither of them helped. I never realized that at some point I developed a bunion on my left foot, which neither Dr pointed out. Because of that I needed wider shoes. Narrow shoes are one of the primary causes of Morton’s Neuroma. Changed out all my shoes and the problem went away.

[capecoralbill]

You have 3 options for MN. PT probably didn’t change much of the issues.
MN doesn’t go away on it’s own.

Mine went away on its own I went to a larger size sneaker, where the ball of the foot was not restrained, but did have some firm padding. It took about 9 months for it to go away on its own, it has not reoccurred in the last 20 years. And just so you know, it was pretty bad in the beginning. Knock on wood it'll not come back

[SusanStCatherine]

I had custom orthotics ordered through a Podiatrist. He had to have them remade a second time. But I wore them for a short while (like a few months) and the problem when away and has never returned. The Podiatrist said use the orthotics again if issue happens again, but it has not. Good luck!

[Runway48]

I think everyone's experience is a little different. 30 years ago I injured my foot playing tennis, soft tissue injury. I developed MN 10 yrs ago. It was the classic pain involving the 3rd and 4th toe. Had an ultrasound scan and there was no thickening of the nerve. I found that positioning my foot a certain way during an attack helped. I purchased New Balance orthotics, saw a podiatrist and purchased custom orthotics; within a yr the pain went away. I've read that MN can go away on its own and so I don't know whether what I did helped, or it was just a matter of time. However, I have not stopped wearing the orthotics. I view it like chicken soup, can't hurt and I walk a lot.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Mine went away on its own I went to a larger size sneaker, where the ball of the foot was not restrained, but did have some firm padding. It took about 9 months for it to go away on its own, it has not reoccurred in the last 20 years. And just so you know, it was pretty bad in the beginning. Knock on wood it'll not come back

It's still there, it just isn't irritating you anymore. If you went back to your previous sneaker size, it'd trigger a flare-up. You've found a treatment that's effective for you. This is excellent news!

I can still feel the nerve damage from mine, just a little tingling between the two toes when I put my weight on my foot. But no pain or difficulty walking anymore. Definitely flares up when I have to wear heeled shoes (like for weddings and funerals) but the symptoms subside within a day after switching back to my flats and arch supports.

[Driller703]

I’m not sure if what I have is MN. When I curl my toes down, it feels like a sock is balled up under and between my toes. Thankfully I don’t have any pain, just the annoying discomfort. Anyone have any similar experiences?

[BrianL]

Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?
I hurt my feet and ended up with Morton's neuroma from my use of an exercise bike. I changed the way I use the peddles, i.e., I quit using toe straps and placed my feet much further up on the peddles. I also changed my shoes. I went to a New Balance 928 4E shoe, i.e., an extra wide shoe to ensure that my toes are not crunched together. You want a shoe that has very good padding and you need to replace the shoes a little bit more frequently. I was unwilling to have sugary done as there is a chance they'll cut the nerve going to the toes. I did one shot, that did very little to alleviate my discomfort. Over a fairly lengthy period of time, my Morton's neuroma as improved significantly by making the changes I described above. I also wear shoes all the time.

Good luck.

[Glowing Horizon]

Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?
I had to read about Morton’s Neuroma & I’m sorry for your pain! I have had a related, similar foot deformity called Metatarsal Adductus since birth. Some things I do: I never walk around barefoot. I wear Birkenstocks most of the time (as others have also recommended) Birkenstocks keep the foot’s positioning correct & don’t allow me to roll my feet & twist my knees. I also had fairly severe nerve problems with some toes after I had the Alpha strain of Covid. This caused pain, burning, swelling & my toes turned BLACK. Scary! Doctor did xrays, tests etc. nothing serious, thankfully. But B-12 and Vitamin D were deficient. B-6 was also recommended. The supplements worked wonders in about a month. When I fail to take them, the symptoms gradually return. I saw some info online about vitamin deficiencies (B-6) & MNeuroma too. Age-old advice to use RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) helps ease INFLAMMATION pain & swelling but a word of advice: “elevation” works best when the swollen toe/foot/knee (whatever) is ABOVE your HEART for 15 minutes or more. So propping it up on the back of a sofa while lying down works pretty well—but NOT simply sitting in a recliner with your feet up. Watch what you eat too. Potatoes & nightshade veggies along with deli meats, wine, alcohol, avocados, & salt are major inflammation triggers for my troubles. As another post advised, a massage regime may be helpful if you can work up gradually & stick with it. Epsom salt soaks are amazing! (How does soaking in laxative help? No idea. Just grateful it does!) i avoid taking OTC NSAIDs like advil, alieve & tylenol bc they can seriously harm your organs. A bit of sodium gel (Voltaren-now OTC) applied to the painful spot helps but I use that sparingly too since it is absorbed & is another NSAID. I’ve found a few (actual) physical therapists on YouTube who post about very helpful exercises & movement modifications for various problems involving knee, foot & ankle pain. My favorite is El Paso Physical Therapy’s YouTube channel. Hope you find relief. Using an “all-of-the-above” approach has been most helpful for me.

[Glowing Horizon]

I hurt my feet and ended up with Morton's neuroma from my use of an exercise bike. I changed the way I use the peddles, i.e., I quit using toe straps and placed my feet much further up on the peddles. I also changed my shoes. I went to a New Balance 928 4E shoe, i.e., an extra wide shoe to ensure that my toes are not crunched together. You want a shoe that has very good padding and you need to replace the shoes a little bit more frequently. I was unwilling to have sugary done as there is a chance they'll cut the nerve going to the toes. I did one shot, that did very little to alleviate my discomfort. Over a fairly lengthy period of time, my Morton's neuroma as improved significantly by making the changes I described above. I also wear shoes all the time.

Good luck.
Good tips! The shoes especially like are WIDE width ASICS running shoes (& no I don’t run) I tried a steroid injection too. Pain got better briefly then much worse so never again for me.

My related knee arthritis pain improved a lot after I followed the YouTube El Paso Physical Therapist’s advice to point my toes outward as I walk & when I stand still. Amazing!

[Glowing Horizon]

It's still there, it just isn't irritating you anymore. If you went back to your previous sneaker size, it'd trigger a flare-up. You've found a treatment that's effective for you. This is excellent news!

I can still feel the nerve damage from mine, just a little tingling between the two toes when I put my weight on my foot. But no pain or difficulty walking anymore. Definitely flares up when I have to wear heeled shoes (like for weddings and funerals) but the symptoms subside within a day after switching back to my flats and arch supports.

Most people never notice your shoes. I have to wear whatever makes me feel better. If someone doesn’t like what I wear, then they desperately need to spend a lot more time thinking about what’s wrong with them than they just wasted on me!
Be well.

[bsloan1960]

My Doctor made we custom molded Orthotics- shoe inserts. This relieved 100% of the pain when I walk. MN doesn't go away. If orthotics weren't suggested by your doctor it's time for a new one. Not getting better. Seeing dr woo. Don’t want injections or surgery. Did pt. Didn’t really help. Changed shoes and never go barefoot. Been resting it since May.

What and who helped you?

[Bay Kid]

My foot doctor recommended Hoka shoes and it has worked for the past 2 years. Still can't go barefoot which I have always loved to do.

[Burnsurfer]

Injection immediately got rid of mine. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but please know that it is a very painful injection. Short term pain for long term gain.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Most people never notice your shoes. I have to wear whatever makes me feel better. If someone doesn’t like what I wear, then they desperately need to spend a lot more time thinking about what’s wrong with them than they just wasted on me!
Be well.

Perhaps. But there's no way I'm going to wear a tea-length formal gown with a pair of sneakers or Birkenstocks. Just isn't gonna happen.

[bsloan1960]

My Doctor made we custom molded Orthotics- shoe inserts. This relieved 100% of the pain when I walk. MN doesn't go away. If orthotics weren't suggested by your doctor it's time for a new one. Orthotics were made in Massachusetts 35 years ago. I was told they would last 10 years- I still have them. Just Google Custom Orthotics and doctors should come up. $300 35 years ago. I'd be surprised if they were too much more than that now. You can try Dr. Scholl' s Orthotics- from the pharmacy. They usually have a chart where you select the proper type based on the location of your pain.

[Bay Kid]

Injection immediately got rid of mine. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but please know that it is a very painful injection. Short term pain for long term gain.

I use a carpenters pencil when getting painful shots. It is flat and makes it easy to bite down on.