A fair percentage of Morton’s neuroma surgery patients develop either recurrent neuroma or similar symptoms often due to neuroma stump formation. It is estimated that as high as 30% of Morton’s neuroma surgery patients end up with post surgical pain. It is important to follow all post-surgical protocols in order to lessen the risk of complications.
Post surgical recovery generally takes 3 – 4 months due to collagen remodeling and the natural scarring process.
If you have pain after Morton’s neuroma surgery, it is very important to identify the correct cause of your pain. The most common cause of post Morton’s neuroma surgery pain is the formation of a recurrent neuroma or stump neuroma. If you develop pain after Morton’s surgery, you should see an experienced clinician as soon as possible since delaying treatment deceases the likelihood that conservative options would help.
Below are some common causes of pain in the intermetatarsal space (especially third) after surgical intervention:
The nature of the surgical procedure and the expertise of surgeon plays a vital role in the likelihood of recurrent Morton neuroma formation. Typically, the symptoms present between 3 to 12 weeks after surgery, but may be delayed by months or even years.
Classic symptoms of recurrent Morton neuroma are:
On clinical examination, Mulder’s click and Tinel’s sign may or may not be present.
Typically, conservative management is generally inadequate at achieving pain relief. Most patients report no improvement in symptoms with the use of ordinary over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs. However, you may achieve some improvement in symptoms with certain lifestyle modifications; such as:
If your Morton’s neuroma persists, you can also employ other treatment options like ultrasound guided ablation procedures. These can be very successful, especially if done under ultrasound guidance and after a diagnostic local anesthetic injection.
About 10% of patients undergo a repeat surgery to fix the symptoms of recurrent Morton’s neuroma. Unfortunately, the success rate in most revision surgeries is quite low.
Patients should avoid prolonged immobilization which can delay the healing process and adhesion formation. Soon after surgery, you should exercise to enhance your range of motion.
References:
By providing us with your information you are consenting to the collection and use of your information in accordance with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.