Morton’s neuroma is a thickening of the nerve between the long bones that connect to the toes in the foot.
Morton’s Neuroma is a thickening of the nerve between the third and fourth toes. This painful neuroma causes foot pain on the balls of the feet. Morton’s neuroma may feel as though you are walking with a pebble in your sock. There are a variety of non-surgical treatment options. Morton’s neuroma is benign and mostly affects women. Contact the Center For Morton’s Neuroma for expert treatment advice.
If you’ve ever had the feeling of walking around with a rock in your shoe, then might understand the first symptoms of Morton’s neuroma. Often, this condition causes you to feel as if a rock is stuck in your shoe, or something is poking you in the ball of the foot. Morton’s neuroma foot pain treatments include non-surgical options.
Morton’s neuroma is caused by the squeezing and irritation of a small nerve called the common plantar digital nerve which provides the sensation to the webspace between the toes. This nerve runs very close to an important supporting ligament of the forefoot, the transverse intermetatarsal ligament which runs across the foot bones.
Morton’s neuroma is a common condition of the foot that affects women more often than men, with a female-to-male ratio of 4:1. They tend to occur in ages 50 – 60 although it can occur at any age in which a great deal of walking or exercising occurs.
Certain risk factors make Morton’s neuroma more likely. For instance, wearing narrow or high-heeled shoes is a well-known cause of this condition, and an important part of treatment focuses on wearing shoes that allow more space for the foot and toes.
High impact activities, such as running or jogging, can put pressure on the ligaments of the foot and cause thickening of the nerve. Sports are another common cause of Morton’s neuroma especially certain sports that require tight fitting shoes, such as skiing.
Finally, deformities of the foot, such as hammer toes, bunions, and flat feet, can cause the ligament to press on the nerve. In some cases, wearing supportive shoes can help when this is the cause of the condition, but more aggressive treatments may be necessary to correct the foot deformity.
