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 in the ball of the foot, most often occurring between the third and fourth toes. This condition can cause pain and discomfort. 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. Several excellent non-surgical treatment options are available.
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.
As the nerve runs under the transverse intermetatarsal ligament in the ball of the foot, it becomes trapped and squeezed against the ligament. The continual pressure on the nerve causes the irritation reaction to reoccur becoming chronic resulting in fibrosis within the nerve and thickening of the nerve. Unfortunately, this thickened, fibrotic nerve further compresses the nerve cells causing greater pain. The pain can become so intense that it prevents weight bearing and walking. This is how Morton’s syndrome develops.
Common causes of Morton’s Neuroma include:
By addressing these risk factors, you can reduce your chances of developing Morton’s Neuroma.
Morton’s neuroma symptoms are typically on one side of the foot, usually between the third and fourth toes but the pain can extend outwards or even involve the whole side of the Morton’s foot. You may not likely feel a lump in your neuroma foot, because a neuroma is generally small. You may feel a burning pain in your forefoot, and this pain can extend into the toes and be hard to find relief from Morton’s neuroma.
These symptoms may come and go but tend to worsen over time without treatment. You may experience flare ups such as two attacks in a week but then have no symptoms for over a year. However, the attacks tend to become more frequent as time progresses. A foot may contain two separate Morton’s neuromas.
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.
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