Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s Neuroma is a painful condition which can affect the ball of your foot.  It occurs when a nerve in your foot is damaged or irritated and often happens between the 3rd and 4th toe.

The pain can feel like a shooting, stabbing or burning pain and is often described as a sensation of a small pebble stuck in your shoe. The condition is most common in middle aged people, especially women. The cause is not fully understood.

Rachel Miller is a highly experienced podiatrist who treats many patients for Morton’s neuroma.  Please see below if you want more detailed explanation of Morton’s neuroma, its symptoms, causes and treatment.

Call 020 8348 5553 to make an appointment

Morton’s Neuroma

Symptoms of morton’s neuroma

Morton’s Neuroma’s symptoms are similar to metatarsalgia and can include:

  • a shooting pain in the ball of the foot extending to the toes
  • a sensation of walking on stones
  • burning
  • numbness and tingling between the toes
  • the pain can come and go and also can be persistently chronic

Three quarters of sufferers are female and the condition is common in people between the ages of 40 – 50 but can occur in all ages.

Causes of Morton’s neuroma

Morton’s Neuroma is sometimes called Morton’s metatarsalgia.  It is a benign neuroma, a growth of nerve tissue, and the thickening of the nerve may be due to it being compressed or stretched.

It may be that the anatomy of the bones in the foot affect the development of Morton’s neuroma and the wrong footwear can be a contributing factor to aggravating the condition in some people.

Morton’s Neuroma affects one of the plantar digital nerves that run between the long bones (metatarsals) in the foot. It is commonly found in the nerve between the third and fourth metatarsal bones, causing pain and numbness in the third and fourth toes. However, it can also affect the nerve between the second and third metatarsal bones, leading to symptoms in the second and third toes. This condition is usually only found in one foot.

Other factors can contribute to the compression of the nerve, such as inflammation of the joints, bursas, and fatty deposits called lipomas

Treatment of Morton’s neuroma

Treatment of Morton’s neuroma include:

  • medication
  • footwear advice
  • stretching and strengthening exercises
  • rest
  • ice
  • pads
  • orthotic insoles

A biomechanical assessment from an experienced podiatrist can help diagnose the condition and you can be given guidance, preventive methods  including good footwear advice. A bespoke orthotic insole can be prescribed which may help support to the foot and prevent the metatarsals from dropping. This may help to reduce and prevent compressing the nerve.

Contact the Centre for an appointment on 020 8348 5553

Rachel Miller is a highly experienced podiatrist specialising in biomechanics and orthotic insoles who sees many patients with Morton’s neuroma.  Her clinic, Highgate Podiatry, is in Highgate Village, 14 Pond Square, N6 6BA, London.  Clinics are held every Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Please contact the clinic for an appointment on 020 8348 5553. For the clinic’s address, map and directions see the Contact page and for information about orthotic insoles and biomechanics see the Biomechanics page.

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