Morton’s Neuroma: Episode 49

• In this episode: Morton’s Neuroma. Pain in the forefoot and between the toes, sometimes numbness and/0r tingling. Usually related to tight footwear. (01:06)

• Chip Review: Pop Chips Potato – Crazy Hot, Thank you to Skylar and his Mom (12:45)

• Trivia question of the week: What names were given to the three tunnels in the movie The Great Escape? (11:10)

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• Thanks for listening!!

Morton’s neuroma symptoms, typically pain in the foot, worse with shoe wear or boot wear or stake wear, any kind of compression of the foot. It is most common in middle age. More common in women, but that could just be footwear related. Most commonly seen a the 3^rd digital nerve. However, any of the digital nerves are possible. More or less the middle of the foot.

A neuroma is typically caused by an enlargement of the nerve ending, almost like a benign tumor of the nerve ending. This enlargement then causes compression, which results in pain, numbness, and/or tingling. Historically surgery, minimally invasive, to remove the growth was an early treatment option.

Much more recently physical therapy treatment and other non-surgical options have been found to be as if not more effective. Intrinsic foot strengthening, getting the muscle of the foot stronger as well as doing a shoe assessment and looking at the daily activities that are causing pressure on the forefoot are the places to start working to correct.

Generally speaking unloading the forefoot will help. Djimmer has been using a very simple taping technique where you pinch the bottom of the foot together. This causes the top of the foot to open up and reduce the pressure on the neuroma. 99/100 times this will relieve the neuroma. This is a temporary solution but it allows for patients to be comfortable and then work on strengthening, balance and the other aspects of treatment.

If taping is helpful often times an off the rack orthotic will be appropriate. You don’t always need a $3-400 orthotic custom made for it to be affective. This is something you can cut to length and move from one shoe to the other.

Shoes and getting shoes that fit properly is one of the easiest and quickest ways to help yourself. Reducing pressure on the forefoot is going to be the primary cause of a Morton’s neuroma so reducing that pressure is part of the long term solution.

Other episodes you might find useful:

 

Stress Fractures: Episode 43

Foot & Ankle Health with Dr. Mohammad Rimawi: Episode 40

Plantar Fasciitis: Episode 11

Ankle Sprain_Inversion Type: Episode 3