Morton’s Neuroma
When you first get diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma, most people want to know what the hell it is. Let first explain the basics – what is a Nueroma?
A Nueroma is basically a thickening of nerve fibres that can occur in any part of the body. When we talk about “Morton’s neuroma” – this refers to the most common Nueroma that occurs in the metatarsal bones (the bones that link your toes to your central foot.) It was named “Morton’s” after a physician called Thomas G. Morton described the condition in 1876 (he actually got the cause wrong but the name stuck!)
It is believed that this Nueroma is caused by the local bones causing compression and irritation of the nerve causing it to swell and thicken. Left untreated this Nueroma can lead to permanent never damage!
The classic Morton’s Nueroma location is nerve damage between the 4th and 3rd toe – 80% of sufferers are affected here and 15% have damage between the 2nd and 3rd toes.
Symptoms – How does it feel?
The most common signs of Morton’s neuroma is the following:
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Your foot tingles or burns and even may have numbness in areas
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The big one – Pain! Morton’s neuroma hurts real bad, this was the first sign that i noticed which eventually lead to my diagnosis.
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Sometimes people feel that there is something stuck in the ball of their foot – you might often check your shoe for an object or feel that your socks are hunched up.
The above symptoms are what early sufferers feel, however as the Nueroma progresses the following pattern is seen in sufferers.
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The above symptoms start gradual at first but as it progresses they become more obvious and regular. Often in the very initial stage- you might only have problems when you wear very tight shoes or when performing feet heavy exercise.
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You will find out that by massaging the foot, the main symptoms go away and by avoiding activities the symptoms are less pronounced.
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However if left untreated the symptoms can become more intense and will persist for days or at worst weeks!
Why does it occur?
Morton’s Nueroma is commonly found among Middle aged women and there are a number of possible reasons for the condition occurring.
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Wrong shoe choice – high heels are the worst culprit as they force the foot into a small toe box which puts pressure on the surrounding bones and thus inflammation of the nerve.
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Previous foot problems – Any person who has bunions, flatfeet, hammertoes or even really flexible feet is at risk for this condition. Foot problems lead to more intense pressure between the bones and over time lead to a higher risk of causing nerve damage.
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Sports damage due to repetition irritation – Any sport such as tennis or running that puts repetitive strain on the foot can lead to more risk of nerve irritation.
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Injury – Accidents that break or cause damage to the foot can also be a risk factor.
How do I get it Diagnosed?
The easiest way to get this condition diagnosed is to visit a local podiatrist/ankle surgeon. Podiatrists work only with the feet and will be able to use a variety of tests to provide an accurate diagnosis.
It’s worth noting that like with any condition it’s worth seeing someone in the early stages of the condition. If treated early – there is far less need for invasive surgery.
Treatment
When you first visit your podiatric surgeon they will base your treatment on how far your nueroma development is. Every treatment will vary depending on how severe you particular problem is.
As a Morton’s Nueroma sufferer I have been able to research every possible treatment and will use this blog to share this information with my readers.
1. Padding
This involves using a variety of supports to improve the arch of the metatarsal. It’s hoped that this will take pressure away from the nerve as it reduces the compression in the foot.
2. Icing
A common but effective treatment that you can do at home is placing ice on the foot. The cold helps to reduce swelling and thus reduce compression within the foot.
3. Activity Modification
If you are diagnosed early – you may be able to reduce the amount of pressure on your foot by modifying your activities. You might have to swap your daily run to exercise that puts less pressure on the foot such as swimming.
4. Orthotic devices
Your podiatrist may provide information on devices that can help to provide support to your foot that leads to reduced compression and nerve inflammation. You will be able to find a list of common devices in a later blog post.
5. Change of Footwear
As i mentioned earlier – shoes that compress your feet are the main causes for of this condition. By only using shoes that have a wide area for your feet – you can help to reduce compression and inflammation. There is also a variety of shoes on the market that some patients have found effective and reducing compression. In later posts i will research if shoes like the sketchers shape up shoes and Vibram five fingers can help or not.
6. Injection Therapy
If the above techniques lead to no improvement – then one options is the use of injection therapy.
7. Surgery
Surgery is seen as last resort attempt to provide relief to Morton Nueroma sufferers. Surgery usually takes the form of removing the nerve or releasing it to ease pressure.
However even after surgery – patients need to work with their Podiatrist to use long-term measures to make sure the condition does not return. These measures often include changing footwear and reducing problematic activities.
I will be updating this blog regularly to update you on my personal research for the above treatments. If you have any experience of the above treatments then please contact me – I would love to speak to you.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Amy
What about cryo injections only I’ve already had surgery on one foot and the sympton are returning and now the other foot has the same problem. As you can imagine I’m not keen to have surgery on the other foot when it can come back.
I’m sorry to hear that Tina – i will be creating a report in the next couple of days detailing all the treatments available (cryo will be included)
I was due to have surgery today for a neuroma and bunion problem combined, however, as I did not have the correct strength pain killers with me, it has been postponed until next month. After reading various reports on neuroma surgery I am not sure it is a good idea to proceed with the operation at all. It definately requires more research on my part.
I had surgery on my neuroma after trying many other unsuccessful solutions. Unfortunately in my case the surgery was not successful, and actually made things worse. I now have numbness in two of my toes and experience cramping in them periodically in addition to the pain in thebottom of my foot. This whole situation is so frusterating! Good luck whatever you decide.
I know how you feel. I have the exact same problems with numbness, etc.
I had morton´s neuroma for about 2 years and was afraid of all the bad press about surgery for this condition. I read Dr. andrew Weil´s solution for this miserable problem and I followed his advice and it worked.
It is a product called DMSO. I purchased it in California. I applied it 3 times a day for three days, then 2 times a day for 3 days, and then 1 time a day for 3 days. This was about 2 years ago and it removed the neuroma from between my toes.
DMSO is not sold by doctor´s but mostly by people that have used it and shared their knowledge with friends and family. Hope this helps someone. I spent countless hours on the internet trying to find some solution for this condition.
Sharon
Sharon,
I am suffering with MN in both feet. I have had several bunion and sesamoid surgeries which, in retrospect I should have never had so Im not about to have any more! Where were you able to purchase the DMSO? I saw a mail order site but wondered if you had any more info.
thanks for sharing.
Michele
Nonsense.
Once a Neuroma develops it is there permanently.
Dr Weil should smoke more dope
what kind did you buy, the strength and what form. i have had 2 unsuccessful surgies.. will try anything
Hi Sharon
I have been reading countless blogs, had both feet operated on 2 years ago for bunions. I have had horrible pain on the right foot the past year, finally doing my own research I went back to the dr and asked for cortisone shots, after 3 shots in 1 month still no relief.
Im at the point where I can step on my right foot, I am a pilates trainer, and Im ready to cry. I refuse another surgery after the bunions.
I have read your post and I am a believer, where did you get this medicine, do u know the site, or should I try to get a prescription?
did u use cream or liquid?
how bad were ur nueromas? how are they today?
thanks for your help
A
please repley to ajda@ajdasabuncu.com
Hi Amy.
I have morton’s neuroma in my right foot through wear and tear at work and sports.
I had a cortisone steroid injection a few weeks ago but has not cured the condition.
I will be seeing a hospital specialist at the end of April to reasses what else can be done, I am not keen on any conventional surgery as there seems to be a high chance of complications and reoccurence plus a long recuperating period but the new cryotherapy surgery looks a lot better.
Do you know whether this treatment is available on the NHS and if not how much the procedure costs. I live in south Devon but don’t mind travelling to a hospital/clinic in another part of the country if necessary.
Any info you can give me regarding the above would be very gratefully received.
Kind regards
James
The balls of my feet hurt all the time, even when I’m not on them. I have had the neuroma removed from my right foot and it came back. I don’t want surgery again. I really wondering if the five finger shoes would be beneficial for neuroma sufferers. Thank you for sharing your knowledge….
hi, Linda – i’m wondering if you’ve heard anything about the “five finger” shoes? I’m thinking of trying them for running since that seems to be the main cause of my neuroma pain…
What about Endoscopic Morton’s Neuroma Surgery (EDIN)?
I have just been diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma in both feet – yes I am afraid I wore a great many fabulously high and elegant shoes I now regret. I have read about the surgery available, which docotors have mentioned to me as the only solution, but is more palliative than actually providing a cure, So I am looking at trying everything possible before going that route. I have made an appointment to see a doctor here where I live in Italy who uses a combination of acupuncture, laser therapy, injection and even electric shock, A close friend has found that she has had great relief from this therapy. I wonder if you know whether or not this is more effective than the op? Is it (is anything?)permanent or will this condition in any case come back?
Thank you for responding and kind regards
I had a Mortons nueroma removed several years ago. Yes my toes were numb and that was weird but have had no pain or recurrance. Now I have developed a nueroma on my other foot after I dislocated my toe which hasn’t healed correctly. Has anyone ever heard of that happening?
I’m brand new here. However, not new to Mortons Neuromas having had them diagnosed 14 or 15 years ago. I’ve tried almost everything except real surgery (had one attempt at cutting the tendon to give the left one more room – failure). I’ll list what I’ve had:
-Cortisone
-Ethyl alcohol
-Orthotics – I often feel taping gauze patches does as well if not better
-Ultra-sound
-Accupuncture w/ stimulation
-Massage therapy
-the minor surgery mentioned above
I’ve been avoiding all other surgery because no one seems improved after having it. One man told me never to get surgery since he’d had 5 operations on his two feet and each surgery made them worse.
What more information is there on EDIN though. Any success there? I’d love any advice anyone has.
Joyce
Does anyone know if there Is any research of morton’s neuroma going on anywhere?
I had surgery for a Morton’s neuroma in August of 2009 and it is May of 2011 and now I have the stump neuroma and it is 100 times more painful than the original problem , all of the information I have been given by my doctor is that the neuroma was not fully removed so now we have to go back in and do it againj! Oh goody! If you would like my advice I would say avoid the surgery , it has been a nightmare since it began and the doctor I have does not seem to help.
We have the same problem. My surgery was in October 2010. I am suffering severely! Still up and going but how horrible the pain is! I thought before that I had exhausted my resources and so I consented to the surgery. Now the pain is a different kind, but hurts just as badly! I (we) have done every thing to try and fix this problem, but no one has mentioned a “stump neuroma” . will you elaborate for me, please? Thanks. I’m so gald I found this blog. I thought I was the only person to have the surgery fail!
I was diagnosed with Morton neuromas in both feet last month. I’m currently trying the custom orthotics and going for a second opinion next week. I’m concerned that they will want to do a series of steroid injections that I’ve heard are EXTREMELY painful. Granted, the neuromas hurt very much as well. Can anyone tell me about the pain level of steroid injections as well as any successes with it?
I’ve tried tapings, orthotics and steroid injections without success. The steroid injections were traumatic – so much so that when I had my neurome surgically removed I required a general anaesthetic as I didn’t want any needles into my foot unless I was asleep!
Now a month since op and still swelling and some pain. I’m hopeful it will be successful.
The cortisone injections are somewhat painful. They do them on the top of the foot. I wouldn’t say they are extremely painful though – it is short-lived. The doctor can put some lidocaine in with the injection also. I’ve had them and don’t think they help – the doctor has to get it in the right location to make a difference and I don’t think mine did. You can’t have them very often either otherwise it can cause damage to tissue.
I had one a few hours ago. He numbed me first and it just aches. I also had 2 huge neuromas removed. Much relief!
I’ve had several injections in the top of my foot. Dr. sprays a numbing liquid (very cold) on the area and then makes the injection. It takes only a few seconds and doesn’t hurt afterward so not that big a deal. didn’t hurt that bad, especially if it fixes your problem.
Hi Kelly,
I’ve had the condition off and on for a few years. First right foot and it went away, it was mild and gave me those “shocks” from walking on a tile or cement floor. My left one developed over a year ago and I first had an official diagnosis last September (2010) and had a steroid shot which frankly didn’t hurt at all, my doctor goes very slowly. But it did not help at all. I’ve been very busy and obviously need my feet for travel so I’ve been getting around it by wearing shoes with cushions (thank God for Fit Flops) or hobbling around the house compromising my ankle. I had enough last week and went back to him as the swelling is the size of a half an egg and is protruding from my foot.. He started me on the alcohol injections and I’m supposed to go back every two weeks for up to 7 treatments. Per my doctor, some people do get relief from the steroid. He also said that the alcohol treatment is hit or miss, some people feel relief quickly (it’s been 5 days and mine hurts worse), but I’ll try the treatments and check back in with you all. This really does stink because I gave up high heels 10 years ago, but I was a dancer, point and all, up until my teenage years. I also wonder and will research this, but does anyone have autoimmune problems? I have two and wonder if this is yet another symptom of my body attacking itself. Good times!!!
Hi Melissa S/Amy Leigh
Discovering this site tonight and realising how many people are out there suffering from this damned thing has been terribly depressing. But also incredibly helpful.
Melissa, something you said particularly caught my eye. And I am anxious to hear of your progress since May 2011.
I have recently been diagnosed with MN in my right foot (and possible bursitis in my left) – evidenced by an MRI scan.
I too have been experiencing the telltale symptoms associated with this debilitating condition – which has crept up on me over the past 12 months, becoming progressively worse.
And so I have just spent yet another evening painstakingly (excuse the pun) researching this cursed affliction, prompted by my first steroid injection a week ago which left me unable to walk or drive, or get to work for 3 days.
I have seen a slight improvement since, in that when I first stand on my feet in the morning when I get out of bed, it no longer feels as though the whole blood supply from my body is making its way down to that area, the pain making me cry out (only relieved by a hot shower, and getting the circulation going again by walking around – in padded slippers of course. So relief for me for the moment: no more clicking on the non-carpeted floor).
From what I have read (not just on this site) I am quite sure relief by injection is only temporary.
And am now convinced, having read all your posts, that I do not wish to go down the surgery route, or indeed have any further partially ineffective needles thrust into my feet (btw: didn’t feel a thing – he was marvelous – until the anaesthetic wore off 2 hours later).
I don’t think I can add much more to this condition than all of you have already said.
But, the one thing you did raise Melissa, which immediately made me sit up and take notice, was your reference to “auto immune problems” and MN possibly being another symptom of your body attacking itself.
I find this particularly interesting because when I was looking for the answer to my foot problem, I did extensive research and, piecing together my whole medical history since I was 18 years of age (I am now 51: a very young, vibrant and energetic 50+ woman I might add – until MN hit me. Now, I can no longer dance, go to the gym, play badminton, walk the art galleries of London or the cliffs of Wales, or even wear the occasional heels to compliment an outfit for special occasions) I decided that I have psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease – which can also attack the feet.
And since psoriatic arthritis is symmetrical, and I have (unusually for MN apparently) problems with both feet, my rheumatologist agreed with me 75%-25% that, taking into account other medical problems it could be PA. Until the scan.
However, he still agrees I may have PA – but perhaps not in the feet?
I am still convinced there is a link here, and would be really interested to receive thoughts on this – and connections with other autoimmune sufferers.
It seems apparent that effective treatment for MN is not out there for everyone. But we need it. So we need to find the root of this condition. Identifying the cause of this problem may eventually find us the treatment. There is a common denominator here somewhere, a link, which we all need to find.
Sharing our medical histories and day to day symptoms of MN takes us one step closer. And sites likes this facilitate this kind of feedback.
So thank you Amy Leigh, please let me know if I can help with your research in any way.
Kate
Hi Kate. I noticed you were a more recent post and I just wondered if you have found any thing that has helped your neuroma problem. I had sudden onset on right foot with swelling and bruising then about a week later same on my left foot minus the bruising. Ice and rest plus ibuprofen and 3 weeks later im in alot of pain. Don’t want surgery but would do laser. Anyone out there that knows of a great podiatrist or any one that can help in ohio or surrounding area would be greatly appreciated. Good luck to you Kate and anyone else reading this post. I will post anything that works on my end. Deb
Hi Melissa. I had a MN surgically removed from my right foot 8 years ago, with great success. Over the last 7 years I have suffered with the same pain in the other foot, and am re-assessing the options available now. Damned if you do, damned if you dont! Anyway, interestingly enough I also suffer from Lypomas all over my body. MN and Lypomas are benign tumours. There is definately a link, just not sure if its auto immune. Cheers and good luck
I tried a cortisone injection for the neuroma prior to surgery, with no success.
Finally had an operation for removal of my neuroma and bunion on the 23rd May. It is too early to say what the final result will be. I have had to sit with my foot raised for two weeks due to the extensive surgery. As to be expected, initially it was quite painful, however, there is definately a daily improvement in the pain level and my mobiity.
I shall post an update on my progress in due course.
Hi Meg….where are you now in terms of pain & mobility. I like yourself am 2 wks post op with no improvement whatsoever & am feeling this was a mistake. I cannot even touch my foot to the floor for a second without pain…..whereas many people can walk after 10 days, I’ve heard. This has most definitely been a depressing experience.
I can’t even imagine going back to jazz classes or zumba at this point…..
I am anxious to hear how you are doing??
Thanks Meg…
I was diagnosed a year ago with an M.N In my right foot. I’m in the Army, so you can imagine I over use my feet quite a bit. Well, I got my first cortisone injection today, and I cannot walk! I’m not sure the injection was supposed to hurt this badly. Does it usually and if so, for how long?
I had injections for months before the surgery. They never helped, I’m sorry to say. But then, neither did the surgery. I am as bad if not worse now with the pain. I take Alleve to be able to sleep. I have terrible leg cramps up the back of the leg, in that nerve. I have tried every kind of oil, rubs, etc. Do hot epsom water soaks. I do icing. I keep foot elevated as much as possible. I wear flip flops most of the time. I get injections. I take ultra sound treatments. My surgery was in October, this is near August. My foot is swollen and discolored; and inflammed most of the time! Yeah……good times. Not!
I was sore after my first cortisone shots but the more shots I got the more my foot got used to it, I switched to alcohol and the shots don’t bother me at all now
Hurt / pain can not describe what I felt….. I had 5 shots the same day on the same foot. I wanted to slap the Doctor, I had no pain relief what so ever….This is so depressing…. Hope you are better soon.
I had a cortizone shot a number of years ago and almost passed out – will not do that again, plus it only helped for about a month.
I have a neuroma in each foot. I have tried the cortisone injections but they caused the flesh around the neuromas to wither and shrink and I would get random severe pain episodes and bruising between injections. I have never been one for wearing high heels but I did run. I am without medical insurance now and trying to figure out what I can do. When I had a doctor he suggested the ethanol injections but after reading the above posts, that doesn’t sound like a surefire method either. Has anyone tried the gel things that spread your toes apart at night? Do they help?
I’m thinking about heading (back) to my podiatrist to see if the lingering numbness/pain in my foot is a neuroma.
More than a year ago (March ’10), I broke the 2nd metatarsal in my left foot. It eventually healed and I started light running in August/September of that year.
However, in late October, I developed pain similar to a stress fracture near the 3rd/4th metatarsal of the foot. Although nothing was indicated on X-Rays, I was told it was a light stress fracture (called a ‘march fracture’, named from a condition WWI soldiers suffered from).
The majority of the pain subsided, but over the past number of months, it has been replaced by dull pain & increased numbness during activity.
I’d love your thought on if this could be a neuroma or not?
I was diagnosed with 2 neuromas 9 years ago. I went through the cortisone shots that helped for many years until my last one last year, where I saw no difference (I had been putting off the surgery for a last resort). Well, I had morton’s neuroma surgery on my left foot in late December 2010. I had 3 very large neuromas removed. I was told that it would take 1 full year for the foot to feel 100% better, but that after 6 months I would feel like “oh, I had surgery, I feel great”. Well, I am at 6 months and I am not saying that. The toe next to my big toe started with a larger space than most toes (b/c of injury), after the surgery that toe now pretty much sits on top of the big toe. I have used a toe separator, but that is just like putting a bandaid on it. I still have pain in my foot if I walk more than 2 hours. I was told that 3 of my toes would most likely have permanent numbness. I was fine with that since the foot itself was so painful before surgery. I was in the boot for about 4 months….but I did walk on the foot 2 hours a day (doctor’s orders). I have followed EVERYTHING the podiatrist has told me. I no longer feel any change in my foot. I work with some nurses and a doctor and I was told to get a second opinion, that they feel the toe needs a fusion. Sure it is not pretty to look at..but at this point I just want some pain from the neuroma. I also believe i have plantar facilitis on the heel (I do have it on one foot, but I’m not 100% sure it is this one). I wear custom made orthotics and I wear larger shoes that are comforable…but I am a mom of a 9 year old and the last 9 years I haven’t been able to be as active as I want. Walking down the block has caused so much pain. Anyone suggest any other options? On top of it..I have gone to the same doctor for 9 years and I really like him. The thought of asking him for my records for a second opinion is causing me anxiety, yet if I had cancer I wouldn’t think twice about getting a 2nd opinion. Any help is appreciated.
I would recommend the corisone injections. The only pain for me was when the doctor put in the pain medication (I told him he needed to work on that). After getting the injection I felt as though I was walking on a ball…but after less than a day I could truly feel the difference, I no longer had the pain I experienced. I would highly recommend going this route. The podiatrist was very good about telling me how often i could get them and they were spaced out very far as too much cortisone is not good. Hope that helps!
i am 3 weeks post op to remove a m/n in the 2nd-3rd interspace on my left foot and create more space between the 3rd-4th. i was diagnosed in August 2009 and have had steroid injections every 3 months up until January this year. whilst the steroid injections ease the pain alitlle, i still could not wear any shoes and still spent my life living in ugg boots and flip flops.. i decided in january to be able to have any quality of life again, to be able to run and wear nice shoes, then surgery was the only way forward. i went into hospital for 12noon, the operation was carried out at 4.50pm and lasted 1 hour. i was back home on crutches wearing an ortho boot by 7.30pm that evening. my foot was heavily bandaged i was given painkillers should i need them. i only took 2 of the painkillers as the pain seemed managable. the bandages came off 48 hours later to leave a small scar with disolving stitches..i have just had my post op assesments (16 days post surgery) all is well and was advised to move back into normal comfortable shoes. i have now returned to work today and feel i hae managed a 9 hours shift on my feet okay.. i have to say i had mixed feelings about surgery as alot of posts have a negative theme to them… all i can say is, it is the best thing that i have done for my foot in 2 years and should i ever have the same problem then i wont hesitat for surgery straight away. i hope this helps any one who is sffering with a mortons nuroma…i sympathise with you..i have been there…seen it… and bought the t.shirt.
Would you mind telling me where you live and the Doctor you used. So far your surgery has had the best by far the best outcome. I would travel to have my foot free of pain. I believe my Doctor has to be the Doctor that hates people……
Thank you for your encouraging words. I have suffered with MN since I was in my late teens; probably an athletic injury. I am now 58. In tried inserts, which made matters worse & finally went to only open toe shoes or a wide toe box shoe. Luckily, I met a new friend with MN who referred me to his surgeon. My friend had his surgery 10 years ago & has bee 100% pain free! My surgery was today & I am hoping for the same results, but only time will tell!
Deborah in Austin, Texas
Could you tell me how your surgery turned out? I am thinking about doing this, but am rather hesitant.
Hi Tom
ive left a blog today about my MN. my consultant thinks that my neuroma developed from me breaking my 2nd digit 8 years ago. Try asking them to give you an ultra sound scan rather than a normal x-ray…the ultra sound is more moveable around your interspaces and picks up any obstructions. I run and it was painful but also found that a cooling freeze footspray would get me about 1hour of bearable running…best of luck…just ping me if you have any more questions…
Karen..
I live in Italy also and would be interested in seeing a doctor that specializes in Morton’s neuromas. Would you recommend yours? I’ve had MN in both feet for 6 years. I have tried the alcohol injections (9 total) and found it did improve the condition initially, then it made it worse. The shots are beyond painful and it would take me a couple of days to be able to walk. I won’t do the cortisone shots because of this experience. I am interested in trying less invasive treatments.
Thanks.
All my toes hurt except my big toes. I’ve had this for a long time. I’m active and wear good shoes especially if I’m going to be out shopping for awhile. Should I go to a Orthopedic or Podonarist? I’m taking Alpha Lipoic acid tablets just started and aleve. I sleep fine but,
during the day if I’m idle, my toes hurt. As long as I’m busy I don’t notice it as much.
Hi Amy great source of information, many thanks. I’ve had MN for a number of years and like Lily have found that as time goes buy the alcohol injections seem less effective.
Hi Amy,
What a great website! I was diagnosed w/Morton’s Neuroma after I picked up jogging at the age of 47. I never had a problem before now. I noticed on my very first workout that I had this HORRIBLE pain and burning sensation in my toes. I tried lidocaine patches (work well for a while, until the neuroma started to bulge through the patch!), and finally saw my podiatrist. I’m waiting for my custom orthotics to come in next week. I don’t want to give up running and so far, haven’t had to. I was wondering if anyone else on this site has had the experience of dealing with this while still running…not fun – but I am determined to run my first 5K in September
The steroid injections (i.e. cortizone) aren’t too bad. They’re a bit painful, but if the doc numbs you up, you should be fine. There’s a bit of mild pain thereafter, but it’s not too bad. The injections are a great compliment to orthotics. Just make sure your doctor builds a metatarsal pad into them. Otherwise, they don’t reduce the pressure on your neuroma. My first podiatrist didn’t build this in, but then I found this article: http://why-do-my-feet-hurt.com/morton.html and it helped point me in the right direction (re: my neuroma). Good luck!
@Lilly: If you want to travel to the states, I would recommend my Dr, Mark Kuzel. He is a very experienced and skilled podiatrist in Seattle, WA. I don’t know much about the doctors in Italy, but I’m sure you can find a good one there too!
@Isabelle: See a podiatrist. They only deal with feet and ankle, so you’ll get more specialized treatment. If I can help anyone else with my experience, please let me know. Nobody should have to deal with this!
Anyone having problems after having having 2 neuroma surgeries? I had my first one in November where they snipped it by going in from the top, and then 5 weeks ago a 2nd surgery on the same nerve through a 3″ incision on the bottom of the foot to take it further back. Before both surgeries I tried coritison and therapy (ultrasound therapy actually flared it up to excrutiating pain before the first surgery). I felt like I recovered about 80% after the first surgery, but the nerve would shock me when touching the bottom of my foot, so I went for the 2nd surgery as I didn’t want to limp forever (I’m just 28). Now a full 5 weeks after the stump neuroma removal, I still can’t put weight on the foot (my 2 podiatric doctors said no weight bearing for 4 weeks post opp, and at the 4 week post op, they said it’s normal to still not be able to put weight on, and I also have the shocks/shooting pain when touching the bottom of the foot, now even further back getting 2″ away from the heal. I’m worse off than I was before this 2nd surgery (The actual incision mark is healing nicely, probably because would hurt too much to bear weight, so it was easy to not put weight on it). They said this is common and should eventually go away, but it’s this pain that lead me to surgery, so I am doubtful it’ll just go away. If anyone has had a stump neuroma removed (reading the above, sounds like everyone is still on just their initial surgery) please chiime in with how long the recover takes to be able to start walking and for the shocks to go away. This is the worse thing that has happened to me at 28 yrs young. Between doctor visits and therapy, I’ve done over 60 visits now in the last 1.5 yrs. Tried to get into the Mayo Clinic twice now, and declined as the doctor that reviewed my case said “they wouldn’t know how to help.”
Which Dr? Yours or the Mayo Clinic Dr?
Seems we are cursed! lol However, I am grateful for this blog. It helps me know I am not alone in this, and maybe one day someone will come out with a wonderful new way to relieve the pain and we can all be helped…….like a miracle!
I had first mn surgery on my right foot july 09 and it didn’t work. In fact I ended up with a stump neuroma and a second smaller neuroma. Had second surgery in August 10 and since then have had a hellish time. Its like I have a razor blade in the bottom of my foot and apparently its scar tissue which has wrapped itself around a nerve.. Have tried accupuncture, all kinds of balms, painmanagement, meditation, wierd therapies and nothing works. Spent thousands $$ over the last 3 years and worse than ever. I wish somebody could tell me exactly how to fix this, but I dont believe anyone really knows. Now Im on antidepressants which help (without them I was a basket case) and natural antiinflammatories. I wish I had never had the first operation, if only………………
I am a runner and experience the same problems. Right now using ice and trying wider shoes with larger toe box. Training for a marathon so trying to band-aid my way thru. Will take any suggestions!
It is probably too late to answer your question, but I have one steroid injection in both feet – very painful. at first my feet were worse after the shots (for a couple of days), then they improved. however, that did not last. My doctor (high respected orthopedic group – have won prestigious awards, says that you should not get any more than ONE shot in your foot. anymore than that will do damage to your foot.
SO everyone out there – do not let your doctor talk you into more shots.
informative thread
My M.N. developed over several years, to the point that walking became rather painful. I should observe that I live in a rural part of SW Costa Rica with no road, I have to walk including a 30m stairway to my house. I investigated some and, as I am 66 and broke, decided to go directly for the operation. X-rays were negative but an ultrasound “clearly” showed the neuroma. The operation was 1 1/2 hours (difficult to find I was told) from the topside and recovery took ~9 weeks.
Unfortunately there was/is no change, for better or worse. Additionally the operation was between my 3ed and 4th toes and the neuroma is between the 2ed and 3ed toes. I have not yet had a discussion with the Dr. but expect nothing at this point.
Not clear what I should try, I’ve ‘shot my wad’ financially and would certainly not wish more pain than I now have – which seems to be the result for some posting here. I suspect the ‘sample’ here may be a bit skewed as there are about no positive results described.
Suggestions ?
Bill
I too have had Mortons for years, I believe a roofing screw that I stepped on in 1996 which penetrated my foot some and caused swelling (it was rusty), my leg swelled at work the next day and I had to get a tetanus shot,. For years I could feel the pain between the 3rd & 4th toes, the doc first said is was scar tissue from the roofing screw- not nail but screw- they tried freeze burning it a little, Fast forward to 1998-2000, -2003-2006 I broke the 4th and 5th toes for about the 5th time in my life(going barefoot in my house and bumping into things), by 2007 I can no longer wear closed toed shoes and the only relief comes from wearing open toed summer sandals or primarily Old Navy flip flops, I buy 10 every color they have to match my wardrobe. Tennis and running shoes, with the laces pulled super loose I can only wear for 10 minutes and the pain is horrible so I take them off right away.
The last year has been really bad, the cortisone shots never really worked and I had over 10 of them between 2008 and the end of 2010. I have seen 2 portraitists, I was scheduled for the surgery but when the anesthesiologist did the final review of my blood work I supplied , he reconfirmed what the Endocrinologist said, No Surgery due to being hyper-thyroid and at risk of Thyroid Storm- meaning surgery could kill me.
No I am with another Endocrinologist who has me on Tapozole 30 mg a day to get the Thyroid under control so I can go back and have the Foot surgery. I get my new blood work tomorrow and will know if I can have the surgery but after reading everyone’s post and doing research of my own, I don’t know if the surgery is a good idea. I am female 47, and not being able to go hiking and walking – Lots of mountains in Phoenix, AZ, well I am at loss and gaining weight.
Not being able to wear regular shoes, and the flip flops, I tend to always kick off. I feel best barefoot,……….this is also causing another problem since I have all TILE FLOORING , and no carpets , the going barefoot is wearing out the pads of my feet in addition to the tile floors, I now wake and feel like I have arthritis in my feet and my posture is off, for which a chiropractor says the spine and feet are linked together. I can’t keep going barefoot, and heaven forbid trying to go on a job interview and seek employment in a place that has a dress and shoe code.
Has the surgery actually worked for anyone besides Karen up above. If the thyroid is improved tomorrow I can schedule to see the podiatrist again and start surgery soon.
The doctor assured me of success but did say it could come back but that he has been doing the surgery for over 20 yrs and never had anyone come back for it not working but so many seem to say it does not work.
Suggestions please
hmmm
does M.N. derive from an ‘external’ irritation?
I have been tormented by planter’s warts for some 20 yrs, in fact have 2 in line with where the M.N. is. I have never had the (financial) option of freezing them, instead generally used a straight razor blade to cut at them. An exercise in masochism to the extreme.
Bill
Bill , Put a clove of garlic on it cover with a bandage. Do This before bedtime then remove in morning .
I had the cortizone injections they hurt the first time but about 10 days later I got the second round and they werent that bad. They feel like a hard pinch but nothing you can’t deal with. They didn’t work so grat though, I switched to the alcohol imjections and they last for about 9 months
I was diagnosed yesterday with Mortons Neuroma (very large) between my right foot 3rd and 4th toes as well as smaller ones between 2 other toes. Got the cortizone/steroid injection with very little pain. The acid in the shot caused a little burning for a minute or two. Walking much better already, but the surgeon will watch for 2 weeks and determine if it is effective enough to not need surgery. It sounds like if the shot of cortizone works, they will do about 2 more treatments and all will be fine. If the results of this shot are not what we are after, surgery will be needed.
I had surgery for mortons neuroma 8 weeks ago, went back to work after 2 weeks because dr said was okay, i am a nurse, everyday i was in pain and could barely make it thru the day, after 4 weeks of trying to work, foot swelling to wear i couldnt put on anything after work, eating narcotics after work till i went to bed, ended up going to ortho doc and he diagnosised me with sympathetic nerve damage. i am off of work for 2 weeks now and i have not walked on my foot, it will swell and i still have pain and im not even on the foot..i start physical therapy tomorrow, i have a feeling this problem is not going to go away and so wished i could make this decision over again, i would so never have the surgery, i would have rather taped my foot everyday than deal with this pain and might not ever be able to work again or for several months..might lose my job over this..and the foot doc who did my surgery, never even called me back after my incision dehissed, so figured he made his money, he doesnt care about my problems so had to follow up with an orthopedic specialist…i should have listen to my heart after reading all the posts about this surgery, but hubby kept saying people who have had positive experiences dont post about it…well take it from a nurse, this surgery needs 6-8 weeks off of work, lots of therapy and patients, i probly wont feel normal again for a year…and im hoping then i can walk again without swelling or pain…
I believe I have MN on my left foot. Numbness in my second toe. Seems to be between second and third, not third and fourth. That possible. Had this for 3-4 years now…swollen, discomfort, PITA. Not so much pain as constant discomfort. I have two Rockport shoes that I can wear and a pair of Nike light hiking shoes that seem to wear well. Everything else I’ve tried to wear…with little inserts, pads, etc. makes no difference. I coach volleyball and can not find a solution. Paid $100 for a pair of Nike shoes that felt OK walking in the store for 20 minutes…but ya’ll know how that goes. Anyone have a sport shoe that works well? Kind of depressing on this site. Nothing seems to work for anyone. Never heard a good outcome from surgery or shots. Any pads work better or inserts? Thanks.
New Balance makes shoes with a wide toe box. Look online and then call them for expert advice, esp if you use an orthotic.
Try out Keen shoes. They have a wide toe box and are relatively. Well made. I hope that helps. Also orthotics are a good call.
I had specially made orthotics made by order of my podiatrist. They are custom made to your foot by a professional pedorthist and fit inside your shoes. I have a pair for my tennis shoes (Brooks tennis shoes have a nice arch support) and a pair that are a bit thinner for my every day shoes. The pedorthist can trim them down to make them so they fit inside your shoes. The important part of orthotics for MN is to have the medatarsal pad in the right place so that your toes are spread a little in your shoe. I have to wear a wider shoe these days to be sure that I have plenty of space for my orthotics. But they help relieve the pain quite a bit.
I started developing a bunion on my left foot years ago, and now have what I believe is a MN in the same foot. I am also a lot heavier than I used to be. I have NEVER worn heels or narrow shoes. My theory is the weight gain and bunion contributed to the MN…. What does anyone think?
Hi. I was diagnosed with Morton’s Neuroma yesterday. When the symptoms started over four months ago, I thought it was arthritis. It had gotten so bad that I finally went to the doctor. Since I waited so long, the neuroma is very advanced. He skipped all the other treatments and went straight to a steroid injection. The actual injection hurt quite a bit; but I do have a tatoo on the same foot and it didn’t hurt as bad as the tatoo. Today my pain has decreased by maybe 20%. He was hoping I would be pain-free for at least five days and after at least 50% painfree. So far, not happening. My next treatment will be alcohol injections into the neuroma and then surgery. I hoped this helps and I wish you luck. God Bless.
Hi
Around February 2011 I started getting pins and needles sensations in the toes of my right foot when in bed at night. I also get the feeling that I have a marble under my toes when wearing socks and shoes. I have no difficulty in walking; in fact walking gives me the greatest relief. My most troublesome time is when driving or just sitting around. I have now started getting the sensation of being stabbed in the toes with knitting needles. This only occurs at night when in bed, the only relief I get is by getting up and walking around. At the moment my doctor has no idea what it is and advised rubbing it with and anti-inflammatory gel. I looked on the net and my symptoms match that of Morton’s Neuroma. I have now come across this forum and never realised how many sufferers there are. Although not particularly painful it is most irritable and uncomfortable. I can no longer wear a sock on my right foot as it continually feels as if something is in it. Any advise??
Bst wishes Eddy
I too feel that is what has happened to me – at 74 what is the answer? I have tried anti-inflamatory creams and pads under the ball of the foot but after walking for half an hour the pain returns -
Wearing sandels helps but going barefoot is the best solution, indoors of course. Don’t want to resort to surgery as it doesn’t apper to be the answer, so will get an untra-sound done next.
The pads do not go on the paintful part; they go down a little ways beyond the toes. From what I understand the pads (or raised lumps on orthotics) when worn in the proper place will caused the toes to spread out giving the neuroma some room. In the wrong place, directly on the neuroma area, it will cause more pain. I also put Dr. Schohl’s full length foam inserts in my shoes to give extra padding. I also had to buy shoes with high and wide toe areas and thick soles (per the Doctor). Unfortunately, these kinds of shoes are expensive. For sneaker/running type, the only Company is New Balance with the SL 2 last. This last is a wide, high toe box with a narrow heel. You can only get them in a New Balance store not regular shoe depts. or stores. Ask for the SL 2 and they will tell you which models have them. They give you lots of toe room. I also bought sandals from SAS Comfort Shoe stores which have soft inner soles and thick outside soles. You will find the more padding you walk on, the less you feel the lumps. However, around the house, I add the Dr. Scholhls plus the wrap the Dr. made for me (until I go to buy the 3/4 neuroma inserts)
I was told not to go barefoot as it puts pressure on the neuromas. Frankly, walking barefoot on hard floors hurts me.
You can talk to the people at New Balance then find the shoes much less expensively at various places on the web.
I do sleep in one that I ordered from Foot Smart. I don’t know if I declare in my mind it works or if it really does seem to help. Yes I do sleep in one every night… and Yes it does help me, don’t think I am saying the pain is gone completely but the mornings are more bearable.
I have neuromas n both feet. It feels like walking on rocks. Podiatrist made a wrap with a foam insert (like a powder puff shape) and it helps a lot. I tried buying full size inserts $60.00 and Dr. said the raised part did not come in the right place on my foot. She recommends 3/4 length inserts. I have not bought them yet.
Right now, the wrap she made does a lot of good but she says it is temporary and I must get inserts for Morton’s neuromas. I read about some people running with the neuromas and I cannot imagine doing that. I gave up my daily 2 mile walks hoping things would calm down but today for the first time I walked a couple of blocks and tonight my feet burn.
From what I read, this problem only gets worse. Do I have to spend my life sitting?
I have a Morton’s Neuroma such that my 2nd and 3rd toes are permanently in the Vulcan “Live long and prosper” position.
I purchased the Vibram five fingers ‘shoes’ and while they were comfortable on they had NO cushioning and it was as tho’ I was walking on the hard tile with nothing else on.
I don’t have a compression problem but I have pain on the bottom of my foot so this was a no go solution for me.
FWIW
I have a Morton’s Neuroma such that my 2nd and 3rd toes are permanently in the Vulcan “Live long and prosper” position.
I purchased the Vibram five fingers ‘shoes’ and while they were comfortable on they had NO cushioning and it was as tho’ I was walking on the hard tile with nothing else on.
I don’t have a compression problem but I have pain on the bottom of my foot so this was a no go solution for me.
FWIW
I am now trying Kineso Tape as found http://www.scribd.com/doc/61476606/42827982-Clinical-Therapeutic-Applications-of-the-Kinesio-Taping-Method on page 211.
Kineso Tape has been very helpful with my ‘golfers’ elbow as it reduces inflammation with no drugs or side effects unless the adhesive is irritating to those sensitive to it.
Just after posting in Aug/11 I came upon a website suggesting Serrapeptase and Curcumin along with Vit B6 for Morton’s Neuroma. The blogger, Robert Redfern suggested he had 7 out of 10 people having success with this plan.
http://serrapeptase.info/pain-overview/morton%E2%80%99s-neuroma/mortons-neuroma/
In pain, I ordered the Serrapeptase (an enzyme originally found in silk worms) and Curcumin (Tumeric) – both anti-inflammatories and took the dosages suggested. At the same time I was having my foot Kenesio taped for inflammation as well as I’ve already posted above.
I can’t say which worked, or if they worked in conjunction but I was pain free in 6 weeks. It worked and I’m back to my life.
I met with my podiatrist and he confirmed the Neuroma was still there but as I’m pain free, we’re both happy.
Just wanted to add that in 2008 I had a MN in my other foot. 2 Cortisone shots and 4 denatured alcohol shots made me totally pain free. The shots do work …. sometimes.
Hi
Has any one heard of The Barn Clinic Sheffield UK. Their site claims that the Cryo procedure is achieving between 80%-97% cryo treatment success??
Eddy
I seriously really feel rather blessed to obtain encounter your internet web site and appearance forward to a lot of extra enjoyable min’s studying right right here. Many thanks any time additional for the information.
Eddy,
My MN problem is like yours, and my podiatrist says it’s very unusual. Most people experience the pain of MN when they walk. Fortunately, I’m retired, but If I’m on my feet more than usual, or on cement floors, I can sense the MN, but it doesn’t really hurt then. (I wear heavily padded NB running shoes and orthotics, don’t take walks, and never go barefoot.) However, the MN will become irritated, and that night, I can be “thrown” out of bed by severe stabbing pain. It’s as if someone is taking a small knife and stabbing it into my foot in the area of the MN. The only cure is to slip into my shoes and walk around briefly. Then it goes away.
I have had fallen metatarsal bones in the affected foot for years, and I also broke the navicular bone in that foot some 40 years ago.
Two things I believe have helped. My podiatrist suggested perhaps, when sleeping on my left side, my right foot is on top of the MN-affected left foot, and thus compressing the metatarsal area. I made a conscious effort to not sleep on that side, or at least to move the left foot out from under the right, and it has definitely helped. I’ve also lost about two and half pant sizes since the end of April, and I believe that has helped. I was considering the alcohol injections, so I could go out and take short walks, but after reading the experiences on this blog, I’m not so sure! A friend has had them. She says the benefit lasts 1-2 yrs for her, but she walks a great deal, and is on her feet far, far more than I.
Hi Linda
Having had a recent ultra sound the doctor concluded that as my neuroma was so large it had effectively become wedged and did not move around as smaller one’s do. He believes that this is the reason I get comfort from walking and suffer more when sitting. As yet I am still waiting for some one to decide on the form of treatment.
Eddy
Hi Linda
Just like you I rested one foot on top of the other in bed and I have now started lying on one side at night separating the feet and I do on balance have a more comfortable night. I have been sitting at my desk for about half an hour now and I am experiencing incredible tingling / numbness sensations in my toes so I am due to have a walk around for a moment to clear it.
I think the reason for getting relief from walking is that I wear wide fitting shoes so that my toes open wider relieving the pressure on the nerve. I do not wear a sock on the affected foot which again allows the toes to open more freely. The sock tended to compress my toes. When I sit or drive my toes tend to close bringing on the irritation.
Most who chat on this site appear to have had very little success with remedies. The only comfort I pick up from this is that there may be many more out there who have been cured and have no need for this site.
Best wishes Eddy
Hi, sorry i have not been as active as i probably should have.. but all these comments really bring it home.. the sheer amount of Morton’s sufferers for which treatment has failed. I wonder.. would you guys be up for helping me put together a free guide to help someone who has just been diagnosed with Morton’s.. as i really want to stop the amount of people getting treatment that just doesn’t work. Feel free to either comment here.. or send me an email on the contact page.
Hi ive just been told that i have MN in left foot have had pain for a month now, will be going back to doctor this friday and feel quite confused about all treatments actually be honest im scared as looking on this site its saying nothing seems to work.
Hi Donna
I see you are concerned about the treatment and possible lack of success. I have searched the web and found a number of sites that have studied the various forms of treatment from Alcohol Injections, Steroid Injections, Cryo treatment and last resort surgery. From the studies I have seen there appears to be a greater degree of success than failure.
Personally having read the procedure for surgery and the recovering time this would definitely be the last resort for me. I do not have a problem with surgery it’s just the recovery time that bugs me which could require a length of time off work.
Depending on what stage you are at you may even get away with wearing one of the various insoles or orthotics that are available. If you go to http://www.drfoot.co.uk you will see an example that can be purchased on line.
Having said all that you must take the advice of your own doctor.
Good luck
Eddy (UK)
My experience with alcohol injections.
I started off with an appointment at a local Food & Leg Clinic because I could barely walk with the pain in my right foot. The doctor sent me for an MRI which showed a 3 centimeter Morton’s Neuroma. My second appointment was with a different doctor in this clinic and he said there was no need for the MRI, he could easily feel the lump in my foot and it couldn’t be anything else. I wish I had started with the second doctor, but I stuck with him for my treatment. My doctor was very positive about the course of treatment he wanted to pursue. He said that he used to operate on MN but in his experience there were too many cases that developed branch or stump neuromas after the operation and these were often more painful than the original neuroma. He said originally he did not have much success with alcohol injections to kill the nerve, but after talking to fellow doctors at conferences he learned that he had been giving up too soon on the alcohol injections. He recommended 3 injections a week apart followed by 4 more injections at two week intervals.
He started by locating the neuroma by feel and asking me to tell him where the pain stopped. He would mark the spot just above the neuroma and inject the alcohol through the top of the foot. Sometimes he would hit the nerve and I would feel the burning shoot up my leg. He said it didn’t matter if he hit the nerve or just got the alcohol in the general area, it would kill the nerve either way. It wasn’t until the 4th injection that I felt it was getting better and by the 7th injection I would say that it was 80% better, but not gone by any means. He recommended that we leave it for a couple of months and then see where we stood.
I came back 3 months later for more injections, not because I was convinced that there would be significant improvement, but because I had developed MN in my other foot and wanted to start injections in that foot. I had 3 more injections in the right foot to go along with my first 3 injections in my left foot. At this point I stopped treatment in my right foot because it was 95% improved. At this point the doctor said he wanted to use his ultrasound machine to look at both feet. He said he could not see any trace of the neuroma in the right foot, but he could clearly see the one in the left foot. This coincided with what I was feeling. To date I have had 10 injections in the right foot and feel that it is cured (95% better); I have had 7 injections in the left foot and it feels pretty good (90% better). I have resumed my nightly walks around the neighborhood with no pain. I am 50 years old, so this and a round of golf now and then are all the exercise I want.
I consider this treatment a success. It has now been 2 years since my last injection and the MN has not returned or gotten worse in any way. One other thing: The doctor had me get a set of custom orthotics for my shoes (about $150). I don’t know if they help, but I always use them. I know not everyone will have the same response I did, but I hope my experience will help someone in their choice of treatment. I know what you are going through and I feel your pain! Good luck!
Could youprovide the name and the phone of your Dr as this is one if not the only one success story in this whole post, thanks.
Hi
It’s me again.
Has any one come across the treatment called PROLOTHEREPY?
Prolotherapy uses a dextrose (sugar water) solution, which is injected into the ligament or tendon where it attaches to the bone. This causes a localized inflammation in these weak areas which then increases the blood supply and flow of nutrients and stimulates the tissue to repair itself.
There are a number of sites that state this is a more effective treatment for MN
Best wishes
Eddy
I have had extensive PROLOTHERAPY. Like many, my MN was caused by multiple sins against our nature:
1) Ugly feet, so I always wore shoes (instead of natural barefoot or even flip flops)
2) Vain, so I wore pointy slim shoes
3) Obsessive, so I ran night and day for about 30 years.
4) Determined, I bicycled up steep hills, standing down hard on pedals with toe cages
5) Angry at life, I finally kicked a brick wall when a family member attacked me
Viola, where did that MN come from? A mystery you say?
Dr. Hauser at Caring Medical in Oak Park, Illinois observed that I had a dropped metatarsal. This is really serious but he cured it…………a miracle I’d say.
He told me to wear toe spreaders, but I hesitated for a long time, now the more I wear them, the more I understand, I guess I was too afraid to counteract the tightening effect of the prolo before, but now after many treatments it was time to “open up”.
I switched to bigger toe box shoes, I bought Fila 5 toe shoes for walks, not runs. I run far less.
What I am trying to point at is: maybe most of you have multiple sins too, it took many many many years to form this thing before you noticed it, it may take many years to cure it but you have to do the OPPOSITE of what did it to UNDO it, makes sense? It may take multiple things, they may all take you a fraction of the way. I want to cure it naturally, I want my nerve to stay in there, let’s face it, don’t kill the messenger: was your life hard? were you vain? did you wear bad shoes ignorantly? Life is merciless about our mistakes, it bends a little but we needed to know our limits regardless of peer pressure or ambition. It is what it is and mostly by ignorance of physical laws, me the biggest sinner of those laws here.
Kelly,
I had the three steriod injections in April and May over a six week period. They were
not painful and worked great for about two months. The pain is now back and worse
than before. Now I’m looking for another solution. The Doctor told me that surgery
should be the very last solution
Judi
Has anyone tried any homeopathic remedies for MN? I have MN on only my left foot and it is getting worse. I have been to a podiatrist and he fitted me for custom orthotics, which worked great for about a year. I still wear them but have break-through pain. He also gave me a couple of the alcohol injections but he was not particularly enthusiastic about a whole series of them. Aleve was suggested and does not help. I have tried topical Traumeel homeopathic cream and I’m not sure if that is helping. I am not keen on the surgery based on what I’ve read. So, I am getting a little desperate. I have bought shoes by Softwalk and Walking Cradles which have wider/higher toe boxes more cushioning and I feel a little better. I am 63 and was also diagnosed with fallen arches and I can tell that the natural padding on the balls of my feet is thinning out. I heard about a product called Nerve Pain Plus via radio advertising and I was wondering if anyone tried it. It is a homeopathic oral supplement. Thanks for any information you can provide.
i was diagnosed with a mortons neuroma in my left foot about a year and a half ago. Since then, i have had many cortisone shots, steroid shots, orthotics, and ultra sound treatments. The shots hurt like hell for about a minute, but i have a tiny tolerance for pain. After the shots, my foot was pretty numb for hours, and it felt like i was walking on a golf ball. However, once the numbness wore off, i could barely feel the neuroma, and it remained nearly pain free for about 2-3 weeks. Then the pain returned, just as bad, if not worse, than it was prior to the injection. I had maybe 8 shots total, and eventually gave up on it. For me, the pain of the injection and awkward feeling of that numbness/walking on a golf ball was NOT worth the small period of 2-3 weeks that were painfree. I’m 17, and recently started attending college in NYC, however it is a commuter school, and i have found myself walking around now more than ever. Within the first 2 weeks of school, i noticed my neuroma bruising, and swollen. At first i thought it was a bug bite, however i soon remembered that it had been several months since my last shot. The orthotics do nothing for me, and massaging it just hurts. Since i will be walking around the city often in the next 4 years, i am thinking that surgery is just the best option for me, since the shots only last a short while. I AM SO CONFUSED!!!! PLEASE HELP!!! My mother, being the worry wart she is, thinks that i should just stick with the shots..for the rest of my life…not gonna happen. Many people that have had the surgery resulting unsuccessful seem to have no reaction to the shots. My neuroma definitely shrunk from the shots and the ultrasound treatments, so that makes me think that the surgery for me will be successful. what should i do?
Holy smokes, this is depressing…..but I am really glad I found the blog before I signed up for surgery. I’ve had my neuroma for about 15 years but it only flares up when I run a lot. I just started coaching a young girls running team. I’m really hoping I can train with them. I live in the Sacramento area. Can anyone recommend a good doc?
I’ve had pain in the balls of my feet for over a year, and thought it was metatarsalgia for a long time. I’ve bought lots of orhotics, iced, taken ibuprofen, stretched, and bought new shoes, but my feet still hurt.
So I finally went to a doctor, who says it seems like Morton’s Neuroma. He is a doctor of American origin who works in Sweden. He said that the cortisone shots don’t really work — which seems to be the sense from other posts — they work for a while, but then no more. He said that orthotics and those kinds of treatments also rarely fully take care of it. He reluctantly suggested surgery would probably be the only answer, but we are waiting for MRI results.
There is another board for runners on which many write that they got surgery for MN and were better quickly. Could it be that mostly those with bad experiences show up here? Surely doctors wouldn’t keep doing the surgery if it had as poor results as the statistics from this (wonderful — thank you!) blog suggest!
Two things have helped me:
1) Stretching my calves often (the doctor I saw also said this is the one thing that really helps)
2) Softbed Birkenstocks. It has to be the soft-bed, I’ve understood– they cost a fair amount but feel like heaven on my feet. The fashion sacrifice is even worth it : ).
Have any of you had a Morton’s Neuroma so bad that your toe(s) were dislocated? I have had problems for the last 2-3 years and finally the pain was so bad I did see the Dr. We did all the stuff everyone has talked about and in the last 4 months the pain intensified so much the doctor took an Xray and found that the neuroma was so large that one of my toes is dislocated. So I have opted for the surgery to not only remove the neuroma but not they have to fix the dislocated toe.
Any info on this would be helpful. Thank you!!!!
had injections many years ago, worked well,however neuroma came back after several years. Massachusetts doctors are now advertising laser treatments as a cure. Your opinion on this treatment please.
I have had mn for more than 25 years. It comes and goes but this is the longest period I have had it. I have found that MBT sneakers give me relief along with orthotics. I am able to walk about 3 miles with them and then have to us ice for relief.
Hi, Rebecca,
After I read your comments, I ordered a pair of soft-bed Birkenstocks. I put them on as soon as they arrived and found them extremely comfortable. The next day, I wore them for most of the day, but also changed shoes and used my orthotics. This is the first day in a while that I have had no painful periods. The arch support in the Birkenstocks is at least as good as the orthotics. I’ll update the blog in a few more days, but the improvement with one day of the Birkenstock shoes is remarkable. The style I ordered is called “Bern” and is a closed shoe with an adjustable T-Strap. Thanks for posting.
So far so good, had the surgery on Thursday, 9/29/2011 and last night I noticed no more pain in my right leg and lower back. The pain was so bad it just about brought tears to my eyes. This is Saturday and am do great so far just a little tired but that is all. I have a wire in my toe that was dislocated to keep it together during the healing process so need to be careful not bang the foot. The doctor did state that the neuroma was very large.
Keep you posted as I go along. Thanks
I had my neuroma removed in 2003. I was fine until the last couple of months, I now have a hard lump at the site and it’s very painful. If the nerve is gone, is this scar tissue building up.? My toes are going numb as well
I had surgery 35 yrs ago on my right foot, it healed well and has never given me pain since. I now have one on my left foot and plan to have surgery again. Most responses have been negative so I am a bit concerned but the degree of pain so alters one’s life drastic, measures sometimes are the only options. I first used a general surgeon, now I am seeing a podiatrist. I will take my time in finding the right person to do the job.
ok, Here’s my story. I am an active woman in my early 50′s. Have probably always abused my feet, because i didn’t know better. Was a hippy & spent yrs going barefoot, even on pavement. As an adult, I was a waitress & wore cheap flats to work in. Then became a hairdresser. Have always walked a lot & my feet pronate, & are narrow & thin & don’t have much fat pad. Probably in my 30′s i occasionally had the electric shock when barefoot. Began wearing shoes more. Symptoms gradually progressed from electric shocks with every step to toe & ball of foot cramping. Was eventually diagnosed by a podiatrist. had cortisone shots that didn’t work. It was really limiting me until i got the right orthotics & shoes. Like others, I can’t walk barefoot on hard floors. I can only wear Asics. Would give a lot to be able to wear anything but gym shoes, nothing fancy, even loafers, but since I have a narrow foot, need a big toe box for toes to spread & room to wear big orthotics, my heal comes right out of anything but gym shoes. My feet are so sensitive that when i get new shoes (always Asics) I have to put old insoles in them, Even a fraction more thickness in a new insole sets off pain.but I am thankful that by doing everything just right I can work on my feet much of the day & also go for walks, though after 2 mi. the pain starts. When going to church or out to dinner, (meaning very little walking), I wear a low healed , casual shoe or boot, but pay for it later with tingling & numbness. Had just decided to give in & try surgery rather than spend all my time & money looking for shoes I can walk in, but after reading this site, I think I’ll go back to just being thankful I can walk. It’s hard to believe they can do intricate brain surgery, but can’t fix a neuroma! Oh, almost forgot, on the autoimmune subject, I have been told I have fibromyalgia. I am very prone to over use injuries like tendonitis. I suspect my joints are too flexible, which might account for foot problems.
Deb
Had the same problem. Use >DMSO 100% pure sold in glass bottles. Not plastic.
Have not had it come back. I purchased mine in California.
Check Dr. Andrew Weil´s website on how to get rid of MN.
Hi…what’s DMSO?
James I have just posted a note for some help (natural) that might work for you.
Sharon
Use DMSO. It worked for me. Check Andrew Weil´s website and he states how to use it.
I posted how to use on on website. You need to use the pure 100% DMSO sold in glass bottle.
check it out.
Sharon
I was diagnosed with a MN in my left foot over two years ago. It had been painful for several years before that. I was told I’d been wearing trainers that were too tight. For 20 years I’d worn high heels and had no problem at all, but then I started wearing trainers all the time and liked them ‘snug’ and that seemed to start it off. I switched to flat walking shoes two sizes larger and never wore trainers again.
In winter I find the only shoes that help are Merrell Siren Sport walking shoes, and even they aren’t perfect. In summer I find that FitFlops completely remove the pain and are even better than walking barefoot. I even managed to walk the Samarian Gorge (16km) this summer in FitFlop Hyker shoes. I’m starting to think the only solution is to go and live somewhere warm so I never have to wear closed-in shoes.
I had a steroid shot in the left foot which didn’t hurt much and rapidly gave relief. It’s only now 18 months later that the pain has started to come back.
But six months ago I was diagnosed with another MN, this time in my RIGHT foot. This one came on very quickly, going from no pain to intense pain in just a few months. The ultrasound showed it to be 1cm and much much larger than the one in the left foot. So I had a steroid injection for this one too. I don’t know why but this time the pain after the injection was intense and I could barely stand or walk for several weeks. It was two months before I saw any improvement but it did eventually work and get rid of the pain….but only for FOUR months, not 18 months as in the left foot. Four months later it’s as bad as ever and I’ve now had another injection in it. This also gave me intense pain and meant I couldn’t walk but only for four days. Now that’s done I will also get the left foot re-injected.
The hospital is cautious about operating on me because I have Raynauds syndrome (ie bad circulation in my fingers and toes). They say they could only do it mid summer because it’s very risky. I’ve also heard of someone who’s had the operation twice and is still no better…so I’m really worried about it.
Has anyone had alcohol injections in the UK? I can’t find anyone who does them. I know I can’t have cyrosurgery because of the Raynauds, so I’m running out of options.
I spend my life walking, have never had a car, and love hiking for hours on end. I also have a dog that needs at least an hour’s walk a day. Where on earth do I go from here?
Did you find anyone who does alcohol injections in UK – I am keen to try this. Any help much appreciated!
came on here as post operative, operation to remove both feet morton’s neuroma 8 days ago, and getting some pins and needles after following docs advice to the letter and keeping feet up and dry as much as possible. This has seriously depressed me reading this.
before my op the doc said most successful operations would not be on this blog as they are busy living life and not searching for help.
just hoping my tingles settle down when i am walking…. and bruising inside has gone.
Amy, thanks for all the information on your blog — very helpful! I see that most of the comments/replies are of negative experiences, which is helpful to caution us in any treatment, but is probably not representative of the majority of the cases.
I have had a reasonably positive experience which is unlike what others have posted. I had Morton’s neuroma for about three years, getting progressively more painful and frequent. Initially toe spacers would relieve the pain, but later I found only icing my foot until it was close to numb was effective. The podiatrist gave me cortisone injections to no effect, and recommended surgery. I declined to pursue that due to the out of pocket cost and the reported 20% chance of failure.
Fortunately, one day, while walking I felt the neuroma being painfully pinched (very common for me at the time) — which had always caused it to become inflamed in the past. This time, however, it didn’t, and I noticed a reasonably large bruise had formed on the ball of that foot. The neuroma hasn’t bothered me since. I concluded that it had ruptured, and somehow healed on its own, or that perhaps I actually had a cyst next to the nerve, causing pressure, mimicking the symptoms.
Has anyone else had this experience? My fiance had MN two years earlier and says the same thing had occurred with her.
just finished researching MN on the web and ran across this blog…….which needless to say has my head spinning. My story:
-accidentally kicked a stainless steel leg on my chaise while playing with my dog at home June 2011
-taking to the ER by my favorite nephew 20mins later
-xrays revealed a small hairline fracture of the left foot…..put in hard shoe,crutches,pain meds and home 4hrs later
-followed up with PCP a month later due to swelling and off/on pain…..sent back to hospital for more X-rays for possible torn ligaments or pooled blod creating a hard mass/cyst?
-X-rays negative….sent to ortho specialist…..being concerned with my limping, he placed me in hard boot and requested immediate MRI
-MRI revealed soft tissue edema over the 3rd/4th metatarsal toes
-PCP referred me to a well renowned Orthopedic and Spine Center….my first appt with X-rays and MRI in hand…..by this time (3mos after the initial injury) I had limited movement in my left foot, so he thought I had onset of RSD….put me in physical therapy for 4wks…… The therapy helped a lot, but all I can wear are flip flops, the first appt, my therapist immedialty made the assessment of MN due to the knot he felt in my foot pad and the ‘clicking’ feeling when he pressed between my toes and squeezed between the top of the toes. I completed the therapy and meet with the ortho specialist the next day
-received my first steroid shot….hurt like heck, but only when the meds was being pushed in, after it was a little sore but bearable……went straight to the office with a small bandaid
-after 3days….I was back on my road bike and road 4miles……foot felt great!
-two weeks later the pain came back…..starting hurting after constant walking for a few hours
-had follow appt with ortho dr this past Tuesday…….quickly made assessment that since the shot wore off so quickly there is point of a regime of injections……I am scheduled for surgery Nov.21st
After reading the post here…..I’m a little freaked out! I now have a lot of questions for my surgeon, and very unsure if I should have the surgery…….I just want a pain free quality of life.
i had mine nine weeks ago followed what the doctor said to the letter foot still double the size and very painful. what the doctors say is different to what most of us expierence.
Hi all,
I was diagnosed with MN, in February of this year. I have suffered for years with pain in my right foot, I was even at the stage were I would pull my own toes out of place just to relieve the pain.
My questions are these….I’m going for the steroid injections in a couple of weeks but the Dr hasnt told me anything aboout the procedure – Can i drive afterwards or should I take someone with me? Will I be able to drive the following day(s)?? Am I going to be in pain?
Please help :-S
S xx
i have an undiagnosed condition that i’ve been sufferring with now for about 2 months. initially, i was treated for ‘cellulitis’ of the foot/ankle which crawled up to my lower calf. after 4 weeks on different antibiotics – my doctor ust told me she does not think it’s cellulitis and does not know what it is. i told her that i had developed a new sympton when i last saw her. i told her i felt i was wearing a pair of socks that were all bunched up under my toes and i also told her that the toe next to my big toe ached and hurt like crazy at night. she looked at me like i had 3 eyes!! so, out of pure desperation i just googled ‘feel like wearing bunched up socks….’ and i found this! i have an appointment with an ortho this coming friday and am talking to him about this. i am certain it is what i have. HOWEVER, it is -i am quite sure- as a result of whatever the heck else is wrong with me that seems to be simulating a cellultis condition but has not responded to antibiotic treatment. at least it is a piece of the puzzle….so thanks so much! i’ve also had a really time with planters faciitis and after PT last winter it got better. But, this new condition that i think is mortons neuroma is in the same foot as the PT and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I just wish i could get some relief. I’m miserable and in pain………..
I have checked several sites to get this answer, and can’t seem to find a definitive response. Does MN GO AWAY? I know that the symptoms can subside if you do certain “treatments”, but does it actually “HEAL”, and be GONE??? A friend told me that her husband had the same thing (I was recently diagnosed), and that he just got wider shoes, and it “went away”. I can go days…..weeks with little or no pain, and then suddenly it comes back. Since it is somewhat “tumor-like” I can’t imagine that it would just fade away. Can anyone answer my question?
Kate,
A friend of mine who was diagnosed with MN and wore orthotics for several years now says she is completely pain free and doesn’t wear the orthotics any more. I have no clue why hers went away.
I had commented on a earlier post by Rebecca that Birkenstock shoes with the soft footbed are very effective in managing the condition and I’m also buying wide width shoes now with better cushioning and that helps. Walking cradles and Softwalk are two other brands but the arch support is OK, not great.
MN is a chronic condition and the neuroma can become inflamed and painful with certain types of activity and foodwear. I find that if I can prevent the flare-ups first thing in the AM by wearing the Birkenstock shoes then I’m pretty good for the rest of the day. I’ve also ordered CrocsRx, a special model of Crocs and will let the blog know how that goes. I’m also taking anti-inflammation supplements.
Like any chronic condition, all you can do is find your own way to manage it.
Good luck!
I was diganosed with ra 2 years ago.last sept i was in quite a lot of pain in my left foot feeling that i had a swelling in the ball of my foot and swelling over the 3rd and 4th toes and pain in my joints and right ankle.I was so down and depressed with all the pain especially with the pain in my left foot.The pain was so severe i broke into tears at work my ra consultant prescribed methtrexate this seemed to take the swelling away but still had a little pain in my foot.3weeks ago i started with the pain in my left foot again but no swelling and my 3rd and 4th toe have started spreading,thought i would have a look on the internet for any insoles that would be of any help and came across mortons neuroma the symptoms are exactly the same.
now i am really scared,Booked in to see my gp next week.
fingers crossed.
Is there any 1 else out there who has ra and mortons neuroma.
This was quite informative and useful but I really wish you would post the promised follow up articles that you mentioned you were planning. It would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Eddy, I have contacted the Barn Clinic Sheffield and they have emailed me information on their neuroma procedure, it sounds encouraging but I would like to know & hear from anyone that has had the CRYOTHERAPY and DID IT WORK?? Has the treatment solved the problem? Is there a clinic that does the Cryo surgery in the South of England?
Hi Penny
I have not heard of anyone having the treatment but I suspect that if it is as successful as they claim then you will not find them on this blog, which tends to attract sufferers who have not yet had treatment of have had little or no success with treatment. I mentioned Cryotherepy to my doctor and I appeared to get a cold shoulder. I imagine it may not be cheap. My Doctor favours the progressive route. 1) Change in foot ware, 2) Specialised insoles, 3) Steroid Injections 4) Alcohol Injections 5) Surgery. At this point Cryo is not on the list. I assume that the Barn Clinic did not give you any indication of cost??
Eddy
Hi Eddy, They did give me a price about £1,500 for the first foot & approx 3 weeks wait list. I have tried wearing different types of shoes, this makes no difference other than Fit Flops which I wore all summer, they were fairly comfortable. Had insoles made by Podiatrist & they didn’t work, just feel if I go down the injection route then it makes more problems for later treatment. I have had steroid injections in other joints only for the symptoms to return & be more painful. I would still like to hear from anyone who knows about Cryo Surgery. Thanks for replying
Penny
Hi Penny, I haven’t had the cyrosurgery yet, but my friend had it about a month ago and has had a lot of relief from it. I wil be having it soon.
I have read extensively on MN and feel I know more than my foot specialists who only does the traditional nerve excision operation, after all other treatments have been exhausted.
I am due to have this operation in 7 days. I asked him last week about nerve decompression, which leaves the nerves intact, hence no stump neuroma. He is supposed to be looking into it, but never got back to me. I am want to postpone my surgery.
This site was helpful and I bought it with me to my appointment.
It’s from UCLA in Calif.
http://www.footankleinstitute.com/mortons-neuroma/
I live in Denmark and can’t find any hospital pr. date which performs the decompression for MN.
By the by, I had early symptoms for years, which would go away after 10-15 minutes of walking. This Sept. they came and haven’t left since……I am so worried about this op…
thanks for all the postings.
Cryotherapy is mentioned in this website from UCLA as well. In the UK I read about one clinic which offers it. See link in 2nd paragraph
http://www.footankleinstitute.com/mortons-neuroma/
Note that cryotherapy is not recommended for those who have cold feet and hands, circulation problems or Raynaud’s or poorly controlled diabetes. All data is from: http://www.plantarfasciitis.org.uk/cryosurgery.html
good luck
I have 4 MN’s 2-3 & 3-4 on each foot for about 2 years. Had the 4 steroid jabs within the fist 4 months of being diagnosed and it worked for 6 months then had them done again about a year ago and only lasted 5 – 6 weeks could of had them injected again but my doctor didn’t recommend as the trend would indicate that the pain would be back in even less than 5 weeks. I found that lining the bottom of my shoes with the cheep memory foam was as good an any other insert which put me through my working day. Also tried SERAPTASE Natural capsules and they seemed to lessen the pain until I had a swelling on the top of my foot turned out to be filled with fluid that no one could shed any light on including my doc who said probably not related to Seraptase but i stopped them as a precaution. So trawled the internet as one does ” don’t we ” !! Read about CRYRO Had the largest MN’s done in both feet at Sheffield ( a long run from Cornwall ) but although quite expensive was really impressed with the professionalism of the procedure I am a week into it now and quietly enthusiastic for a positive outcome, I do think that excising would be the last resort. I will keep you posted.
Would be really interested to hear how your recovery goes Graham, fingers & toes crossed ow!
I have contacted the Barn clinic and they have said that they can do both of my feet at one time, would you have any comments on this idea??? Was it painful? Then again to finally get some sort of relief from MN and to be able to wear NICE shoes again. Merry Christmas to you & your family
Penny
Hi Penny
I would have no hesitation in recommending the Barn Clinic. As I said I had both feet done, the only pain full bit is the deadening after that its a doddle. Bring a friend to drive you home in wide fitting shoes or as i did in your slippers.
Stopped at a Premier Inn and had an evening meal ( in my slippers ). I borrowed some walking sticks ( hands to upper arm type ) which helped not because of pain but to make sure that I didn’t overdo it. slept all night, also I took a week off work and really put my feet up.
As said I had 4 and only 2 done so still have some pain from those. Three weeks post procedure & generally I have less pain but early days yet.
Graham
I have had MN for at least 12 years. I have been an alternative health practioner for 25 years. I have been taking what I call a medicinal dose 8 thousand milligrams of Omega 3′s for three years, and have reduced the swelling by at least 80%. however, when I stop the dosage the swelling returns after about 2-3 weeks. So now I’m researching DMSO, and Caster oil hot paks to break it up. I will let you know!
This is a follow up from my surgery from 9/28/2011 where I had the MN removed from my right foot. Within 48 hours I no longer had any pain in my right leg, hip or back. This is now November 16 and I still have no pain and my foot/toes are pain free at well. I have started taking my walks again and still cannot believe how pain free I am. I know many of you talk about all the negative results you have had, but I really am glad I had the surgery.
I apparently injured my foot on 9/17/11 after wearing high heels for 6 hours. After reading through a ton of posts, I had to make one of my own. After hobbling around for two weeks, the symptoms suddenly got worse and now I have constant swelling (from midfoot to toes) which is worse at night I am not able to put any pressure on my forefoot at all so I use crutches, a knee scooter, try to walk on my heel or I crawl. Very hard to deal with since I am a very active person. It sounds like most posts here are folks that can still actually walk on their foot. I have the classic nerve ZAPS and the feeling like there is a knot under my foot. I just read an article about a Luminex 500 laser treatment that was apparently successful. Has anyone else tried laser treatment? If you do a web search on this, you can probably find it. This patients story could have been me! Thanks!
i have been having pain on my foot for the last 5 months and have just been diagnosed but since the pain started i now have a solid lump on the top of my foot between the first and second toe. i am waiting for an appointment at the moment do you know what i can expect??
I’ve had MN for over 30 years and have tried everything including surgery which made it worse. My friend who also has MN has had cyrosurgery and has gottenrelief from that. I heard about magnetic pulse therapy on the Dr Oz show and have spoken with the company that makes the Acti patch and they claim it can help foot pain. Since it wasn’t too expensive I ordered one and will see how it works whenI get it. If not I’ll go for the cryosurgery.
i had this surgery on nov1 of 2011 it is now the 23rd there wasw 5 stiches and my doc pulled 2 stiches ,,,the one on top has opened and is now pussing clear liquid it is now the 23rd day of nov 2011 i am now on antibiotics and sometimes it feels like a needle is going throgh my foot mostly when i push the bottom of my foot
Rob sorry op not gone so good. Which operation did you have, did you have Cryo
Hello all, I think I have MN. Innitially I thought it was something worse (fibromyalgia) but after reading the above post don’t feel any better of what this is. I have a history of Gout and I think that the MN happened due to the swelling of my great toe and pushing the other toes away (thus irritating the nerve). I had this twice (once per foot), each time after a gout attack. NSAIDS seem to work well for the pain and swelling, especially indomethacin (which I ran out of). I’m in the military and my concern is that they might want to kick me out if I can’t stay up with the younger guys. I’m 44 but with this pain I hobble around like I’m in my 80′s
My husband has suffered from this condition for approx. 8 years and has tried all of the treatments mentioned above and including surgery. His surgery was about 2 months ago and his pain has actually gotten worse. He is out of work since he works in a paper mill and cannot stand the required 12 hours at a time. I saw a question posed as to if this could be an auto immune issue. That got me to thinking since his aunt has Lupus and his mom has arthritus (the type that falls into the auto immune family, but I can’t remember the name right now). His sister and him both have the same foot problem and both suffered from degenerative disc issues in their back and had surgery. We’re running out of options. He’s back to not wearing even socks as they are too painful.
I am a woman with MN in 3rd & 4th toes on one foot and either capsulitis or bursitis between my 2nd and big toe in both feet. I have high arches, which adds to the problem.
What has worked for me is:
Cortisone shots. No more than three a few weeks apart. They are not that painful, it is over quick (don’t look), but your foot will hurt for a day or two. Pain never came back on that foot.
Shoes: Thrown out the old. Buy new and expensive (sigh). Only wide toe box in the widest width available or have the shoemaker stretch them. In the summer, it is easy, as I wear open-toed sandals, even to work. In the winter, expensive (yikes!) wide-toed shoes. I have to dress up for work, so I wear Mephistos (on sale), some Aerosoles, Le Canadienne boots omg, only on sale), and Naots. I take care of my shoes. No run down heels, no wearing them in the rain or snow (I have rubber rain boots and carry my work shoes) , they go to the shoemaker at any sign of wear and they last 5-10 years, at minimum. My maximum heel height is 1 1/2″ and I have my shoemaker add a 1/4″ thick black foam platform to the front sole. This thicker sole is unnoticeable, but cushions your foot, which is necessary for a NYer, as we don’t drive and walk many miles every day on concrete. (Boy oh boy, when you have no car and walk everywhere, you learn to take care of your feet!) I can wear flip flops at home, but they have to feel very spongey under the ball of my foot or it will make things worse in only a few steps. I actually squish flip flops before I buy them to make sure they feel soft.
Othodotics: The ball of my foot doesn’t have enough padding and all orthodics are too hard for me. Very painful waste of $400.
Inserts: Only a few things work, none expensive, $10 or less. 1. Dr Scholl’s Memory Fit Insoles. Any of them work, if the shoes are roomy enough. Bliss. I even have them in my rubber rain boots. 2. Dr. Scholl’s Molefoam padding. Not the Moleskin, Molefoam. Cut them to fit in the toe box of any shoe, even dress shoes. I carry them in my handbag. They are amazing, as they take up no room and provide a lot of relief. 3. Tacco Halter Cushion. NOT the Tacco Metarsal Pads. These leather halter cushions come in tan or black. Black is better, as the tan get stained and turn a gross black anyway. For low heels, there is nothing better. You position them with the front edge close to the front of the inside of the shoe or a tiny bit back for open-toed sandals, so you don’t see them. This sits under the ball of your foot and bends your toes down gently and keeps your foot from sliding forward. Dancers wear them and I cannot wear any low heels without them. They last for years, I haven’t replaced a pair in at least five years. Google them and find the best price online or some shoemaker have them.
Good luck! This is what I have learned and I hope it helps someone here.
Has anyone tired “serrapetase” an enzyme that is derived from silk worms.
It is meant to eat non living tissue in the body. I am interested if anyone has had success with this or curcumin ?
Thanx
Nadine
Hi Nadine
See my blog Dec 2nd also punch into google – “St Ann Mortons Neuroma” for some interesting reading on Serrapeptase
I am interested in shoes that have worked.
I have 2 MN’s on my left foot.
I cannot put any pressure at all on my left foot.
new balance trainers are the only shoes i can wear.
What are MBT’s? Sketches ?
Thanx
Fit Flop boots & sandals have helped a lot, think the wonderful thick cushioned sole and also the rocking of the foot helps.
My MN was actually aggravated by my new Fitflop boots and pumps!! Very disappointing, sent them back this morning, the toepost sandals were fantastic but clearly my feet don’t like being enclosed!
My mother has had MN for years and just tried two new product that I was recently introduced to and she is feeling relief. I’m wondering if there is anyone else in the States that would be interested in talking with me about trying these products also. Yes, I am a direct seller of these items but that is why I’m looking for another person who is not related to me to see if they have relief. I would love it if our products eased your pain.
One item is an All Natural Anti-Inflammatory and the other is a gel she applied for just 5 days and she started feeling relief. She is going to keep using them but I thought I would see if anyone else was interested in trying them.
Jody
I had to stop skiing because of the terrible pain I was in whilst wearing skii boots; if I was on the slopes I would have to get them off asap! This was several years ago and I didn’t visit a doctor or look into why it was occurring.
I am a ballroom dancer so do wear heels a lot, have very flexible feet and suffer from bunions, two years ago I discovered Fitflops (Toepost sandals) and constantly wear them throughout the summer months. Two weeks ago I purchased two pairs of Fitflop shoes-( pumps and ankle boots) which immediately felt wonderfully comfortable. However, after about half an hour of wearing both I started to experience the severe pain that you will all know to be Mortons Neuroma.
Has anybody else had the problem exacerbated by wearing Fitflops? Do I need to visit a Podiatrist or just stop wearing the shoes?
i have to say they are some really graphical images on show regarding the surgery, we have many patients that have arrived with issues simular to this, and the best we offer (before surgery) is the metatarsal pads to relieve the pressure on the given area, or the use of met domes, this helps spread the mets and results in less presure on the nerve
Got my neuromas in May 2011. Went to 4 docs, read everything under the sun, orthotics, rubbed my feet with cayanne pepper, and on and on. Nothing worked at all and this thing was about to ruin my outdoor oriented career and my life in general at only 28 years old until I found the vffs 2 months ago. Toe seperation is all I needed. Now that it’s winter no more vffs and hello funny gel toe seperators. Why has no one blogged about the gel toe seperators? They do the same thing as vffs but cost $6.99. Glad to have my life back! As a word of review the hour glass shaped ones were a bit too big and hurt. I also got the ones shaped like an artist paint tray and they are much thinner and replicate the vff foot function nicely. I’ve also gotten rid of all my shoes with any sort of heel and am enjoying vivobarefoot shoes alot.
Hi Anna,
I am about to have surgery on my neuroma on my rt foot next week. I have been dealing with this for about 2 yrs now. I wish I would have learned about these shoes sooner. I have seen on many sites that people have found these shoes to work wonders. I have been starting with the numbness and tingling on my other foot and would like to prevent it from getting to the shape of the one that is going to be operated on. With these shoes do you where them all the time or just with physical activity? I had just started to run rather than just walking when this started and pushed it til I couldnt take the pain anymore. Can you run in these? Also do crosstraining, do they offer enough support for them?
I have neuromas in both feet and have not had any injections or therapy. My question is do any of you other sufferers have leg pain also?
Hey everyone
Re- my blog Dec 2 & 11. Cyro is working I am nearly 8 weeks post Sheffield CRYO and it is definately better and seems to be improving each week.
Thats with one done on each foot ( I had 2 on each foot ) Still thinking about having the other two done but the pain is a 3 in the mornings and 1-2 by day so will wait the full 16 weeks before making another trip.
Hi, I’m interested to learn that you’ve just had cryosurgery at Sheffield. I was due to have treatment there today myself but, because of the weather, was unable to travel – I live in South Wales. I’m interested to know:
how you found the actual surgery,
how many days after surgery you were fully mobile
more about the pain in the weeks after surgery.
I’ve only just been diagnosed but have had the neuroma, I would estimate for 10+ years. I’m desperate to get it sorted so that I can go walking. At the moment if I walk for more than half a mile I’m in a great deal of pain.
I would be grateful for your comments.
I had MN removed from both feet about 10 years ago. Although it helped the pain, I was left with the expected numbness and occasional cramping.l Now I have a new MN developing in my left foot and it is so painful. Over the years I’ve developed flat feet and my podiatrist has told me I have no fat pads on my metatarsals. Due to this I can’t walk without shoes on or it feels like I’m walking on crushed glass. I miss walking barefooted. I have tried everything conceivable from orthodics ( I’ve probably spend $2,000 over the years) steroids, injections, ice, exercise, changing shoes. Nothing helps. I’m a nurse and am on my feet for up to 8 hrs at a time. I’m glad I’ve found this blog to see what others have tried, but it doesn’t seem like there’s much hope. I don’t want surgery again. I feel like I have the feet of a 90yr old woman, and I’m only in my 40′s! Good luck to everyone!
Help! Had a mn approx 4 yrs ago, had a series of I think 3 alcohol injections which made it 80 to 90% better. I still do Zumba but often in pain I need a good shoe I’ve tried brooks running, Nike cross trainer. Not bad, rums and puma, awful help! Any suggestions? Apparently. Cute is out I give up, can’t wear berks or fitflops
I am about to have a neuroma removed from my foot this month and after reading these posts have mixed feelings. I have tried supports and recently cortisone shots but neither has worked. I am seeing a foot and ankle surgical spec. rather than a podiatrist…(my podiatrist did nothing and acted like it was in my head) I have been told most people have more sucess w/ a specialist. I am nervous but feel that I dont have any other option. The pain is now unbearable and it is affecting my everyday activities. I had a bunion removed from the same foot 2 yrs ago and it was sucessful, but about 7 months later developed the neuroma. I think this may have stemed from me waiting so long to get that done and walking incorrectly on my foot to take the pressure off the bunion. So I am praying and hoping to be one of the lucky ones who has sucess with this surgery. Let you know how it turns out!
10 days after surgery and so far so good! Had a neuroma between the 2nd and 3rd toes and a cyst the size of a marble that was sitting on top of the nerve between the 3rd and 4th toes removed. No More pain on the bottom of my foot. Just waiting for the incisions to heal. So glad I went through with the sugery!
I have Morton’s Neuroma in both feet. I was injected several years ago and it did not help. I have not been able to wear shoes with backs for 10 years. I just started an exercise class and the backless sneakers were not working for me. I found Skeletoes by Fila, went and tried them on, walked the shoe department for about 30 minutes wearing them. I have since purchased 6 pairs and have very happy feet. The separation they allow of the toes has solved my problem. I am 61 years old and don’t find them to be very attractive but that is a small price to pay for comfort. I recommend these shoes to anyone with this problem. Good luck fellow sufferers.
Candy Dougherty
OMG! DX with Morton’s Neuroma. After 1 week of wearing Pod’s shoe inserts with met pads was in so much pain and extended to other foot. Thank you for all you contributed to the vast of information on this blog. I went to In-Step; which is not just a shoe store. They are so knowledgeable and have experience in various foot pain and problems. After 2 hrs. trying on various shoes and inserts, came home with inserts in tennis shoes for working out, and 2 pair of birkenstock sandals. I can walk without pain. GO TO A GOOD QUALITY SHOE STORE THAT TAKES PRESCRIPTIONS FROM DR’S and carries BIRKENSTOCK and let them help you walk again without pain. Very expensive, but so worth it. Cheaper than surgery and less invasive.
Hi Sue, Apolologies for not getting back to you sooner Re my blog :- Jan 18. Yes still looking good but as said I had 4 MN 2 in each foot and have had 1 ice balled !! ( cryro ) in each. I am hoping to go back to Sheffield in April to get the other 2 done. By the way my pain at times has completly gone with good walking shoes which I wear every day.Worse time just after getting out of bed on the way to the little room ( bare feet ) but very much better than pre- cryro. The pain is no more than cortisone injections, as once deadened the procedure is on screen and you can follow the progress inc watching the ice ball form. I took 3 days off work just to ensure complete comitment on my side as its quite expencive.
Did you have the procedure ?
Hi Graham, how are things going for you. Are you having your next procedure done this month? If so I take it that’s a major recommendation for The Barn Clinic Sheffield & cryo surgery. Thinking of making an appointment for June myself, just got to sort out diary dates. Best of luck hope you finally get total pain relief, please keep us posted
Penny
Not officially diagnosed, but after reading this, bet I have it. Explained my symptoms to an Orthopedic Surgeon acquaintance and he suggested it. Have been having pain for quite a while. Went to the ER after excrutiating pain that radiated up to my head! Actually loss fine motor function of my arms. Thought I had a DVT as I once had a few years ago. After a CAT scan, I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in the foot that was swollen with an egg like protusion. Sent home with Percoset and crutches (not fun). Bought some “old lady” shoes and doing a little better. Looking for some homeopathic remedies……..
Crocs are the only thing I can wear, they are like sponge. Hope you are better soon.
I had bad pain in my left foot back in 2008, so bad I couldn’t walk. the hospital found it was MN and sent me to see the specialist. I had injections into it, with no relief. I then waited a year for the operation to remove it, which I had on summer 2009. It took months for my foot to heal after the operation, and the pain was terrible. After 6 months of suffering again I was taken into hospital to have injections into the joints under a local anestetic. This did not help either and I continued to go downhill over the next year. Because of the bad pain in my foot, I could not walk properly and developed arthritus in my lower back and all down my left leg. I also now have syatica very bad on my right side. My doctor who done the operation said my op went well so didn’t understand why this was happening. I told him over and over that it felt like the MN was still there, but he wouldn’t listen. He said I needed a second op to remove bone from my foot and move my 2 toes then pin them into place, although I was very worried about how this would affect me, I had it done as he said I needed it. That op was 2 years after the first. I can now barely walk at all, am in constant pain and on high dose pain killers. I cannot do any of my own house work, wash my hair etc… and am stuck indoors all day most days as I can’t walk anywhere. Another year on and a second opinion has found that the MN is still in my left foot so needs removing, but my foot is quite badly deformed now from the second op. I am 36 years old and live the life of a pensioner! If I could go back to before my first op I would in a flash, at least then I had a life. I was active and fit, nothing like the person I have now become. Please look into it very hard if you are suffering with this condition, I wish I had instead of just taking the advice from the hospital. I have had hydrotherapy, physio etc… but they are all to worried about doing anything because of how bad I have become. Please think hard about it, wished I knew the risks involved, but it is too late for me.
i also had mn surgery 3 of them! doc said i had 2 more mn in my foot and that meant more surgery! i coulldt take another surgery! i have not been able to wear a shoe but only a slipper since feburary of 2011! the pain is terrible and very sensitive to touch! i finally went to a ortopedic surgon who now says i have crps which is also known as rsd and am now in pain management to help control the nerve damage that was done in my foot! also he told me i do not have anymore mn in my foot and not to have anymore surgeries which will make my condition worse! if you let rsd go without treatment it will spread to other parts of your limbs and body parts! maybe you should check out some websides on rsd
Hi all great website and as you can tell I am male. I had the op on my left foot back in 2000 and I have the numb toes and they are also bending up which worries me, think the term is called hammer toe. Anyway just wanted to say that I still have a lot of pain even after this amount of time but still is better than the constant pain before the op.
I had MN surgery on my R foot back in Dec 2011. Everthing seemed to be going fine, but then the incision got infected in January. I was on antibiotics for 20 days. After the swelling went down, I had inflamation near where the original MN was. I switched podiatrists and he says that the joint is inflammed and my take some time. Second issue is pain on top of forefoot in and around the incision site. When I try to put weight on my foot the inflammed joint presses up into the surgical site causing more pain on the forefoot. Dr. says it could take 6 months to see improvement. I don’t see anywhere on these sites any mention of surgical site pain lasting 6 months. Did the infection set things back? This is not a scar tissue, because when I try to massage or stretch my foot the pain becomes worse and lasts for days. Woudl a stump neuroma cause pain on top of my foot? No one, not even the podiatist knows. I have had knee surgeries that healed faster than this . Can not recommend the surgery, try everything else out there first.
I have an MN in my right foot … for about 2 years now. The pain in the actual foot has all but gone except for the occasional burn … but I have awful pain in my right hip & sometimes knee. I’m wondering if my foot being bad has put my hip out of place or put extra pressure on it when walking. When I stand up after sitting I walk bent over until I can straighten up & I can no longer go for country walks or long shopping trips without constant ly having to sit down because my hip is so painful.
Has anyone lese experienced this knock-on effect from an MN? I am definitely not having the surgery after all I’ve read about the after effects … not just here but on other MN sites … but I’m worried about the long term effects on my joints.
I’m seeing a podiatrist tomorrow so am hoping he will be able to suggest some orthotics to set my leg straight when walking.
Thank you all for your posts on here … it has been so informative & comforting to know how many others are suffering this debilitating condition.
I noticed the clasic symptom of the bunched sock around November 2011 and waited to for about 6 months before I sought a foot doc. He tried a steroid shot with no luck and suggested surgery when I could no longer tolerate it. Then I found this blog and have altered my shoe style from heels with pointy toes to Jambou, earth shoe, Dansko, or most any shoe with a wide toe box. I still haven’t thrown out my heels but if I try to wear them I can’t get out of the bedroom with them on. The problem with the MN is in the morning as the foot hits the floor I do the cripple walk to the treadmill (I wear the Nike free with socks) then I mostly don’t notice it till the next morning. I don’t run since my knees are poor but there are many less my age who can’t keep up the pace. I have no idea how long this repive will continue and wonder if I should do the surgery while it’s not a major issue or wait until it becomes one. I will turn 55 this year and consider myself active, I would be very depressed if unable to excersise. any thoughts?
Hi All ( see May 20, 2012)
Well I am extremely excited to inform you that the 2 neuroma’s that Robin did at the Barn Clinic in November last year, have been successfully removed. Such a relief. On the 24th I had the last two Cryo’d such a clean and clinical approach and implementation of the procedure made me very assured of yet further success. Of course I will only know in a few month’s time. I am so looking forward to walking for FUN again !!.
I have had MN for several years now. Some days it is worse than others. Have had the “shot” – which helped some but not enough. I had no idea how painful it was to get the shot. My dr. did not tell me – just asked if I’d like to try it! I have found inserts help and massage. I have also found that seeing a Reflexologist (INGHAM METHOD ONLY!) has given me relief. Still looking for a permanent solution but from reading this blog, I am not sure now surgery is the answer.
And I forgot to add in my comments above that I have also found applying “Biofreeze” to my legs/feet helps reduce the pain and helps me to sleep at night…
2/18/2012
I figured out I had a nueroma in early 2011, and spent all of that year adjusting my lifestyle. No more dress shoes or bare feet. I went through 3 rounds of cortisone shots, all of which worked and made life bearable, but also didn’t completely fix anything. Lots of walking just a little funny, and a real pain to not to be able to wear dress shoes to work.
As I dug deeper into what to do long term; surgery or alcohol injections, I was amazed by how hard it was to find good information on the long term results, or even any stores from other people who had dealt with this. My podiatrist didn’t exactly instill faith when he told me there were no real hazards with the surgery route, and seemed amazed that I already knew about stump nueromas. Yay internet. I was also surprised at exactly how hard it was to find a good foot doctor in Denver, considering all the world class athlete training that goes on around here.
Below is log of how things went during the full 6 months I have been at this process. I have used my ability to play hockey as my barometer for how my foot was doing, as skating puts my foot through a pretty good workout.
At the start of 2012 it was clear that I had to do a long term fix. While my foot was good enough to get around on, it was really limiting my physical activity, and when my 21 lb daughter could squeeze my foot and if felt like someone hit it with a hammer, I knew it was time.
I elected to not do surgery, and go the route of the alcohol injections. For me it didn’t seem to me like there were major benefits to going the surgery route since it might keep you off your feet for a couple of weeks, and the healing time was a couple of months. It also seemed like its possible to try the alcohol route, and if that doesn’t work then go to surgery. Also, I have a 5k deductable on my health insurance so the price tag was 3.5k vs $500 for a full round of alcohol shots.
First Shot
So on February 17, 2012 I went in for my first alcohol injection. I was expecting it to hurt twice as bad as the cortisone shots ( which did really hurt ), and for it to take me off my feet for a few weeks. At this moment I am pleasantly surprised. The injection itself hurt less than the cortisone, and by the next day (with a bit of ice and Advil) I am up and running and think I will be able to play hockey tomorrow. My foot feels as good as it has in 6 months. I am scheduled to go back every 2 weeks for additional shots, with my doc thinking I will need around 8 total to deal with this. I will update as time goes on.
Thanks for reading this and good luck to everyone who is dealing with this really issue. It’s amazing how an issue with your foot affects your whole life.
2/23/2012
Since the first injection I have continued to keep about the same schedule as always, even played a few hours of hockey. Last night my foot started feeling more sore than usual, just enough that I was starting to notice it. That has continued this morning, with more of that pebble in the shoe feeling than I have had in a while. Let’s call it a 3 on 10 scale. There is one new feeling; now when I flex my toes up, I can feel a slight popping right where the nueroma and tendons are. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s disconcerting.
3/5/12
Second shot. Foot was feeling really good prior to the shot. No sharp pains. The second shot hurt a lot less than the first, maybe because I knew what to expect this time. The only hard part was the zingers shooting up my leg as the needle was in or near the actual nerve. This time around I immediately iced my foot for the remainder of the day and took ibuprofen. The payoff was the next day the foot was only mildly sore, and walking was not a problem.
3/15/12
Things seem to be going well. Overall soreness has continued to not be an issue, and there have been no more sharp pains, even when squeezing my foot from the sides or putting pressure on the top or bottom. I played hockey last week and for the first time in a year there was no sharp pain while I skated. There is still a little bit of that pebble in the shoe feeling on my foot when I first get up in the morning, but its minimal and goes away in the first hour. I was even able to go to a meeting wearing dress shoes without any pain.
3/16/12
Whoops. Foot felt so good I did two days in a row of a pretty hard workout on our elliptical trainer, and that was apparently too much. Foot is very sore, used iced and motrin.
3/19/12
Third Shot
This time I watched as the needle was repeatedly put into my foot. It’s a long thin one and they move it around about 5 times, so no wonder it kind of hurts. That being said the pain was even less than before. I spent the day with my foot elevated, used ice packs and also Motrin. Falling asleep took a while longer as my foot was pretty sore, but it wasn’t a big issue.
Today is the day after the shot and while the top of my foot is a bit sore, no other issues and it looks like I will be just fine walking around and hope to get back on the ice for a hockey workout tomorrow.
3/25/12
Foot is fine, but making sure I don’t overdo it again like last time. While skating it still hurts a bit, sometimes more than others, but playing in my game yesterday it was totally pain free. Did manage to wear dress shoes for over 6 hours with was unimaginable just over a month ago.
4/2/12
4th shot
Ouch. This one didn’t hurt so much as I got some zingers up my foot as she really got the nerve good. Spent the day icing and elevating.
4/5/12
This time around my foot has remained a bit sore and tender. Not too bad, but after 3 days every other shot my foot has felt really good. Now there is the feeling of just a bit of pressure on the top of my foot, and I am aware enough of it that I haven’t skated or really done much of anything. No actual pain, but just a very strange sensation. I did wear dress shoes for a few hours at a meeting yesterday.
4/16/12
5th shot
After talking with the dr about how sore my foot was after the 4th shot, it turns out she had done most of the alcohol in the same place rather than spreading it around like she had done before. This time the shot didn’t hurt much at all, and she spread it around a bit more. The end result was that after just one day of icing I was back up and around.
4/24
Things have been pretty good, moved to sandals and can even walk barefoot for short distances. Went to a long skate last night and had real foot soreness after about an hour. Not quite pain, but it was uncomfortable enough that I considered stopping ½ hour early, which I didn’t, but it did keep me from fully using my left leg while skating. I have been doing a ton of yardwork lately, moving 19 cu yards of mulch, which may have contributed to the soreness. It may just be my imagination, but it is starting to appear that when my foot is on the floor the 2nd smallest toe (right next to the spot we are killing) seems to be splayed out a bit more that the same toe on the other side. By this I mean there is a slightly larger gap between the 2nd and 3rd toe on the left side than the right.
5/15/12
6th Shot
Prior to this shot my foot has been feeling about 70% healed up. Some soreness and dull pain when skating or after walking for longer distances. Also some minor feelings of discomfort when first walking in the morning, but that goes away after about 5 minutes. Overall it has been a really good improvement, but I would love to get another 15% better. Right now daily activities are just fine, but I don’t think I would do very well with long (2+ mile) hikes or playing hockey more than just once or twice a week.
This shot was done by the other dr at the office. He was really, really fast. Iced the foot for a few hours but then went about my normal day.
5/17/12
Foot feels pretty good. Was not very sore the next day, although it was tender. Thinking about skating this afternoon, going to bike a lot this weekend so I will see how it holds up.
5/26/12
Feels the best it has since I started this process. Almost no pain while skating, can hike about 2 miles and can walk around the city without any issues. Its feeling about 70% of normal. At this rate I am thinking 8 shots will be the magic number for me to get the most out of this process, but I am only expecting to get to 80-90% of normal. Still no noticeable numb spot at all.
7th Shot
6/1/12
This shot hurt the least of all. After talking things over with my doc, this may be the last one. We are going to wait at least a month to ensure there is no backsliding in pain or mobility, but overall things are feeling really good.
6/5/12
I wasn’t even out for a full day this time around. I have skated 2 times since the last shot and there is no pain at all in my foot, which is great. I have also been wearing my Chako flip flops, doing tons of walking, biking and elliptical and no pain. Still haven’t done a multi mile hike, but that’s next on the agenda and I am feeling really good about things. As of right now, I am hopeful this is the end of the nueroma, and also the end of the shots. My foot feels great.
The ‘cure’ for Morton’s Neuroma.
My case was hereditary. My mother had it, my grandmother had it; right foot between the 3rd & 4th toe. Growing up with a size 14 foot when the biggest shoe you could find back then was a size 13 didn’t help. When the pain became unbearable, I happened to find a podiatrist who accurately diagnosed the problem (Cumberland, Maryland, 1980). He glued layers of felt together then ground them down to exactly fit the profile of my arch. He had me bring in all of my right shoes and proceeded to glue the felt arches into all my shoes, including my tennis shoes. I threw the shoes away as they wore out. I buy my shoes now a half-size bigger than I need & with wide toe areas. None of my shoes have the felt arches except for one remaining pair of wing tips which I hardly wear anymore. I throw shoes out if I suspect that they are causing problems. I have had only very minor flare-ups in the 32 years since.
Hi All,
just returned home from having both feet treated with Cryo Surgery at the Barn Clinic. After the initial discomfort of local anaesthetic injections the procedure was bareable. Stayed over night close to the clinic just as a precaution & have returned home. It is now my fourth day after the operation & I have removed the dressings & am virtually pain free but as I was advised my feet keep having strange feelings but I am being very careful not to stand to long or over exert them. Wonderful to be mortons neuroma pain free, fingers crossed, will keep you posted.
hi penny,
ive been dealing with mn for about 7yrs, now ive tried everything but surgery. i was going to have surgery but chickened out. ive read about cryo surgery and was thinking about doing it. the mn is really putting my life on hold, cant wear shoes, cant exercise cant do much pretty depressing. is it expensice to do cryo? i have no health insurance but need to get something done with this. i know they basically freeze the nerve but how long does it last? i hope it works out well for you
Hi Penny.
I had written my results from the my treatment at the Barn Clinic last month but did not get to stay on this blog for some reason ?
Anyway, as you say impeccible treatment at the Barn Clinic and am extremely pleased no pain when I wake in the morning ( 1st time for 4 years ) It will be 1 month on the 24th June since procedudure and its looking pretty good, not gone but pretty good and getting better each week.
Looking forward to doing some decent walking again.!!
I tried a bunch of different inserts. I finally found one that
Worked. It was the type that goes under the ball of the foot
and extends back a few inches not reaching the heal. I think it
shifts the weight to the heal and takes pressure off the ball.
i had mine nine weeks ago followed what the doctor said to the letter foot still double the size and very painful. what the doctors say is different to what most of us expierence.
TO ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE SUFFERING FROM MN-IVE BEEN DEALING WITH MN FOR ABOUT 7-8 YRS. NOW. I HAVE NERVE DAMAGE IN SAME LEG FROM SCIATICA DUE TO HERNIATED DISK. I HAD THE BACK SURGERY 10 YRS. AGO AND IM NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE MN BUT I KNOW THIS LEG IS THE WEAKESS ONE. IVE NOTICED WHEN I DONT SLEEP GOOD AND WAKE UP WITH BACK PAIN MY FOOT HURTS MORE. THEY ARE ALL LINKED TOGETHER AND I KNOW IM GETTING WORSE. IVE TRIED THE ALCOHOL INJECTIONS AND IT SEEMED TO IRRITATE MORE THAN ANYTHING. FOR ALONG TIME I WORE OLD NAVY FLIP FLOPS CAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT FELT GOOD ON MY FOOT BUT IT ONLY MADE IT WORSE.I CANT WEAR ANY KIND OF SHOES SO THAT MAKES IT HARD TO FIND A JOB WHERE I DONT HAVE TO DRESS UP. SO FAR AS SHOE INSERTS THOSE DONT WORK EITHER.THERES NOT TO MUCH HOPE WHEN IT COMES TO A CURE FOR MN BUT I AM THINKN ABOUT CRYO SURGERY WHICH IS WHERE THEY FREEZE THE NERVE. I DONT KNOW HOW LONG IT LASTS BUT ITS SUPPOSE TO LAST AWHILE. IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS SO FAR AS SHOES OR INSERTS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I READ A BLOG ABOUT SOMEONE USING “DMSO” ON THE MN AND IT WORKED. ANYONE ELSE TRIED THIS PRODUCT??? OH YEAH AND FROM LIMPING SO MUCH NOW MY GOOD LEG (HIP) HURTS ALL THE TIME. I CANT WIN ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!! HANG IN THERE EVERYONE DONT LET THE PAIN WIN!!!!!