Morton’s Neuroma Question
Hi Guys, just got this interesting question from a reader.. please feel free to answer..etc
Hello,
I have never had the Dx of Morton’s Neuroma, but have assisted in surgery with those whom have suffered.
For the last few years, I have experienced numbness, circulatory/cold and sometimes painful issues with my feet. I visited a podiatrist last year, and he barely looked at my feet, but just wrote a prescription for Metanx, which I took for a couple of months, but could appreciate no relief.
When I asked about Morton’s Neuroma, he rather poo-pooed me, and really was dismissive. I have a history of wearing high heels, and more so, dancing in them, and remember coming home feeling like my feet were numb and swearing that I would never do that agin. I don’t now…..
When I went to a local New Balance store, I received more attention regarding my problems than ever at this one podiatrist, and am now wearing better fitting, more supportive shoes with othrodics. However, the problems still persists. My family physician has examined me, knows my history, and feels that this is not metabolic in nature, but that it is impact nerve damage. He couldn’t rule out MN, but couldn’t make the Dx either, without further testing. I am now going to seek another podiatrist’s opinion.
I am curious if my symptoms are that that universal with others Dx’d with MN.
Thank you,
Cynthia Corkran, RN
Hello. I have had MN for 5 years, probably caused by wearing high heeled shoes every day and also having an uneven gait due to a weak knee. MN has been manageable, as in I do not have severe pain all the time, but it is frustrating because the nerve damage is still there and I also have some reverberating sensation going up my calves. I have also experienced the numbness in the toes, the feeling of cold, and the classic MN symptom of walking like there’s a stone in your shoe or your sock is bunched. I can only wear wide shoes now (I used to wear mediums), mostly New Balance sneakers and boots with a low heel or flats.
I’ve decided it’s time to do something about it and it’s not surgery. After doing much research, I think the best option with the most promising results is prolotherapy. I have read threads where people have had near miraculous results. The treatment consists of many micro-injections of a benign substance into the affected area to stimulate the body’s natural inflammation response to promote healing of the nerves. It takes a few treatments (I think between 4-6) to get the best results, but it’s better and way less risky than surgery. I also think most podiatrists are not that interested in the latest therapies to address MN which is why I am opting for a prolo doc.
Bottom line is, like so many others I don’t want to have MN anymore, I want to be rid of it. I think it may be possible with prolotherapy. There is a doc in Chicago who is THE prolotherapy authority but I forget his name.
Best of luck to you and anyone else suffering from this at times debilitating condition. One podiatrist did tell me that she sees more young women (under 35) coming in with Morton’s Neuroma because of the sky-high heels they are pressured by society and so-called fashionistas to wear. I wish we could get the word out that wearing heels every day is detrimental to your feet and can cause conditions like MN and other nerve damage. I wish someone had told me.