Anyone ever experience Morton's Neuroma? Any advice on how to heal?

I had a Morton's neuroma. It was confirmed with an ultrasound scan. The scan showed the neuroma to be 13mm by 5mm. I was told by an orthopaedic consultant surgeon that the best option for me was surgery to remove the neuroma. The pain I was getting was excruciating........like really sharp electric shocks. I had the surgery and was on crutches for 2 weeks. The result is BRILLIANT :-) No pain at all. Before the surgery I had tried cushioning in my running orthoses; but it didn't help much. I was told my neuroma was too large for a steroid injection to have a sustained benefit. The surgery removed the neuroma and also some of the actual nerve. The neuroma was between my 3rd and 4th metatarsal. As a consequence of part of the nerve been removed surgically- I now have a persistently numb area between my toes. this I must admit concerned me initially. It feels like a crease is present in my sock. However- I hardly notice it now. I get NO PAIN whatsoever now.

From the shoe point of view.......I have recently started running in Hoka one one Cliftons

https://bestoutdooritems.com/best-running-shoes-for-mortons-neuroma-reviews/

I loved them so much that I have also got for my birthday another model of Hoka. These shoes are extremely well cushioned- the best cushioning of any shoe I have tried.

Fitz- I hope the yoga sandals help. Please keep us informed how you are getting on. I certainly couldn't run with my neuroma.....it was bad enough walking. Take it easy if you are still able to run. I am guessing running 16m is just aggrevating the neuroma. GOOD LUCK.

This is what I wrote about this injury three years ago. This is a shoe-related injury. See the bold comment above. The metatarsals bones are rubbing together.

When I try on a pair of running shoes, I notice if there is any pressure on the outside of my foot around the outside edge of the little toe or along the 5th metatarsal. If I can feel pressure, I avoid those shoes or try a half size larger.

If you don't understand this, then simply try to wiggle your toes. If you can't wiggle your toes, the shoe is too small in the toe box.

Shoes that are too narrow in the toe box increase the risk of Morton's Neuroma, blisters, black toenail, and bunions.

I had Morton's Neuroma for about two years before I finally had it resolved. Wider shoes for running and normal daily use is the long-term fix.

The one thing that really kickstarted recovery was a cortisone shot. Other things that I did that may or may not have helped were the pads under the feet and modifying my shoes. I stopped looping the laces through the first set of holes down by the toes, and also would take an exacto blade and make a small slit where the two sides of the shoe came together down there. The combination allowed the shoes to 'widen' out on ground impact. My neuroma's been gone completely for a couple years but I still do this 'mod' to my shoes.

elviejo wrote:

, and also would take an exacto blade and make a small slit where the two sides of the shoe came together down there. The combination allowed the shoes to 'widen' out on ground impact. My neuroma's been gone completely for a couple years but I still do this 'mod' to my shoes.

Any pics?

gregmacd wrote:

elviejo wrote:

, and also would take an exacto blade and make a small slit where the two sides of the shoe came together down there. The combination allowed the shoes to 'widen' out on ground impact. My neuroma's been gone completely for a couple years but I still do this 'mod' to my shoes.

Any pics?

There are several tricks you can use to "widen" an existing shoe. I list them in my book 200 Tips Every Runner Should Know under the Morton's Neuroma tip. The book is on Amazon, but let me save you the nine bucks.

1. Replace all your shoes with shoes that are wider in the toe box, including your casual shoes. If you can't wiggle your toes or if the toe box is snug, it can eventually cause Morton's Neuroma, especially if you've already had it. The bones (metatarsals) are rubbing together, causing inflammation and pain.

2. Skip the bottom two eyelets. I skip the bottom 4 eyelets on some shoes. If your forefoot is already snug in the shoe, you don't really need them.

3. Replace the existing insert with a thinner insert.

4. Wear a super thin sock. Your socks should be no thicker than a t-shirt. This eliminates almost all running socks and they can be really hard to find. You can pick up 8-10 pair of these low cut, super thin socks at TJ Maxx for $4-$6. If your sock provides any cushion in the heel and forefoot, it is too thick. If you wear a size 10 or smaller shoe, you can find these super thin socks in the women's sock section at Walmart for about $6 for 6 pairs. Just buy the size large or extra large.

5. Cut a slit about 1 inch long where the tongue is sewn into the shoe. The cut should run lengthwise about a half inch towards the toe and about a half inch towards the heel. You'll see it widen when you put your weight on your foot, which confirms that your shoe is too narrow.

6. Look at the outside edge of your shoe at the little toe where the mesh upper joints the outsole. Most shoes will have a raised rib of outsole material here to provide lateral support. Use a box cutter to carefully trim this off to allow the side of the shoe to expand a little more.

7. Look inside your shoe. See if the insert begins to ride up the side of the shoe in the little toe area. Most running shoe inserts will do this. Remove the insert and trim off about a 1/8th inch of material along this side starting at the middle of the little toe and going about an inch and a half in both directions.

8. Don't be like the OP, who listed all the things he tried and NEVER tried getting shoes that were wider in the toebox.

9. Remember, replace ALL your shoes with shoes that have a wider toebox. If you wear tight dress or casual shoes for 10 hours a day, fixing your running shoes isn't going to fix your Morton's Neuroma.

Thanks! I just completed a lunchtime run after relacing my shoe laces to avoid the bottom eyelets, cut a vertical slit near the base of the toe, and cut a hole in the insole.

I also ordered runnings shows with a wider toebox (Brooks Ghost 10) I’m going to look into the other suggestions, especially thinner socks. Do 5-toe toesocks help? ( i was thinking that they may spread the toes and reduce rubbing once the nerve)

I've had a mild case of Morton's Neuroma in one foot for about ten years but it has not progressed. As many on this thread have said, it only bothers me when I wear shoes that are too narrow in the toe box. My feet are extremely wide in the toes but fairly narrow at the arches and heels, and I have learned to tolerate the heel area moving around a lot in the shoe in order to get the needed toe width. Even when I try to choose wide-toed shoes and they feel great when first put on, about one pair in five will cause the neuroma to flare up and then I have to retire those shoes.

I also have a callus on that foot right under the neuroma. I've tried grinding it down with a pumice in the bathtub from time to time but I can't tell whether that makes any difference. It doesn't seem to hurt, as long as I'm careful not to take off so much skin that it gets raw.

gregmacd, those 5-toe socks might help some runners, but they're making the foot wider, which might put more even pressure on the metatarsals. You could try them, but what you really want to do is make the shoe wider and/or your foot narrower. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much more room you have when you apply all the tips I listed in my previous post and switch to the super thin socks. Super thin socks are like getting the extra width of a full size larger shoe without creating the problems of wearing a shoe that is too big.

By the way, I just bought 10 pairs of super thin socks for $4 at TJ Maxx. The brand was Hind, but I've seen them in several off-brand labels I've never heard of. I wear different thicknesses of socks with different shoes, but in my running shoes, I wear either super thin or thin socks. I only wear thick socks in my hiking boots.

amkelley, I also have a wide forefoot and narrow heel. I use elastic laces and butterfly or "lock" lacing to snug the heel into the shoe so the heel doesn't move around. I don't see the exact technique I use on YouTube, but if you search Youtube for lock lacing or butterfly lacing, you'll see several variations of the technique. I make my own elastic laces because elastic laces help prevent several foot injuries, (you can find out how to make your own elastic laces in my book), but you can use butterfly or lock lacing with regular laces with good results.

No, but I’ve experienced Morton’s filet mignon several times. Still prefer the Delmonico from Capital Grille though.

I stand on a 2x2 square of concrete for 10 hours a day, 5 days a week.... my feet hurt so bad as I have Morton's NeuromaI couldn't even rub them. Upon getting out of bed, I would have to grab dressers and hug the walls because it was too painful to stand up and put even minimal pressure on them. I've been through chiropractic care, acupressure, custom orthotics and more gadgets than I care to mention, nothing ever worked. So I admit, I was very sceptical about spending so much money on a pair of shoes, but I finally gave in......and I am soooooo glad that I did!! I've been wearing my Kinetics for 2 months solid and I cannot believe the difference! My feet and legs no longer ache throughout the night, and I can jump out of bed with both feet. I'm even able to exercise again. These shoes are miraculous, to say the least! I loved them so much, I bought a pair of the Orthofeet just for kickin around in. I also got a pair of your flip flops for my vacation in the Keys. Wearing these shoes is like walking on pillows I honestly can't thank you enough. I highly recommend these shoes to anyone that offers from any form of foot pain.....life is too short to not live it to the fullest!

Check the calluses and harder skin under the metatarsals, get some toe spreaders.

I had one in college and went with a cortisone shot when nothing else worked as I didn't want to go under the knife. The cortisone shot hurt a good bit during and for a couple days after but on the 3rd day after I received it I was allowed to run and it was gone! Its been about 4 years since then and I've never had a problem

a B vitamin shot? Seriously?

After all else fails wrote:

I tried everything already mentioned, which is a good place to start.

Then after several cortisone shots did not work, they tried several alcohol shots (seriously) to try to kill the nerve. I did not want surgery.

THEN I went to Dr. Perry Julien in Atlanta who gave my foot a B vitamin shot. Call the doctor for details. One shot helped and after two shots completely healed. Dr. Julien is well known to Atlanta runners so I would have your doctor call his office if you are not local.

PS. Try Epsom Salt foot soaks for relief too.

And what about this posted elswhere by Rhunnerdad :

" I used to tape the two toes together that we're on one side of the nerve before I would run. This would help spread the toes, with the nerve between them apart, and would alleviate the pain during my run. "

I got the cortisone shot and didn’t have any pain after