Mortons Neuroma
Do you suffer from pain or burning in the ball of your foot? Does it feel as though you are standing on a pebble in your shoe or there is a fold in your sock? You may be suffering from a forefoot condition known as a Morton's Neuroma.
What is a Neuroma?
A Mortons Neuroma is the inflammation and thickening of a small nerve that runs between the metatarsals leading to the toes, most commonly the nerve between your 3rd & 4th toes.
This may cause the following symptoms:
A burning pain in the ball of your foot that may radiate into your toes
Tingling or numbness in your affected toes
What Causes a Mortons Neuroma?
Sustained compression and irritation of the nerve that runs between your toes can lead to a neuroma, which may be caused by the following:
Tight or high-heeled footwear: Wearing shoes with a narrow toe box/width can increase pressure to the forefoot irritating the nerve
High-impact sports that involve a lot of running and jumping
Foot deformities: People with bunions, high arches or flat feet are more likely to develop a neuroma
How can we help?
The goal for treating a Mortons Neuroma is to reduce load and pressure to the affected nerve and area. Depending on the causative factors that have caused the neuroma, this can be achieved by a combination of the following:
Footwear modifications
Padding & strapping tape
Orthotics with a metatarsal dome
Toe spacers
Shockwave Therapy
Foot & ankle mobilistaions
Activity modification
Foot & toe muscle strengthening
Gait re-training
