Neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of your foot, most commonly the area between your third and fourth toes. Morton's neuroma may feel as if you are standing on a pebble in your shoe or on a fold in your sock.

Morton's neuroma involves a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes. This can cause a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. You may have stinging, burning or numbness in the affected toes.

High-heeled or tight shoes have been linked to the development of Morton's neuroma. Many people experience relief by switching to lower heeled shoes with wider toe boxes. Sometimes corticosteroid injections or surgery may be necessary.

Symptoms

Typically, there's no outward sign of this condition, such as a lump. Instead, you may experience the following symptoms:

A feeling as if you're standing on a pebble in your shoe
A burning pain in the ball of your foot that may radiate into your toes
Tingling or numbness in your toes

In addition to these symptoms, you may find that removing your shoe and rubbing your foot often helps to relieve the pain.

When to see a doctor

It's best not to ignore any foot pain that lasts longer than a few days. See your doctor if you experience a burning pain in the ball of your foot that's not improving, despite changing your footwear and modifying activities that may cause stress to your foot.

Causes

Morton's neuroma seems to occur in response to irritation, pressure or injury to one of the nerves that lead to your toes.

Risk factors

Factors that appear to contribute to Morton's neuroma include:

High heels. Wearing high-heeled shoes or shoes that are tight or ill fitting can place extra pressure on your toes and the ball of your foot.
Certain sports. Participating in high-impact athletic activities such as jogging or running may subject your feet to repetitive trauma. Sports that feature tight shoes, such as snow skiing or rock climbing, can put pressure on your toes.
Foot deformities. People who have bunions, hammertoes, high arches or flatfeet are at higher risk of developing Morton's neuroma.

Dr. Suresh Kumar offers our patients the most comprehensive treatment possible as he specializes in both podiatric and orthopedic medicine. With an experience of over thirty years of helping patients with lower leg, foot and ankle problems, the Mahaveer Foot & Ankle Clinic is one of the leading treatment centers for foot and ankle conditions in the state of Karnataka. Dr. Suresh Kumar will take the time to make sure you understand all of your options and then will customize your treatment to meet your specific needs. Our patients benefit from our team-centered approach with specialized physician assistants, nurses and physical therapists. We help patients with foot and ankle conditions achieve their best possible result. Contact Dr. Suresh Kumar by completing the form below and request for an appointment.