Treatment Options
Non-surgical management
In many cases, symptoms can be managed without surgery. Treatment may include:
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Wearing wider, cushioned shoes with a low heel.
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Using orthotic inserts to offload pressure from the affected area.
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Corticosteroid or local anaesthetic injections to reduce inflammation and pain.
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Activity modification to reduce repetitive forefoot stress.
Surgical management
If non-surgical treatments fail to provide relief, surgery may be recommended to remove the thickened section of the nerve or release the surrounding ligament to relieve pressure. This is usually performed as a day procedure under local or general anaesthesia.
Benefits of Treatment
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Pain relief: Eliminates or significantly reduces discomfort in the ball of the foot.
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Improved mobility: Allows walking and exercise without restriction or burning pain.
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Footwear comfort: Enables wearing normal shoes without pressure or irritation.
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Prevention of progression: Stops the nerve thickening from worsening over time.
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Quick recovery: Many patients walk comfortably again within weeks after surgery.
What Causes Morton’s Neuroma?
Morton’s Neuroma typically develops in response to irritation, trauma, or excessive pressure on the nerve. Factors that may contribute include:
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Tight or narrow footwear – compresses the metatarsal bones and pinches the nerve.
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High-heeled shoes – shift body weight forward onto the ball of the foot, aggravating nerve pressure.
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Foot deformities – such as flat feet, bunions, or hammer toes, which alter weight distribution.
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Repetitive impact – common in runners or athletes, especially during push-off movements.
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The condition can affect anyone but is most common among middle-aged women who regularly wear constricting or elevated footwear.
Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma
Patients often describe:
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Sharp, burning, or tingling pain in the ball of the foot.
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Sensation of “walking on a pebble” or “a fold in the sock.”
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Numbness or discomfort that radiates into the toes.
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Pain that worsens with walking, running, or wearing tight shoes, but eases when shoes are removed.
There are usually no visible signs, as Morton’s Neuroma is a soft tissue condition rather than a bony deformity.
Risks and Complications
While treatment is generally safe and effective, potential risks include:
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Infection or delayed healing.
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Persistent or recurrent pain.
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Numbness in the toes due to nerve removal.
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Scarring or sensitivity at the incision site.
These complications are uncommon, and most patients achieve excellent long-term results.
Before and After Surgery
Before surgery
You’ll undergo a clinical assessment and, if needed, imaging such as an ultrasound or MRI to confirm the diagnosis. Your surgeon will discuss the best treatment approach and provide pre-operative care instructions, including footwear advice and medication review.
Surgery
Morton’s Neuroma surgery typically takes around 30–45 minutes. A small incision is made on the top of the foot, and the thickened portion of the nerve or surrounding ligament is carefully released or removed. The procedure is usually performed as a day case, allowing you to go home the same day.
Recovery
Following surgery, a small dressing or bandage is applied, and patients are encouraged to keep weight off the forefoot for a few days. Stitches are removed after approximately two weeks. Normal footwear can usually be resumed after 3–4 weeks, and most patients experience lasting pain relief and improved comfort.
What is Morton’s Neuroma?
Morton’s Neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of the foot, most often between the third and fourth toes. Despite its name, it is not a tumor — rather, it’s a thickening of the tissue surrounding one of the digital nerves that run between the toe bones (metatarsals).
This thickened tissue can cause irritation and compression of the nerve, leading to sharp or burning pain in the ball of the foot. The pain may radiate into the toes and is sometimes described as the feeling of “walking on a small stone or marble.”
Morton’s Neuroma is significantly more common in women, occurring up to 10 times more frequently than in men, often due to footwear choices that place excess pressure on the forefoot.
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