Morton's Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is a swollen or thickened nerve in the ball of your foot. When tight shoes pinch the toes together too often over a period of time, the nerves that course between the toes can swell and get thicker. Morton’s neuroma causes a burning or sharp pain, most often between the third and fourth toe. You may also experience numbness or a pins and needles feeling. Sometimes it feels like there is a lump inside the ball of the foot.

A physician can typically diagnose this problem via a physical examination. He may squeeze your toes together and press on the bottom of your foot to see if it causes pain. An x-ray may be used to rule out other causes of pain.

At home treatments include:

• Icing the area for 10-15 minutes at a time
• Taking anti-inflammatory medication to relieve pain and swelling
• Resting and limiting activities that stress the area
• Massaging the foot to relax the muscles around the nerve
• Switching to shoes that leave enough room for the toes

If these steps do not provide relief, a physician will be able to recommend the next course of action. This may include devices that spread the toes to avoid squeezing the nerve, orthotics, steroid shots and surgery. 

Image by Elvert Barnes. Self.Hand.Foot.SW.WDC.30nov05. (2005). Flickr.