Foot neuroma

A foot neuroma (Morton’s neuroma) is a condition where a nerve in the ball of your foot becomes trapped or irritated causing a sharp stabbing pain. 

Foot neuroma normally affects the nerve between the third and fourth toes and can affect both feet at the same time.

The main symptoms of foot neuroma include: 

• Shooting pain
• Stabbing pain
• Burning pain
• Numbness
• Feeling as though a small stone is stuck under your foot

Because a foot neuroma can be very painful, it needs careful management and treatment so that your symptoms lessen.

Symptoms of a foot neuroma include:

• Tenderness or numbness usually behind the third and fourth toes
• Pain that can range from tingling to excruciating 
• Some people experience an ‘electric shock’ type pain in the foot that can wake them from their sleep
• The pain may spread to other areas of the foot
• The pain may get worse when you move your foot or stress the foot for instance by wearing high heels

Treatment can help reduce these symptoms, and stop them from getting worse.

Foot neuroma can occur as a result of an injury or irritation to the nerve. 

Although there’s no one cause, it seems to be linked to anything that compresses or stresses the ball of the foot which can happen due to:  

• Footwear that distorts the shape of the foot e.g. high heels or pointed shoes
• Tight footwear e.g. for skiing or rock climbing
• Foot deformities: hammer toes, bunions, high arches or flat feet
• Pressure on the foot e.g. from excess weight, jogging or running
• Injuries to a tendon in the foot

Who is at risk of foot neuroma?

Anyone can be at risk of developing foot neuroma, but those particularly at risk include: 

• Athletes who frequently jog, jump or run, placing abnormal stress on the soles of their feet 
• People with an unusual gait or foot deformities such as bunions
• People who are obese or overweight
• People who wear uncomfortable, constricting shoes

At The London Clinic we offer several treatments for foot neuroma including: 

• Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation in the neuroma
• Alcohol sclerosing injections to reduce the size of the neuroma
• Non surgical treatment including radiofrequency ablation to treat the nerve
• Surgery to the foot if you have severe ongoing pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments

We use ultrasound scans to check if you have any tendon or bursitis issues that may be affecting your foot.

We can also offer advice about lifestyle, weight management and exercise to treat any underlying factors that may be aggravating your foot neuroma. 

At The London Clinic we offer an integrated treatment plan to help resolve foot neuroma and any pain that’s holding you back from enjoying day to day life. 

How do you prevent foot neuroma?

If you have foot neuroma your podiatrist or orthopaedic surgeon will advise you on how to care for your foot.

There are a number of things you can do to help lessen the symptoms yourself: 

• Wear comfortable footwear with wide soles and soft insoles
• Wear specially made pads or insoles in your shoes, to take the pressure of the nerve.
• Try to lose any excess weight to relieve pressure on your foot
• See a podiatrist to treat any corns or bunions that may affect your gait
• Take up more gentle exercise like walking or swimming that doesn’t stress your foot