HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Morton's neuroma
Pukupuku akaaka a Morton
A neuroma is a painful condition often referred to as a pinched nerve, swollen nerve or nerve tumour. Anything that compresses (pinches) or irritates a nerve can lead to a neuroma. It can happen in various parts of your body.
The most common neuroma in the foot is a Morton's neuroma, which happens at the base of your third and fourth toes. This causes pain, burning, tingling or numbness between your toes and in the ball of your foot.
People with certain foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, flat feet or more flexible feet are much more likely to develop a neuroma. They are also more likely to happen if you've injured your foot or there is some other type of damage.
If you suspect you have a neuroma, it's important to get it diagnosed early, as you may be able to avoid more invasive treatments, including surgery.
Symptoms of Morton's neuroma
The symptoms of Morton's neuroma begin gradually and may go away for a while when you massage your foot or avoid shoes that aggravate it. Over time, the symptoms get progressively worse and may last for several days or weeks. This is because the neuroma is getting bigger and the changes in the nerve become permanent. Symptoms can include:
- tingling, burning, numbness or a feeling like an electric shock to the end of your toe
- pain
- a feeling that something is inside the ball of your foot, or there is a lump in the shoe or your sock is bunched up.
Treating Morton's neuroma
If you have a neuroma, it's important to wear the right shoes. Podiatrists recommend you:
- change to shoes with lower heels
- wear supportive shoes that are roomy around your toes
- use shoe inserts or orthotics prescribed by a podiatrist.
The treatment will differ according to how severe your neuroma is. A podiatrist can advise you and provide the treatment that will work best for you. You can find a podiatrist by searching on Podiatry NZ's website.
If these nonsurgical treatments do not help, you may benefit from surgery to release (decompress) or remove the affected nerve.
Written by Podiatry NZ. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed April 2023.
SourcesReview key: HICCA-28239
