Morton's neuroma ideas ?

[Deschodt]

Anyone on this group of aging folks (or top flight athletes, those can get it too, I'm both ;-) successfully stopped/ reversed this ? I suspect years of plantar fascia + insoles in my shoes that weren't wide enough to account for the insoles did not help.

Going to see a specialist next week, just curious what the collective found to work...
Not painful for me, just that vague numbness in the ball of the foot and feel there's a cigarette under there, like a bunched up sock... more irritating than anything but probably not a good idea to let it worsen !

[cantdrv55]

Paging Tobra.

I’ve had Mortons Neuroma for 30 years. My brother is a podiatrist and he told me way back then that surgery might not be the answer for me as neuroma may grow back. I’ve been using custom insoles to alleviate the pain and numbness. I’ve been good with that.

[Deschodt]

I since found that thread (keyword neuroma, morton did not work for me). I guess I'm asking if it's reversible or something you just live with and manage ? Thanks for the reply !

[Tobra]

It is not really an "oma" which indicates some sort of tumor, more of a swollen, inflamed nerve. Metatarsal heads are linked together with a ligament. Nerve runs between met heads, between ligament and the floor. Met heads 3+4 move relative to one another, nerve gets pinched and swells up. When its swells up, it is easier to get squeezed, which makes it swell more. A few approaches to treating this. Typically the Achilles is tight, so stretching this can help. A pad placed in the shoe to take pressure of the metatarsal heads can be helpful. Injections, either with steroids to shrink the nerve, or sclerosing agent to destroy the nerve. Surgically you can do a decompression, cut the intermetatarsal ligament to take pressure off the nerve, or excision of the nerve. There is the chance that excision will not relive the pain, stump of nerve swells up and symptoms return, fairly uncommon.

Surgery is not your first choice on this deal

[Deschodt]

Tight achilles is right... Also part and parcel for bouts of plantar fasciatis. No pain, just that weird "stepping on a pebble" feel and some numbness. Thanks for the technical reply, much appreciated. I'll have better questions when i go to the specialist !

[PorscheGAL]

I have the same issue but it only bothered me when I ran. I changed shoes to a Hoka and have had a good deal of relief. It has a wider toe box and the stance has the heel sitting lower than the toes so it relieves pressure on the ball of my foot. It may take trying a few different things to relieve the pressure. Good luck.

[Tobra]

You pretty much want to do stretches for the Achilles for the rest of your life, both with knee straight and also with it bent. Don't like the hang your heel off a step stretch, too easy to get hurt. Stretches are like abs, every day.

Yeah, rock in the shoe, rolled up sock, stepped on a lit cigarette are all descriptions I have heard.

As our Gal Stephanie said, can be shoe dependent. May want to stay away from the Ferragamo shoes for a bit. Cycling can light you up in a big way

[Deschodt]

So much for friend's opinions and self diagnosis - it fit (numb big toe and feel of bunched up sock under the ball of the foot). The podiatrist says morton's is very unlikely for me given his checking of my foot and the spot where it's numb(ish), more likely a lower back nerve compression issue. Sciatica just flared up on the drive to Laguna Seca so I'm not doubting him... Referred me to another specialist. Yeah, probably not morton, meh, probably some other crap.

[Tobra]

Neuroma typically does not impact the great toe, L-4, maybe L-5