Morton's Neuroma

[scdreamer]

I'm a moderately active 59-year-old woman. About three and a half months ago I began to experience ball-of-the-foot pain when hiking or doing my everyday 4-mile walk. Usually, whenever I have any kind of pain, I power through and eventually it goes away. Not this time. It kept getting worse, to the point I was convinced I had some sort of metatarsal stress fracture. X-rays were negative for stress fracture or arthritis ... I'm sure you can figure where this tale is heading ...

In January I saw a podiatrist, who diagnosed Morton's neuroma after palpating my foot. He said it appears to be between the second metatarsals. He offered me a cortisone injection, which I agreed to - the shot hurt like hell, but the pain was miraculously gone within a half hour. Since early January, I have been pain-free for the most part, although I can still occasionally feel the "Morton's" place on the bottom of my foot. It's been very minor when it does resurface, nothing I can't deal with, but as soon as it comes back, I stop whatever I am doing and rest my foot, so it is definitely having an impact on my life..

I have not been walking distances (got a recumbent stationary bike to provide my daily exercise now instead) or hiking. I can't imagine putting on shoes with any kind of raised heel now (rarely ever have worn really high heels anyway), but find that when I wear my New Balance running shoes for a period of time, the pain comes back. It feels okay when I wear flip-flops or Keens or other non-binding shoes, or when I am barefoot.

I have a few questions, actually I probably have a million, but here are just a few:

1) Are there ever cases on Morton's that spontaneously resolve themselves? (I imagine this is what is known as "wishful thinking").

2) Are there EVER successful surgery outcomes? My podiatrist is a very experienced surgeon and he seems to think it's not a big deal to recover from the surgery; he says about three weeks of staying off heavy physical activities with the foot. But so much of what I read online sounds awful! I wonder if that is in part because those people who experience successful surgery with uneventful recoveries tend not to be participating in online forums on the topic --- or is it true that the recovery is universally difficult? Before I was diagnosed with this, I never heard of it, and no one I know has heard of it --- it kind of seems that if it's so debilitating, more people would know about it.

3) My doctor has prescribed orthotics ... I was cast for them a few weeks ago and am still awaiting the delivery. He also says I can have another cortisone injection or two - right now I am not in much pain, and the intense pain of the injection itself is still in my mind, making that choice not something I want. But of course, if the pain were to return to its earlier level, I might be more likely to reconsider. Has anyone kept surgery at bay with cortsone shots for an extended period of time? Do orthotics really help?

4) I have a trip to Spain planned for August (already paid for the airline tickets and much of the itinerary), which will likely entail lots of walking. Should I consider surgery now, so that I can be fully recovered by then, or does that seem as if I am jumping the gun and possibly inviting disaster?

Thanks for reading this long post. Any suggestions, advice or information will be appreciated!

[janetyjane]

Obviously I'm sorry you have this problem but on the other hand, glad to have been able to learn that I haven't got something unheard of - the symptons etc. I have seem to be the same. I was very thankful for and interested in your posting. I've just got back from an orthop. doc visit and he said I have Morton's toe but now I'm certain it's Morton's neuroma (my x-rays evidenced no bone defects).

I have been given a 2 week supply of anti-inflamatory pain killers (I don't think I'll take them since the pharmacist told me I'd feel sleepy - plus I have a tendency to suffer periodically from an ulcerated stomach)! I am frightened stupid by the idea of surgery yet on having read up on treatments it seems all passive treatments fail in the end. When having surgery it also seems one is inviting even more complications. Is it possible to have 'successful surgery' for the removl of a neuroma I wonder? It also sounds as if rectification surgery done with entry from the ball of the foot may be safest as far avoiding the chance of damaging other tissue is concerned, but very inconvenient and lengthy regarding healing. Surgical entry from the top of the foot sounds much better but ever so risky? What a dreadful choice to have to make - what choice is better?!?

It would be so good to hear other's comments as I'm currently in S. Korea and can't speak to anyone (even though a few doctors know a little English) - so I'm really in the dark about all this - never ever even heard of Morton's anything before!