Burning or Tingling in the Ball of the Foot—Morton’s Neuroma
More commonly seen in women than men due to narrow and pointed toe shoes. A Morton’s Neuroma or pinched nerve at the base of the 3rd and 4th toes in the ball of your foot may be the culprit.
Often described as a sensation of something wadded up inside the shoe and sometimes associated with a clicking or popping sensation, patients often will remove there shoes and massage the area to try to get relief.
A neuroma is not detectable on x-ray so the diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and clinical examination. In some cases and MRI may be done.
Treatment in the early stages may involve special padding or custom foot orthotics to lessen pressure on the nerve, ice application and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling. Shoes with a wider toe box and less of a heel may also help.
In severe cases surgery may be the best option to provide relief.
