A Morton's Neuroma is a thickening of nerve tissue that develops in the ball of the foot from repetitive nerve irritation. It occurs at the base of the third and fourth toes.
If you have a Morton’s neuroma, you may experience the following symptom in the forefoot at the base of the second, third or fourth toes.
- Tingling
- Burning
- Numbness
- Pain
- A feeling that something is inside the ball of the foot
- A clicking or popping sensation
The symptoms begin gradually and occur only intermittently at first. Symptoms may be more noticeable when one is wearing narrow-toed shoes, heels or performing certain activities that may require going up on the ball of the foot repetitively like squatting or going up stairs. The symptoms may go away temporarily by massaging the foot or by avoiding activities that brought on the pain.
However, over time, the symptoms progressively worsen and may persist for several days or weeks at a time. The symptoms become more intense as the neuroma grows in size and the nerve damage becomes more permanent.
Certain foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, may contribute to the nerve irritation /inflammation. Activities that require a repetitive stress to the ball of the foot, such as running or racquet sports can also irritate the condition.
Consulting with a foot specialist in the early stages of development, greatly lessens the need for invasive treatments and a potential surgery.