3 of 3 Items
3 of 3 Items
A morton’s neuroma is the thickening of the tissue around one to the nerves that leads to your toes. It can occur between any of the toes but is most common between the 3rd and 4th toes. Compression and chronic irritation of the nerve results in enlargement of the tissue about the nerve. As the nerve becomes larger it will become compressed more readily. A morton’s neuroma may present as sharp shooting pain or numbness in the ball of the foot.
A morton’s neuroma occurs as a result of chronic irritation and compression of the nerve. Shoes that have too tight of a toe box can cause compression of the nerves in the ball of the foot. High-heeled shoes are one of the most common causes of neuroma in women. High impact sports like running can result in repetitive stress on the ball of the foot leading to injury of the nerve. Individuals with foot deformities like bunions, hammertoes, and flatfeet are at a higher risk for developing a morton’s neuroma.
Conservative treatment focuses on decreasing the compression of the nerve. A change in shoe gear to a wider toe box is essential. A lower heel height is a must. Modification of high impact sports can also decrease inflammation of the nerve. Accommodative padding to the ball of the foot will aid in separating the metatarsal heads thereby decreasing compression of the nerve. We recommend the Metatarsal cushion pad and Traditional Gel Metatarsal Pad. Innersoles with a metatarsal pad like the Tri-Performance 3/4 arch support by Scoot Foot Care also work well in decreasing compression of the nerve.