MedClinic > Blog > Algology > Morton’s neuroma

 

Morton’s neuroma is a benign seal on the foot, at the location of the plantar nerve. Treatment of Morton’s neuroma should be timely, as it can lead to serious complications. This pathology occurs more often in women after 50.

Reasons for the appearance

Factors that provoke the development of Morton’s neuroma:

  • mechanical effects on the plantar nerve;
  • foot injury;
  • excessive load on the foot;
  • foot infection
  • excess weight;
  • wearing uncomfortable, tight shoes.

Symptoms of pathology

Symptoms of Morton’s neuroma in the early stages of its development are absent, the seal on the sole is not noticeable. Common signs:

  • numbness of the toes;
  • pain, which worsens at the end of the day;
  • burning and tingling in the foot;
  • feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the foot.

How to identify it?

Timely diagnosis is complicated because of the absence of a pronounced symptomatic picture. Many women explain the pain in the feet that occurs at the end of the day by wearing high-heeled shoes. Self-massage of feet and relaxing baths help stop the pain. In rare cases, patients immediately seek medical help when the first minor pain appears.

Methods used for diagnosing Morton’s neuroma are examination and detailed studying of history. The patient needs to undergo some additional tests:

  • MRI of the foot
  • X-ray (to exclude arthritis, fracture).

Treatment

Treatment is conservative, or surgical treatment is prescribed, depending on the stage of development of the disease, the intensity of the clinical picture. Treatment of a neuroma with medications is carried out only if the compaction has a definite, small area of ​​location. Drug therapy is aimed at reducing pain and other unpleasant symptoms.

The patient is not recommended to wear uncomfortable, tight shoes, women are strictly forbidden to wear high-heeled shoes. To alleviate the signs of the disease, it is recommended to use medical orthopaedic insoles, which contributes to the correct position of the foot, to reduce the degree of physical activity on the leg and reduce pressure on the nerve.

The use of corticosteroids is mandatory. To reduce the pressure on the nerve, to stop the symptoms and to tighten the foot, a course of physiotherapeutic procedures is prescribed, chosen by the doctor individually.

In the absence of positive results from drug therapy, surgical treatment is appointed.

Morton’s neuroma surgery is performed using minimally invasive methods, which does not carry the risks of complications, trauma to healthy soft tissues and nerves.

One of the most effective surgical procedures for treating Morton’s neuroma is its removal, with excision of the affected part of the plantar nerve. The disadvantage of this method is a constant feeling of numbness in the middle and ring toes, but this complication does not bring the patient much discomfort. The function of the foot itself remains without any changes, the movement of toes is not limited.

The operation is performed under local anaesthesia. The incision is up to 2 cm long. The sutures are removed after 2 weeks. Until the seams are removed, it is forbidden to exert a continuous load on the foot. Removing a Morton neuroma with a damaged part of the nerve is a fairly radical procedure, but with the aggravation of the disease, this is the only way to relieve the patient of foot pain.

Morton’s neuroma is a very unpleasant pathology, which requires proper treatment. It is strictly forbidden to use any methods of traditional medicine or conduct treatment without the consent of the attending physician in this case.