Summary about Disease
Morton's neuroma is a painful condition that affects the ball of your foot, most commonly the area between your third and fourth toes. It involves a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes. This thickening, or neuroma, can cause sharp, burning pain, numbness, and tingling in the affected toes. It's not actually a tumor, but a benign growth of nerve tissue.
Symptoms
A feeling as if you're standing on a pebble.
Burning pain in the ball of your foot that may radiate into your toes.
Numbness or tingling in your toes.
Pain that worsens when wearing tight shoes or high heels.
Pain that improves when taking off your shoes and massaging your foot.
Causes
High-heeled shoes: These put excessive pressure on the toes.
Tight shoes: Shoes that squeeze the toes together.
Certain sports: High-impact activities that involve repetitive stress to the foot.
Foot deformities: Flat feet, high arches, bunions, or hammertoes can contribute.
Trauma or injury injury of the foot.
Medicine Used
Over-the-counter pain relievers: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) can help reduce pain and inflammation.
Corticosteroid injections: These injections can reduce inflammation and pain around the nerve.
Local anesthetics: These can provide temporary pain relief.
Neurectomy: Surgical removal of the nerve.
Is Communicable
Morton's neuroma is not communicable. It is not caused by a virus, bacteria, or any other infectious agent, and therefore cannot be spread from person to person.
Precautions
Wear shoes with a wide toe box: Avoid shoes that squeeze your toes.
Use orthotics: Metatarsal pads can help spread the metatarsal bones and relieve pressure on the nerve.
Avoid high heels: Limit the amount of time you spend in high heels.
Rest: Take breaks from activities that aggravate your pain.
Ice: Apply ice to the affected area for 15-20 minutes several times a day.
Lose weight: If you are overweight, losing weight can reduce pressure on your feet.
Modify activities: Reduce or avoid activities that put excessive stress on your feet.
How long does an outbreak last?
Morton's neuroma isn't an "outbreak" in the sense of an infectious disease. The duration of symptoms varies greatly:
Mild cases: Symptoms may resolve with conservative treatment (e.g., shoe changes, orthotics) within weeks to months.
More severe cases: Symptoms can persist for months or even years without proper treatment. Chronic pain is possible if the condition is left unaddressed.
How is it diagnosed?
Physical examination: A doctor will examine your foot, feel for a mass between your toes, and manipulate your foot to check for pain.
Medical history: The doctor will ask about your symptoms, activities, and footwear.
Mulder's sign: A click felt when pressing on the space between the toes while squeezing the foot.
X-rays: X-rays are taken to rule out other conditions, such as stress fractures.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): An MRI can visualize the neuroma and rule out other soft tissue masses.
Nerve conduction studies: May be used to evaluate nerve function.
Timeline of Symptoms
The onset of symptoms can be gradual or sudden, following an injury. A typical timeline might look like this:
Early stages: Mild pain, tingling, or numbness in the toes, usually intermittent and brought on by specific activities or shoes.
Progression: Pain becomes more frequent and intense, even when not wearing tight shoes. The feeling of a pebble in the shoe becomes more persistent.
Advanced stages: Constant pain, even at rest. Significant numbness or burning sensation in the toes. Difficulty walking or participating in activities.
Important Considerations
Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing chronic pain and disability.
Conservative treatment is usually the first line of defense.
Surgery is typically considered only if conservative treatments fail.
Proper footwear is crucial for managing and preventing Morton's neuroma.
Other conditions can mimic Morton's neuroma, so it's important to get an accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional.