[Closed] mortons neuroma - foot problem

I developed this about 6 or so years back, a year after a Big Toe Fusion (Old windsurfing injury from 20 odd years previous). The surgeon who did the fusion sorted the Neuroma under a general, and it’s been pretty good since. I do need to wear a wee silicon toe wedge brace inside my sock all the time, though in the past year or so have forgotten it a few times and not noticed it ! Age 53 if that helps....

I also wear custom orthotic insoles all the time.

Mrs M had this, steroid injection failed to do anything, had to have it cut out.  Very painful after op and long recovery but no problems since.

Multiple bilateral Morton's neuromas for 15+ years, like walking on small marbles. Constant pain. Hurts to pedal Orthotic insoles help marginally. No further treatment recommended, was also told that surgery held no guarantees and carried a considerable risk of permanent loss of sensation in toes. NHS Podiatry is sketchy at best IME with loooong waiting lists. Last time I attended after a 6 month wait she said she had no access to my records because of 'computer problems' so received a perfunctory wave type of appointment.

One small chink of light seems to be since regularly (2x weekly) riding/wrestling my singlespeed up hills. Out of the saddle and mashing the flat pedals (Neutron Electrons) seems to give a good degree of relief over time/via repetition. I can only assume that the pressure/movement/pedal-pins etc give what is essentially an aggressive foot-massage, and so helps disperse the neuromas? I really do have to twist my soles around on the pedals to winch up these hills, it's a massive foot workout. I since noticed it gets worse again when I've been off singlespeeding (from injury) for some months, now back to hobbling. Suggest see private podiatrist if at all possible.

Lastly, it took me three NHS podiatric appointments over a number of years to finally learn that the first podiatrist had prescribed the wrong size shoes by a size (too small). Since now getting wider-fitting shoes the severity of pain has reduced from making it difficult to bear weight (excruciating to stand) to merely tooth-grinding discomfort/slight limp. So maybe she might a try wider shoe before anything. It may help enormously. Trying to keep a full range of motion in the foot is essential as a bad gait caused by pain risks becoming an ever-decreasing circle/cycle, so creating more problems/neuromas etc. Good job on catching it early. Good luck! (boommarked)

^^^^ I am fortunate to have private cover through work, so had one of the top consultants around. He did actually tell me that I’d possibly have less choices on NHS.

Malvern Rider - I’m hoping that lots of Vagabond riding will be therapeutic 😜

I’m hoping that lots of Vagabond riding will be therapeutic 😜

Thanks chap, sorry to dash hopes but the VGBND is mothballed again since re-injuring on it last week (whole other situatin)...😤

I can polish it! Decisions time again..

I had the same issue about 5 years ago ( from running) and I had an ultrasound guided cortisone injection and this sorted it out - it took about 2-3 months for it to completely put its self right though , I now wear shoes with a wide toe box and thin soles and that seems to have prevented a reoccurrence. If I ride my bike with neoprene overshoes ( in the winter) for any length of time the same foot gets a bit niggly - so for me tight shoes could be a contributory factor - don't know if that helps at all

I had this about ten years ago, it got so bad I could only walk for ten minutes or so as the pain was so awful, I had a cortizone injection but that actually made things worse and so had to have an op.

My main advice if you have an op is to follow the post operative care instructions to the letter, feet up for two weeks and no unnecessary hobbling about on your crutches etc, Mrs catfood had to go away for a few days after my op so I was up and about more than I should have been, the net result was that a lot of bleeding occured in my foot in the gap that the nerves were taken from, very common apparently and when the stitches were removed the wound opened up and I had an exposed haematoma, cue another procedure to clean out the haematoma, two more weeks with my feet up and an open wound that took a couple of months to heal, the tendon on my middle toe no longer works and the toe sticks up, I now have a very ugly left foot, my foot was very swolen and sore for a year and is still a little bit bigger than the other ten years on. Mountain biking was off the menu for a year at least after the op, just too painful.

On a positive note once that year or so was up the foot felt pretty normal and I could walk, cycle etc, so all in all worth the pain, most of which could have easily been avoided by me doing as I was told.