Morton neuroma is an injury to the nerve between the toes that causes thickening and pain. It commonly affects the nerve that travels between the third and fourth toes.

Causes

The exact cause is unknown. Doctors believe the following may play a role in the development of this condition:

• Wearing tight shoes and high heels
• Abnormal positioning of toes
• Flat feet
• Forefoot problems, including bunions and hammer toes
• High foot arches

Morton neuroma is more common in women than in men.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Tingling in the space between the third and fourth toes
• Toe cramping
• Sharp, shooting or burning pain in the ball of the foot and sometimes toes
• Pain that increases when wearing tight shoes or pressing on the area
• Pain that gets worse over time

In rare cases, nerve pain occurs in the space between the 2nd and 3rd toes. This is not a common form of Morton neuroma, but symptoms and treatment are similar.

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider can usually diagnose this problem by examining your foot. Squeezing your forefoot or toes together bring on the symptoms.

A foot x-ray may be done to rule out bone problems. MRI or ultrasound can successfully diagnose the condition.

Nerve testing (electromyography) cannot diagnose Morton neuroma. But it may be used to rule out conditions that cause similar symptoms.

Blood tests may be done to check for inflammation-related conditions, including certain forms of arthritis.

Treatment

Nonsurgical treatment is tried first. Your provider may recommend any of the following:

• Padding and taping the toe area.
• Shoe inserts (orthotics).
• Changes to footwear, such as wearing shoes with wider toe boxes or flat heels.
• Anti-inflammatory medicines taken by mouth or injected into the toe area.
• Nerve blocking medicines injected into the toe area.
• Other painkillers.
• Physical therapy.

Anti-inflammatories and painkillers are not recommended for long-term treatment.

In some cases, surgery is needed to remove the thickened tissue and inflamed nerve. This helps relieve pain and improve foot function. Numbness after surgery is permanent.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Nonsurgical treatment does not always improve symptoms. Surgery to remove the thickened tissue is successful in most cases.

Possible Complications

Complications may include:

• Difficulty walking.
• Trouble with activities that put pressure on the foot, such as pressing the gas pedal while driving.
• Difficulty wearing certain types of shoes, such as high-heels.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if you have constant pain or tingling in your foot or toe area.

Prevention

Avoid ill-fitting shoes. Wear shoes with a wide toe box or flat heels.

Foot and Ankle Conditions

• Achilles Tendinitis
• Ankle Fracture
• Ankle Sprain
• Bunion
• Bursitis of the Heel
• Clubfoot
• Flat Feet
• Foot and Ankle Arthritis
• Hammer Toe
• High Arch
• Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Ruptured Achilles Tendon

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