r/Mortons_neuroma

I have had 2 decompression surgeries over the past 2.5 years. One spot is fantastic, the other not so much. After trying everything else we decided on the neurectomy.

I had my post op today and asked the surgeon why I was in so much pain after surgery. He looked at me excitedly and said “We did a lot of work in there! It is the biggest neuroma I have ever seen. It was hiding!” Besides the geyser of fluid that comes out whenever I have a surgery (which he had never seen) and the huge neuroma he was excited about it. lol! Said I should start feeling better in about 4-5 days.

Oh, yeah the neuroma was 24mm and was growing down into my foot.

Active Release Therapy

I have been dealing with my neuroma for about 2 years now. I've been through tthe cortizone shots, wider shoes, toe spacers, custom orthodics and no longer walking barefoot.

This week I was seeing my ART therapist for a minor back isssue and I mentioned my neuroma. She took a look at my foot and immediately identified 2 stuck muscles on the bottom of my foot. She said this would cause pinching of the nerve center of my toes and pain. Then she performed a procedure on my foot, flexing and manipulating the muscles. I felt instant relief. Normally when I walk I can feel one of my toes popping and can see it move when I apply pressure when barefoot. After she treated me, the popping was no longer there and even a few days later my foot feels better than it has in the the past 2 years.

I just had it done, so I dont have any long term results yet. But for a 10 minute treatment that cost me $20, I will have her on speed dial if/when the neuroma flares up again.

I have been seeing this therapsit for over a year now. She has released pinched nerves and stuck muscles in my back multiple times. I have full confidence that ART works and is a viable treatment. I will see how long the relief lasts.

If you can find an Active Release Therapist in your area, I suggest you give it a shot.

I had foot pain at the start of my training in January, diagnosed as a Morton's neuroma shortly after. It was terrible then - sharp pain, limping on long runs. I sized up on my shoes, started running in the Saucony Azuras, and have not had pain since.

Until last week when I took my new carbon-plated shoes on a test run. It did not go well. My neuroma has been hurting since then, even in my old trainers. It's not like 10/10 pain, more like 3/10, but I have no idea how it is going to feel at mile 20.

I have brand new Azuras, but it hurts in those, too. My old ones have 600 miles on them. Should I try metatarsal pads? Does Voltaren gel actually work?

I am open to ideas - thank you.

Hello, I have read so many posts and experiences on her and appreciate all the helpful insights shared.

I am scheduled for my 3rd ultrasound guided cortisone shot. My orthopedic surgeon says this will be my last and we need to do the neurectomy to remove 2 nerves and a couple scar tissue lumps from metatarsal surgery a few years ago.

I know everyone is different and every surgery is different but I’m hoping to get an idea how long I can expect to be out.

I have an office job which requires no standing and I already have a foot hammock for elevation under the desk.

How long were you out after your neurectomy?

I’m now 3 weeks out from a neurectomy and the scar is healing up nicely. Got back to work (office job) in my Altras this week.

I want to make sure I do the scar tissue massage properly so if anyone has any tips please let me know :)

Ps. Surgery and the last few weeks have gone well so far, the pain was very manageable. Happy to share more or answer questions if it’s useful for others.

Been having pain from MN for about a year now, tried PT, toe spacers, extended rest, cortisone shot (made it worse). Nothing helping. This is really forever?? I got a pain in my foot one day and now I’m living with it forever? Whyyyyy

I'm trying to wear 4 or 5 pairs of socks at once inside the house so that when I walk around it doesn't aggravate my neuroma. I can't wear sandals or slippers right now because I have an ankle injury (weak peroneus). If I wear 4 or more pairs of socks it tends to put too much pressure on my toe and I tend to develop ingrown toenails.

Amazon seems to have a lot of toeless socks for women but none for men.

Hello - so here’s my situation. Back in 2012 I started having horrible nerve pain in my left foot, turns out I had a neuroma between my 3rd-4th toe. I went through a series of injections that didn’t do much at all. I finally gave in to surgery. The first one was just a ligament cut between my toes to hopefully release the nerve. It did nothing, so a short time later I went for a neurectomy from the top of my foot. Recovery went well, pain went away.

That lasted 8 years until Sept of 2020, when the pain came back. Dr recommended another MRI and a visit to a Neurologist for a nerve conduction test. Turns out I also have Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Dr recommended a revision surgery, asking me if I wanted to participate in a study using a new nerve cap, which is placed at the tip of the nerve after revision surgery from the bottom of my foot. It was rough to not be able to walk for 6 weeks, but everything went well.

Yet again the pain came back 3 years later in Jan of 2023. The damned nerve branched off and another neuroma had grown back again and was pinched between my ligament/toes. During this whole ordeal I refused Gabapentin and pain management (pain pills and/or injections). I’ve taken Gabapentin and pain meds before and basically couldn’t function so this wasn’t a realistic option for me. The only other option, since the pain was disabling me from walking normally, was another revision surgery from the bottom of my foot.

A year had passed (April 2024) and I started feeling like I was walking on a rock, also dull nerve pain. I went back to my Dr and he was baffled, he sent me to another specialist for a 2nd opinion. He had been in practice for a long time, but I was his first patient with this level of recurring neuroma growth. The second Dr asked if he could give me a pain injection and watch me walk, turns out I not only have atrophy in my foot pad but also a misaligned toe that would require a Weil Osteotomy to allow my toe to realign in the correct position. So I went in for surgery to essentially “break” my toe, going in from the top of my foot and leaving the neuroma alone since both Drs wanted to see if by the repositioning the toe it would release the pinching and hence relieve the nerve pain. Also they didn’t want to go in from both the top and bottom in one surgery. The surgery went well, I was walking within the first few days and the feeling of rock and nerve pain had gone away. I was very pleased (finally). The Dr was concerned about the neuroma though, but wanted to wait and see.

So here I am 2 years later in May of 2026, nerve pain is back and I’m damaging my foot by walking on either the inside/outside to avoid the pain. Also, I can now feel nerve pain in my right foot. I went back to the Dr, who looked back at my nerve conduction tests from the previous years. He tapped on the outside of my ankles/upper calves, yet again it sent zingers to the tips of my toes. I don’t even want to think about my right foot at this point, the pain isn’t that noticeable so ONLY focusing on my left foot. He had done this tapping on my ankles during previous visits, and mentioned Tarsal Tunnel surgery, but only in this last visit did he actually recommend it. He described it as someone who has had a heart attack, and the Dr only treating the left arm for pain and ignoring the source. I was so confused, should I have had the Tarsal Tunnel surgery from the start? Why has he only been dealing with the nerve pain below my ankle? What the heck is going on here!? So I went in for another MRI this past week, Dr wanted to see the scar tissue from my previous surgery. So for this final surgery, he wants to not only release the nerve entrapment in my ankle, but depending on the scar tissue wants to also go in from the bottom for another revision surgery/scar tissue cleanup.

He also suggests me going back to the Neurologist to have further testing in my spine. Back in 2006, I had a very painful natural childbirth, my son was a breech baby and had to be turned over. Childbirth caused a shift in my pelvis and a lot of sciatica pain requiring meds/injections via epidural/chiropractic work/massage therapy. I feel like I’m going to lose my mind. I’m an active person, I may have worn tight shoes when I was younger and had one child but no other injuries to cause all this! Since my first surgery I have taken good care of my feet.

If you read all this, thank you. I haven’t posted anything like this before, but it kind of feels good to have found a thread specifically for Morton’s Neuroma and be able to rant a little. Im 48 and this has been going on for 14 years.

I’m having the most recovery pain on the bottom of the foot under where the neuromas were removed. I had two. It feels bruised still (it probably is) and when I wake up in the morning it’s more sore than the rest of the day. If anyone else experienced this, is it permanent or temporary. Should I ice it or do anything?

I was recently diagnosed via ultrasound with a neuroma between my second and third toe. While I wait for treatment, I've started wearing correct toes + barefoot shoes, which led to an immediate dimunition of pain. Yay!

What the correct toes haven't totally helped are the occasional episodes in which my second and third toes go turn dark red, sometimes almost purple. They seem to feel colder too at those times.

I asked the doctor about that and he didn't really have an explanation. When I look up symptoms of a neuroma I find mention of pins and needles but not discoloration.

Does this happen to anyone else, and if so, do you know why it happens?

(My BMI is normal and glucose and A1C labs are optimal, btw -- just adding this data because I know diabetes is a common cause of poor circulation in toes.)

Just got MRI results today: "there is a prominent second webspace Morton's neuroma which measures approximately 9mm x 9mm x 4 mm in plantar dorsal longitudinal and transverse dimensions respectively." I've searched enough to understand the basics of what this is, what causes it, and what the potential treatment options are. What I don't know is what to expect in terms of the trajectory my doctor is likely to recommend (follow-up appointment is not for three weeks), or how much I should be limiting my physical activity until that appointment. I don't know what I don't know, and any and all experiences and observations are welcome.

By way of background I'm a 50 year old guy, who has had fairly flat feet since I was a kid. I've always worn wide width shoes, and never really dealt with foot pain. Last year I went through chemo for tonsil cancer (kicked its ass, I'm now cancer free), and one of the poisons gave me bad neuropathy in my feet. As that started to go away I noticed the feeling of a marble in the ball of my left foot. I'd have good days and bad days, and many days with no symptoms at all. Then about a month ago I had a weekend with lots of time on my feet and it flared up -- I could barely walk. That led to the MRI. I've been wearing wide running shoes instead of dress shoes, and the pain has largely subsidized. But even though I'm feeling mostly better the MRI revealed the large neuroma.

So there we are. Sorry for rambling, and thanks for any thoughts.

Not sure what my pain is from but it is as bad or worse than the MN.

I think its swelling of the second toe post surgery. I still ice and elevate daily.

I feel so hopeless like this ill never end and when can I walk pain free?

Anyone else have this post nuerectomy with the nerve relocated?

Three weeks ago I had a 5mm neuroma surgically removed between my third and fourth toes. I know some tingling near the incision area is to be expected, but beginning one week post op, I began having a severe nerve response. My entire foot feels like it’s asleep — not fully numb, but painful tingling, and with some electric shock feelings.

My surgeon said he hasn’t seen such an active nerve response in the entire foot before. He increased my gabapentin dose and submitted an urgent referral to a pain management doctor, who I’m still waiting to see.

Has anyone else dealt with this? The surgeon said the procedure was straightforward. I’ve been diligent about post operative care, elevation and rest. I’m getting concerned with how long this is lingering.

and I wore tennis shoes to work today! Also I’m from Ohio, we don’t call them sneakers 😂 what do you call them??

I only worked a half day and felt fine! Will try a little longer tomorrow! Also need to try flip flops before I go to Florida in 3 weeks

Has anyone tried or heard about softwave therapy for MN? some guy did a presentation at my wife's networking group and it seemed promising if its not snake oil

I am now in about month eight of MN in my right foot. It's now very manageable with custom insoles, zero drop shoes, various exercises, and other therapies.

I'm lucky in that my MN is mostly gone, most of the time anyway. If I walk barefoot on a hard surface, I feel the weird pressure under my foot, like a rock, but it's not actually painful.

Early on I realized that if I simply lift my toes when I walk, the pressure or pain goes completely away. I could also arch my toes, but this is not terribly natural.

Anyone else lift their toes when they walk? It's already become so ingrained that I do it all the time without thinking.

May some one suggest good POD in California who perform Alcohol injections on MN successfull? Thanks!