Confused after Morton’s Neuroma Surgery

Thanks Krizia. Appreciate your thoughts.

It has been about 45 days since my Morton's neuroma and all I can tell you is one pain after another one. Today I got a steroid shot on the top (mid) lever of  the foot because now I'm experience all sort of pain that feels like electricity traveling trought my feet and hitting the toes all now and the bottom after the shot still feels like burning. 

The doctor prescribed a nerve medication type, but I'm not certain any more, he mentioned that next month we have to see better results - God willing that is going to be the case. 

 

Unfortunately the pain is coming from the big gaping hole in my foot . No idea when I'll ever be able to even try a normal shoe bc it's deep and not healing . Dr said there is no such thing as nerve pain as the nerve was removed but why then why do so many complain of nerve pain after this ? I don't believe a word he says at this point . Have you ever looked into yoga toes ? You'd want the good ones so not cheap but you can see how they could help hammer toes . You may want to ask your Dr

Hello,

I had surgery on 5/10 and since they took the pin out of my foot (they straightened the toe and removed neuroma) I'm getting a shooting pain from the tip of my toe to the heel (bottom of foot). Has yours improved? HELP!

Hi Maryann - I'm about a month ahead of you. My surgery was 4/5 and I had a bunion and a neuroma done. I had two implants - one, a pin in the big joint where the bunion was (to straighten it) and another in the joint at the top of my foot to stabilize the whole foot. Both of those stayed in. While my foot and toes are still stiff and I have swelling when I'm up on my feet too long, it has gotten much better over the last few weeks. Getting the swelling down has made a huge difference. I had been getting zingers in my arch to the toes where the neuroma was and they weren't quite to the point of paint, but not at all comfortable. They have subsided quite a bit. I still get them, but they feel more like a tap or a tickle on the bottom of my foot - enough that I feel it, but not uncomfortable anymore. I massage my foot and elevate it whenever I can. I use ice A LOT, and I do the exercises that the PT gave me to do. And I walk. Not a lot - 5-10 minutes at a time, but I concentrate on using my toes and trying to walk normally. Ibuprophen helps too.

You should check with your doc and/or PT about your pain to see if they can suggest something to help.

I hope you start feeling better soon. It's a long process - longer than I had thought, but I am really seeing more improvement every day. I hope you do too!

Hi Robin!  I see it's been a year since your post so I'm wondering how you are doing now?  I had neuroma surgery #1 in April 2017, then a second one to get a huge nerve he missed the first time in August 2017.  Had to go to a wound specialist because it wouldn't heal.  Finally closed in January 2018 but the pain is ridiculous.  Dr says its a stump neuroma, however over the last two months, my wound site fills with fluid and has to be cut open and drained.  Mr foot dr tells me to go to an infectious disease specialist which is basically him having no clue and not wanting to deal with his botched work. I am at a loss and just hoping that someone can tell me something.  Sorry to rant but this is ridiculous and I'm at my wits end.  Any ideas???  Thanks

 

Hi Bonnie,

Sorry to hear about your situation . What do the wound care people say ? Mine was quite an ordeal . I too ended up in wound care . 5 months later I still had an oozing non healing wound....Much smaller but non healing . I had to have another surgery to cut around the old wound (because the tissue was dead and it wasn’t going to heal on it’s own .) and basically stitch skin over the old wound .  It still swells from time to time and one of my toes is completely dead (and that’s a sensation I’ll never get used to ) but fortunately I don’t have pain at this point . My Dr told me that all neuromas form a stump where the nerve is cut but that shouldn’t necessarily mean there will be pain .  Have you seen a different foot Dr?  Jeez between podiatry and wound care one would think someone could figure it out ! Now my neuroma on my other foot (already have had surgery on it twice ) feels like it’s coming back ! God help me bc I don’t think i would ever do surgery again . Thankfully I’ll be in Az bc sandals seems to be much easier than closed toe when managing this condition . Best of luck to you . How frustrating !!! 

hi I know it’s been four years since your surgery but I noticed you had complications of zingers I had surgery 11 days ago and I’m healing pretty well but when I move my toes I am getting an electric shock in the ball of my foot its not painful but is disturbing Hoping this is what you had and hoping yours has all but disappeared now. Any advice would be welcome

Just read your comments.  I'm being put off the idea of surgery after reading so many negative comments.  I wonder why some surgeons cut from the ball of the foot when there are less complications from the top of the foot. Do you have any idea why this is?  The pain I'm having now is so bad so I suppose I'll just have to go for surgery and hope for the best.  I hope you improve soon.

Hi Margaret   The surgeon will be doin it in the ball of ur foot as that's where your neuroma will be. Mine is I between the 3/4 bones. Recovery from top of foot was slow but good did need crutches for a bit but got relief for a few years it's the surgery from the sole of the foot iv been havin problems with. And as I said iv been extremely unlucky. I got an MRI scan again on Sunday but the others never showed anything until the surgeon was operating I must just have weird feet lol. I do wish u all the best of luck and hope the surgery works for you. 

Thank you pnadella and delia for your replies.  When I went for my consultation, I only saw the registrar who told me that the surgeon who will operate on my foot does all his procedures from the ball of the foot so I suppose I'll have to trust that he knows his stuff as he is a foot specialist.  The other specialist at the same hospital goes from the top of the foot but as I'm NHS I don't think I can choose which surgeon to have.  Will give an update after my surgery which should be before February hopefully.

I had surgery for M.N. almost 5yrs ago under the arch of the foot & again in May this yr between the 3rd/4th digits. My surgeon also thinks I have another one between the 2nd/3rd digit so I feel very disappointed with my experiences.

I've had two surgeons Margaret so I'd like to say that just because you are a NHS patient, you still have freedom of choice. Basically I think its down to how experienced the surgeon is and hopefully knows his job.

I wish you the best of luck with your surgery.

 

Hi Delia

I had a Ultrasound Scan to establish if I had another Neuroma and it showed nothing but my surgeon explained that looking for a M.N. is like looking for a 'snowball in the snow' due to the colour & texture of the offending tissue. My M.N. measured (1in in length x 1/2in width) so it just proves that they can still be there but not seen.

I feel as if I'm living through hell at the moment as my 2nd op hasn't been successful at all and that was done in May this year. What problems are you still having with yours?

 

Have now got a date for my surgery.  Its on New Year's Eve!  Can any of you tell me how long it might be before I can get out and about with ease afterwards.  Also, I've read that its important to keep the foot raised most of the time whilst recovering.  Justg wondering really exactly to expect post op.  Many thanks.

Hi Carol

i had my second surgery this year also. I have nerve damage and feel as if there is glass in my foot as well as gettin pinching and what feels like preasure pain in the foot sometimes feels like it's bein crushed. I can't walk bare feet as pain is unbareble so wear well padded boots/ trainers at all times even at home I wear sheep skin boots as for some reason my feet are always frozen now also but when their warm my foro nips like its bein scratched all sounds crazy I know but that's what I'm left with. Really don't want a third surgery or for my right foot to get done because of all the trouble iv had. I also need to keep my foot up as even when just sittin with it down it swells and gets really sore when I stand back up. What trouble are you getting now? 

Hi Delia

Sorry, to hear your surgery didn't go well and that your still having problems. I too am the same and literally at my wits end with it all.

My symptoms are very similiar to yours but I tend to get a feeling at the tips of my toes as if someones sticking pins in them. I also have a problem with a scalding sensation on the top of three toes which didn't allow me to wear a full shoe. I had to wear open toe shoes up until a month ago but my G.P. prescribed some Zacin (Capsaicin) cream for the soreness & Pregabalina capsules for the nerve pain. (Apparently these are quite expensive capsules so they are not too widely prescribed) but I think she gave them to me as a last resort). These have helped with the nerve pain and burning sensation.

You mention your feet are very cold, mine are the same. I sometimes don't even know they're so cold though because they're so numb.

I don't get any swelling but when I'm sitting I usually sit with my feet elevated. I think you should do the same as it will reduce swelling.

I've seen my consultant again today but I can't say I'm too happy with him and his arrogant attitude. I feel he's not very understanding and he appears to like to tell me where my pain should be rather than me tell him where it is but at least he's sending me for a scan again. He thinks I may have further neuromas and said surgery is a probability but I don't fancy that again after two failures.

Which area do you live in if you don't mind me asking, I live in the Worcestershire area.

Like you I have great difficulty finding comfortable shoes but I've found Pavers soft topped shoes are one of the best shoes I've managed to find which were not a bad price in comparison to some i've bought.

I am so fed up with this problem as I find it so disabling. I haven't been able to return to work for the past 7 mths as my job entails being on my feet continually for 8 to 10 hrs a day and I have to wear a full shoe and I could'nt possibly keep my foot covered for that period of time. What a nightmare.

Anyway, I wish you all the best, its nice to read about other peoples problems as until I found this site I could'nt find much information out concerning other fellow sufferers. I thought I was going mad ha!! not really but its a wonder I haven't gone mad.

Regards

Hi Carol

i live in glasgow.  Like you I feel the consultants done understand half the problems were having. I'm back again in January on my birthday for the results of my latest MRI tho as they haven't seen the neuromas in preciousness scans I'm doubtful about it. I wear ECCO trainers and boots but as not working I only have one pair of each no dress shoes or anything as comfort is far more important as you know. 

I too feel at my wits end with all this. I have athritis in my knee because of all this and my hip is now in agony also. I'm only goin on 44 so shld have another 20 years working life in me. 

I keep my foot elevated at home it was when I tried a different job from in a call centre I realist I cldnt even keep my foot down and was literly cryin in pain by time I got home so had to stop that also. I was a support worker for adults with dissabilities with very challenging behaviour and constantly on my feet so that's why I had to stop that and tried the call centre. I'm a grafter and hate not working and financially it's crippling as well as mentally which I'm sure you feel the same. 

I too am glad I found this forum as now don't feel along with all this. 

Hope things improve for all us sufferers . 

Hi Delia

I wish you all the best re: your MRI results.

I know what you mean when you mention your glad you found

this forum, I felt like no one else had this condition, my Drs

certainly didn't give me much indication as to what it was.

I feel so sorry for you as you are so young. I'm 61yrs of age but

have a very young outlook on life, I was hoping that when I retire

I'd do all the things I'd planned to do but unfortunately thats

not going to be the case but I still think I am lucky not to have

something far worse.

Have a good time over this festive season & let's hope when you go for your results that they may be able to sort you out.

Best of luck.

Carol

I was in courage to have surgery for my neuroma at the same time when I had my bunion done. A friend of mine has had unsuccessful neuroma twice so elected not to have mine done. Initially, the bunion surgery made it worse but over the last four years I have learned to manage it. I always wear a wide box shoe and luckily there are a lot of stylish flat shoes and trainers that can accommodate this like Sketchers Go Walk 2. I also always wear a small silicon arch support ( which is washable and very long-lasting) n every shoe with a flat or heeled. You can buy these on from Amazon for about £2.50 each. They stick to the inside of the shoe and you position in just under your foot arch. They take all the pressure of the ball of the foot and reduce the inflammation. There have been times when I considered surgery but when I hear all these stories of failure, I decide to continue to just manage this very difficult condition

Good luck to all those who are dealing with this

My doctor cut the side of my foot along my baby toe. Been having knee pain ever since she cut that nerve more than foot pain. I know that sounds crazy but its true.

Hi Carol, I have just joined this forum and have been reading all the comments, I have suffered with pain on the ball of my foot for over 20yrs, cutting a long story short I eventually had a scan and the sonographer stated he found 2 neuroma's on my left foot and 1 on my right, he also said he had never seen a neuroma as big as one in my left foot and said he would use the scan in his class, so then I had a consultation with my surgeon who says there is no neuroma there and he thought it would be better to break toes 2,3 and 4 and cut a wedge off the metatarsals and the toes and screw them back together, this surgery was done on 25/72016, I was not allowed to put any pressure on my foot for 6 wks and had to wear a velcro shoe. It has been nearly 4 months since the surgery and have been back to him 3 times and I am in so much pain, having the same symptoms as you as in the burning /stabbing pains, I have 3 2 inch scars that burn and tingle constantly, now he says he wants to inject and manipulate the toes as they are numb and I can't move them, after that he wants to perform more surgery to kill the nerve and remove the neuroma's!!!! I am at my whits end with the pain and feel very very low as this is the only condition I suffer with. How are things with you now hon?

It almost sounds exactly like how I describe my pai. I have had 2 neuroma surgeries , 2 tarsal tunnel release and a bunionectomy . Also they had moved my little toe over from overcrowding. I still am in a lot of pain and have started seeing a pain mgmt doctor. Recently had a emg on my foot and he said no periphreal neuropathy present. My pm says he thinks I have a small fibrous nerve that cannot be detected with a emg. I am having mri done on my brain , neck , back , and foot to rule out other causes for pain. My pain mgmt doctor explained it would be a waste of time for another  surgery because at this point I have scar tissue and it is very hard to find a neuroma especially with the scar tissue. He said he believes I have crps /rsd. I had never heard of it till I went to him. He has me on gabapentin x 3 , tylenol 3 with codien as needed and meloxicam. Considering an implant unit to control pain. I commented on yours because I have the exact same symptoms especailly feeling like I stepped on glass , cant wear socks , foot feeling like it is being crushed or squeezed to death. I cant walk barefooted and my feet swell. Check out the info on crps. I think will explain a lot to you. Good luck. 

 

Are you walking on your metatarsals?

That gives you the glass feeling. Your fat pad is most likely gone. There is a fat pad transfer that can help that.

Your metarsal head sounds like it's worn

If it's worn boy that's when the pain starts. Also you can radiofrequency which isent always permanant. Out of pocket around 2 grand but if done correctly can help

Hi delia,

Sorry to hear about your surgeries.  Just to let you know I had bi-lateral morton neuroma surgery 4+ years ago and ended up with both feet in miserable pain, same as you, with tons of scar tissue and permanent nerve damage (neuropathy) on the bottom of my feet.  I felt like I was walking on glass...I could not even walk on the carpet anymore without it hurting?  After the surgery I was taking a lot of anti-inflammitory medication to help with the pain and had to go through physical therapy because I could hardly walk unless I had the ortho boots on.  But then about 6 months after the surgery I was told about "Turmeric" by a friend.  I started taking it and within 3-4 weeks the scar tissue had started to disolve and the inflammation had decreased.  I continued the physical therapy for another 3 months.  Again, the sugery was done back in 2013 and it is now 2017.  I still have major problems and permanent nerve damage and can only where Dansko shoes, but I am doing better.  I have done reseach and my advice to anyone who is thinking about have a "Morton's Neuroma" surgery PLEASE THINK TWICE!  There are options out there.  1. Find a good massage therapist to work the ball of the foot and  2.Turmeric = daily.   Remember you are on your feet a majority of your life, do not let someone mess them up   

 

it could be a pain syndrome called reflex sympathetic dystrophy which sometimes occurs following some surgeries. it is very painful and can spread to other body parts.