Morton's Neuroma

Hi there. I have had a MN for a few years now but didn't actually seek any help until about a year ago. To cut a very long story short, after it was diagnosed, I didn't want the op as I had heard that it doesn't always work and can sometimes leave you in more pain than ever! I opted for the injections but, even before my appointment to have it done, I doubted if it would work. The reason for my doubt was that the MN didn't hurt all the time. It would just flare up suddenly, out of the blue. This of course was very hard to live with as I would often be caught out and the pain is just horrendous, meaning that I simply couldn't walk, couldn't drive and was in absolute agony!! Anyway, on the day of my appointment, I was up on the table with the doc ready to give me the injection and he asked if I was in a lot of pain. Of course, that day as a good day and I was in no pain!!! When I told him this, he said that the injection wasn't for me and, in his own words, "Live with it". Sounds harsh advice, but I have to say, I agreed with him. There must be people who suffer with the pain constantly and for them, perhaps the injection would work but the relief is only temporary. I can go for weeks with no pain therefore this wouldn't have been the answer for me. Hope I am making sense here?? He told me to adapt my lifestyle, eg, buy an automatic car, which I did. When the pain hits, I am in absolute agony but, like you, I stop whatever I am doing and massage it, which is really painful but effective. As long as I can sit down, remove my shoe and massage, after a few minutes, the pain eases and I can be pain free for another while. There is no rhyme nor reason for when the pain hits. It's always out of the blue, which certainly can be very debilitating. It's hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it, just like all ailments. When pain strikes, I say to whoever I am with, "Hold on, my foot has gone!!! I need to stop walking and massage it." I still think this is preferable to having the operation, which I wasn't happy to have. Certainly, if ever the pain became constant, I would have to do something but, in the meantime, as the doc said, I live with it. I have become very adept at this massage business and have learned exactly what to do. I know the pain will always return but I can sometimes get a few weeks without it and, for me, this is the best way forward at the moment. So, please try this. Sit down, remove your footwear, massage your toes, back and forward, back and forward, cringing with the pain but, hopefully, like me, the pain will ease. I do hope this helps, even a little bit. Good luck!!

hi i've just had scan today no MN seen all 3 toes go dead and ball of foot kills 2nd and 3rd toe gone into a v like you i now have to go back to see podietist in 6 weeks can you tell me what massage your doing i'll try it i felt really gutted as had in my head it was MN have injection and be pain free i was hoping for to much i suppose lol

Is massage the only non-interventional way to cut down on the pain?  I have been diagnosed in '14 but no treatment available to seniors (I am 81) in my medical insurance.  I am going abroad in 3 weeks and so need relief so that I can walk during my 10 day trip!  Anything you can help with would be gratefully accepted!

You need a pad underneath the 3/4 toe, that separates the bones enough to relive the MN. You can get an insole made professionally which would help, too. You should also do calf-stretching exercises.

I will begin the exercises post haste....and have tried insoles bought at pharmacy which do no good.  What kind of pad are you speaking of?  THANK YOU for your reply! 

I suggest shoes with a wide toe box. LEMS is one brand. The extra room for the toes has helped my walking comfort. The other benefit of this brand (and there ARE other brands) is zero drop. That is, the sole rests flat, not being pushed up by a heel or otherwise moved to unnatural positions. I think the wearing of compressed toe shoes contributed to my getting my MN -- I'm not pain free 100%, but I think the MN area is released and I believe it is healing (without all the drugs & surgery)

I have very narrow feet and would 'walk out' of wide shoes.  My heel is 4AA. In the past 20 years I have not been able to afford expensive narrow shoes so I don't feel wearing 'compressed toe shoes' has contributed. Thanks for the brand name of LEMS, but will have to find them online!

Oh, yeah, those narrow heels ... Mine are also narrow, though perhaps not that much. I must get tie shoes if I want them to stay on my feet without causing blisters. I love flip-flops for the freedom they give my toes -- but in winter...  Hope you find something comfortable

I had some insoles made by a podiatrist to perfectly fit my feet, and are better than the pads although they were expensive. Shop bought ones didn't help. Look online for metatarsal pads, which are cheap, and try those too. Fit flop shoes are good as well.

MN is usually between 3rd and 4th toes, and the pain is a sudden stab that feels like an electric shock. I never had any numbness, either, although I do now because I had the op. Other than the numbness, which takes some getting used to, I'm completely better.

hi thanks for your reply my prodietist says i have all the symptons for MN but it is mainly in 3rd and 4th {mine being 2nd and 3rd and 4th with the pain and 2nd and 3rd toe gone into v shape} that why shes sending me for scan i go tomorrow so i'll let you all know the out come of what it is.. 

I'll be interested to hear. 

hi no MN a narrowing between toes so its back to podietist he said this causes same symptons as a MN