Morton's Neuroma

Prevention

It is not always possible to prevent a Morton's neuroma. However, you probably can reduce your risk by wearing comfortable shoes that have low heels, good arch support, and plenty of toe space.

Treatment

If you have a painful Morton's neuroma, your doctor usually will begin your treatment with conservative therapies, including:

• A switch to shoes with low heels, wide toes, and good arch support

• Padding techniques, including metatarsal pads or toe crest pads

• Shoe inserts (orthotics) to help correct any mechanical imbalance in the foot

• Anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brand names) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn and other brand names)

• A local injection of anesthetic and corticosteroid medication into the affected area

Inflamed or injured nerves can take months to improve, even after the underlying problem has been corrected. If your pain continues despite several months of conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the neuroma or to widen the space through which the affected nerve travels. These types of surgery often are done under local anesthesia. If your doctor removes a portion of the affected nerve along with the neuroma, you may develop permanent numbness between the toes.