Morton’s neuroma, what is it and how to treat it?

Have you been diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma and do not know what it is?
Does your foot hurt a lot when you walk, in the metatarsal area at the level of the second-third or third-fourth toe?
You could be suffering from a pathology called Morton’s neuroma.
In this article we will see what it is, why it appears, and what treatments exist to mitigate or eliminate the pain produced by this annoying ailment.  

What is Morton’s neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma is a thickening of the interdigital nerve in the space between the third and fourth toes. A nodule that is created between the second and third metatarsal heads or between the third and fourth metatarsal heads, producing sharp pain when the metatarsals rub together.

It is a fairly common pathology (especially in women) that causes pain in the pad of the foot at a specific point. It can occur at any age, and the way of walking is one of the most important causes that favor its development.
Also the use of high heels or tight shoes is linked to the appearance of this pathology.

If our tread is incorrect, a mechanical overload can occur in the area, which can later lead to degeneration of the digital nerve, accompanied in this case also by thickening of the tissue around the nerve.

The pain produced by this pathology is described as a ramp, a burning, an internal burning when walking; and to the touch when pressing on that particular area, it hurts.

Despite its name, Morton’s neuroma is not really a tumor, so its more correct name would be Morton’s neuritis.

Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms suffered by people with Morton’s neuroma are:

• Pain when walking, especially between the second and third metatarsal or third and fourth metatarsal.
  This pain is relieved by removing footwear and massaging the area.
• Tingling in the space between the metatarsals where the neuroma is located.
• Cramps in the toes.

Risk Factors

• The shape of your foot and poor foot support when walking. The fact that we have flat or cavus foot, can make that we do not exercise a correct footprint, especially when we do not use the insoles and proper footwear.

• Previous pathologies. Likewise, pathologies such as Hallux Valgus or having hammertoes or claw toes can also cause our footprint to be incorrect, thus favoring the development of Morton’s neuroma.

• High heels and narrow shoes. Narrow-toed shoes or shoes that squeeze and compress the forefoot area, and the use of high heels, is linked to the appearance of this ailment.
  That is why it occurs in a higher percentage in women and not in men.

Treatment for Morton’s neuroma

The most common treatment to treat this pathology includes:

• The use of a specific insole
• Physiotherapy
• Change to shoes with a wide toe box to avoid compression in the area.
• Anti-inflammatories
• Infiltrations
• Surgery in the most severe cases

Insole for Morton’s neuroma

Morton’s neuroma insoles are specially designed to separate the friction between the metatarsals that causes so much pain.
In the insole, an elevated dome is generated at the height of the neuroma that separates the metatarsals and prevents friction between them, thus reducing or eliminating pain in the area in most cases.

In this case, Smou insoles are not specially designed for this purpose.
There have been users who have bought them for this ailment because they have noticed an immediate relief, but our recommendation if you suffer from this pathology, is to go to your nearest podiatrist to have an insole specially designed for this ailment.

Below, we leave you with a video in which Clara, founder and creator of Smou insoles with years of experience in orthopedic consultation, tells you what Morton’s neuroma is and what her recommendations are if you suffer from this pathology.