Morton’s Neuroma: The nerve of it!
Today we are going to discuss this quite common, very painful and almost disabling foot condition. If you have ever experienced this we would welcome to hear from you.
Morton’s Neuroma. What is it? It is named after Dr. Morton in 1876. Lets take a look at this forefoot disorder.
This painful condition affects the ball of your foot, most commonly the area between your third and fourth toes sometimes second and third.
It involves thickening of the tissues around a foot nerve(s) travelling to your toes. This can cause sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot. Often described as electric shocks.
The exact cause is not always clear. Usually multi-factorial. Often associated with wearing tight or high-heeled shoes that compress the toes and the ball of the foot.
Risk factors
Factors that appear to contribute to Morton’s neuroma include:
- High heels. Wearing high-heeled shoes or shoes that are tight or ill fitting can place extra pressure on your toes and the ball of your foot.
- Certain sports. Participating in high-impact athletic activities such as jogging or running may subject your feet to repetitive trauma. Sports that feature tight shoes, such as snow skiing or rock climbing, can put pressure on your toes.
- Foot deformities. People who have bunions, hammertoes, high arches or flatfeet are at higher risk of developing Morton’s neuroma.
What can you do to prevent recurrence?
One of the easiest ways to prevent recurrence of Morton’s neuroma is to wear the right kind of shoes.
- Avoid wearing tight shoes or shoes with high heels for long periods of time.
- Choose shoes that have a wide toe box with plenty of room to wiggle your toes.
- If the doctor recommends it, wear an orthotic insert to take pressure off the ball of your foot.
- Wear padded socks, which can help protect your feet if you stand or walk a lot.
- If you participate in athletics, wear footwear that is padded to protect your feet.
Are you suffering from any foot condition? At The Chelsea Clinic, we can help. One of our podiatrist can assist and then recommend what treatments are best to get you back on track. Podiatrist South Kensington
Schedule an appointment here or you may call us at +44 (0) 207 101 4000.
We hope you have a feetastic day!
-The Chelsea Clinic and Team
