Treatment for Morton’s neuroma will depend on how long you have had the condition and how severe it is. For some people, simple non-surgical treatments are effective, but others may need to have surgery.
Non-surgical treatments
If Morton's neuroma is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment will aim to reduce the pressure on the affected nerve, which is usually the nerve between the third and fourth toe bones (metartarsals).
For example, your GP or podiatrist (foot specialist) may recommend:
- changing the type of shoes that you usually wear - shoes with a wider toe area may help to ease the pressure on the nerve in your foot
- using orthotic devices - such as a support for the arch of you foot to help relieve the pressure on the nerve
- painkilling medication - anti-inflammatory painkillers or a course of steroid injections into the affected area of the foot may help ease the pain and inflammation
- numbing injections - alcohol and local anaesthetic is injected into the affected area of the foot under ultrasound guidance; studies have shown that this type of treatment is effective
Resting your foot and massaging your toes may also help to relieve the pain. You can make an ice pack by freezing a small bottle of water and rolling it over the affected area.
Surgery
Surgery may be needed if non-surgical treatments haven't worked or the pain in your foot is severe.
Surgery is usually carried out under local anaesthetic and is usually performed on an outpatient basis, which means you will not have to stay in hospital overnight. The operation can take up to 30 minutes.
The surgeon will make a small incision, either on the top of your foot or on the sole. They may try to increase the space around the nerve (nerve decompression) by removing some of the surrounding tissue, or they may remove the nerve completely (nerve resection). If the nerve is removed, the area between your toes may be permanently numb.
After the procedure you will need to wear a special protective shoe until the affected area has healed sufficiently for you to wear normal footwear. It can take up to four weeks to make a full recovery.
Most people (about 75%) who have surgery to treat Morton's neuroma have positive results and their painful symptoms are relieved.
Complications
As with all surgery, complications can occur and you should discuss these with your surgeon before you have the procedure.
Two possible complications that can occur following surgery for Morton's neuroma include:
- infection around the toes
- thickening of the skin on the sole of the foot (plantar keratosis), which may require further treatment
