How Does A Podiatrist Diagnose Morton’s Neuroma?

The cause of Morton’s neuroma is a damaged or irritated nerve, usually between the third and fourth toes. Common causes of this nerve damage include:

• Congenital foot problems
• Pressure on the ball of the foot during certain sports and activities
• Improper, ill-fitting footwear
• Abnormal foot shape such as flat feet or high arches
• Other podiatric foot conditions such as hammertoe and bunions

How Is Morton’s Neuroma Diagnosed?
To diagnose Morton’s neuroma, your podiatrist will examine your foot to determine if there is a mass between the toes (the inflamed nerve). They may also manipulate your foot and apply pressure to determine the precise location of the pain. Most of the time this is sufficient to diagnose Morton’s neuroma. In some cases, your podiatrist may want to rule out other conditions such as a stress fracture and arthritis with an X-ray or may recommend an ultrasound or MRI to confirm Morton’s neuroma.

Treatment Options For Morton’s Neuroma

While you wait to see your podiatrist, you can try these at-home options to reduce your pain:

• Choose footwear that fits: Avoid tight, pointy-toed shoes and shoes with heels, opting instead for roomy and supportive footwear.
• Use over-the-counter insoles: These inserts may relieve pressure on the bottom of your foot and provide comfort.
• Ice your foot: Ice may reduce swelling and pain.
• Rest and massage: Get off your feet and try gentle massage to reduce pain.

The first course of treatment your podiatrist will recommend is steroid injections and anti-inflammatories in an effort to reduce the swelling and irritation of the nerve and minimize pain. If this does not work, your podiatrist may recommend surgery to treat Morton’s neuroma. There are two types of surgery to treat the neuroma:

• Excision Surgery: This traditional surgical intervention is called a neurectomy and will remove the thickened, diseased nerve tissue.
• Minimally Invasive Cryosurgery: This new and advanced surgical option uses extreme cold to destroy the damaged nerve sheath, leaving the healthy nerve tissue intact and able to regenerate. This surgery is virtually painless and requires very little recovery time. To learn more about this treatment, read Minimally Invasive Cryosurgery To Treat Morton’s Neuroma.