5 Signs of Morton's Neuroma

Morton’s neuroma is an inflammatory nerve condition that affects the ball of your foot, typically in the area between your third and fourth toes. It’s caused by a thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves that leads to your toes due to:

• Compression from shoes
• Sports that put pressure on your feet 
• Standing at your job all day
• Health conditions like flat feet, bunions, and hammertoes

Thankfully, it’s treatable, especially when caught early. At West Side Foot Care on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Philip Messenger, DPM, specializes in diagnosing and treating neuromas. 

Here, he describes five telltale signs that you may have Morton's neuroma.

A burning, painful sensation in the ball of your foot

Pain is the main complaint with Morton's neuroma. It feels:

• Like an electric shock each time you take a step
• Worse when you wear heels, boots, or tight shoes
• Better when your toes can splay

The discomfort and burning sensation may radiate into your toes and get worse during activity, such as walking, running, or hiking. 

A tingling feeling in your toes

That pins-and-needles sensation isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s one of the earliest symptoms of Morton’s neuroma. You might experience tingling between your toes, intermittent numbness, or a buzzing feeling in your foot while you’re walking.

You feel these sensations because there’s excess pressure on the affected nerve.

Feeling like there’s a small rock or marble in your shoe

This signature symptom makes Morton's neuroma hard to ignore. Even after ensuring there’s nothing in your shoe, you may feel like:

• You’re walking on a pebble
• Your sock is wrinkled
• There’s something stuck under the ball of your foot

If you change shoes and the discomfort doesn’t go away, that phantom object sensation indicates nerve thickening, a classic sign of a Morton’s neuroma.

Pain that’s getting worse

Unfortunately, Morton's neuroma doesn’t resolve on its own. And without treatment, your symptoms can intensify. For instance, you might:

• Have longer episodes of pain
• Not be able to walk long distances
• Need to change your shoes often
• Have to sit out of sports or activities you enjoy

If the condition progresses, it may require steroid injections and, in some cases, surgery.

Improvement when you take off your shoes

Tight shoes, boots, and high heels can squeeze your toe box and irritate the nerve. If kicking off your shoes makes your foot feel better, chances are high that you’re dealing with a neuroma. 

Try these tips:

• Custom orthotics
• Cushioned footwear
• Shoes with a wide toe box so your toes can splay

Switching your footwear and going barefoot more often can improve your painful symptoms and keep Morton’s neuroma from worsening. 

If you’re nodding yes to several of these symptoms, come in for a consultation with Dr. Messenger. He conducts a thorough assessment and crafts a care plan to prevent further nerve damage and get you comfortably back on your feet again. 

Call our New York City office on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to schedule an appointment today.