Morton’s neuroma is the swelling of a nerve in the ball of your foot, most often between your third and fourth toes. It can feel like your sock is wadded up or a pebble is stuck in your shoe. It can also aggravate the long metatarsal bones that connect your foot to your toes, causing additional pain and inflammation in the ball of your foot.
Luckily, there are ways you can prevent that “pebble in your shoe” feeling and do all the walking you please, pain- (and pebble) free!
- Some foot structures can make you prone to an abnormal gait, placing uneven pressure on your feet, and pinching your nerves. Have your gait assessed and invest in some orthotics so your foot mechanics don’t cause problems.
- Make sure your shoes fit well, offer plenty of cushion in the ball of your foot, and ample room to wiggle your toes. When shoes are too tight or squeeze toes, they can pinch nerves and make them swell!
- Take breaks and cross-train to avoid standing for too long or placing excessive or repetitive stress on your forefoot.
If these prevention tips don’t seem to provide any more relief than dumping out the contents of your shoe or adjusting your sock, don’t hang up your walking shoes just yet! Nerve decompression surgery could be just what you need to relieve symptoms. Find out more about this by giving us a call. You can reach our Bloomington, IN office by dialing (812) 333-4422 and we’ll be happy to “walk” you through it!
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As a Seattle podiatrist, I don’t think you’re from a weird cult or strange. The pain and pebble-like feeling means you probably have a condition called metatarsalgia (pronounced (met-uh-tahr-SAL-juh). I know it sounds bad, but don’t worry it’s a common foot problem.
Metatarsalgia is an inflammation of the ball of the foot and many things can cause it. In addition to the pain and the pebble in your shoe feeling you may also experience tingling or numbness in your toes and a sharp, shooting pain particularly when your feet are flexed.
You’ll likely notice it more when you’re active and less so when you lay off your feet.
What Causes Metatarsalgia?
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Having a high-arched foot or a very long bone in your toe.
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Running or another high impact sport particularly if you haven’t done it in a long time.
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Foot conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, stress fractures, and Morton’s Neuroma can make it more likely to happen.
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Women - shoes that are too pointy, too high, or with a tight toe box.
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Men – rigid-soled work boots
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Wearing flip flops too often (no shock absorption)
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Working on hard surfaces – cashiers, construction workers, road workers
Treatment for Metatarsalgia in Seattle
Depending on the cause there are a variety of ways to treat it.
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Make sure your shoes are supportive and not worn out. Check out my video “How to Test Any Shoe for Stability” before you shop.
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Wear the right shoe for the activity you engage in. eg. Court shoes for tennis, running shoes for running
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Rest – as hard as this may be to stop your favorite activity, you’re going to need to sit out the next family hike to heal
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Apply ice several times a day
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At the podiatrist’s office – depending on what I find when I examine you I may recommend a metatarsal pad to take the stress off the ball of your foot. In addition, if you have poor biomechanics I’ll likely recommend either an over-the-counter shoe insert or I’ll make you a pair of custom orthotics.
Learn more about metatarsalgia here!
Need Relief From Metatarsalgia in Seattle, Washington? Request an Appointment Now
Don't let metatarsalgia or other painful foot conditions cause you to miss out on the activities you enjoy. Complete the contact form on this page or call our office at 206-368-7000 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Berg.
Most new patients are seen within 1-2 week's time. During your initial visit, Dr. Berg will spend up to 30 minutes getting to know you, your podiatry complaints, and your goals so that he can recommend the treatment best meets your needs. Don’t wait—contact us today.
North Seattle Foot & Ankle Specialist Dr. Rion Berg offers compassionate podiatry care for all foot and ankle problems to those living in Seattle Washington and the surrounding areas. Call us today at 206-368-7000 for an immediate appointment or request an appointment online.
Medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on June 15, 2020
Morton’s neuroma, also called intermetatarsal neuroma, is the thickening of tissue in your toe. This tissue is next to a nerve. Pressure against the nerve irritates it and causes pain. You might be walking along and feel a pain near the ball of your foot, like there’s a little pebble inside your shoe. The pain usually crops up between your third and fourth toes. (That’s counting the big toe as the first.) Women are more likely than men to get Morton’s neuroma. Why? You can probably guess: High-heeled shoes are among the main culprits, because they put pressure on the feet. The cure may be as simple as switching to shoes with lower heels. Morton’s neuroma has no visible sign, such as a lump. So you have to go by what you feel. The first sign may be a tingling between your toes. After that: Doctors don’t know exactly what causes Morton’s. It may come from the nerve to the toe being mashed, stretched, or injured. But several things can make it likelier to happen. They include: Shoes: High heels can put pressure on your toes or the balls of your feet. Shoes that are tight or don’t fit right also can do it. Sports: High-impact activities such as running or tennis can cause stress on the feet. Snow skiing and rock climbing, which involve tight shoes, can put pressure on your toes.
Your feet themselves: Flat feet, overly high arches, misshapen toes (“hammer toes”), or other abnormal conditions can make you more likely to get Morton’s.
If pain lasts longer than a few days, don’t ignore it. Switch to shoes that are easier on your feet. Don’t exercise as hard for a while, or do something (like swimming) that doesn’t pound on your feet. After that, if your feet still hurt, go to your doctor. Finding the problem fast can make it much easier to deal with. In order to tell if you have Morton’s neuroma, your doctor may only need to ask you about your symptoms and examine your foot. But you may need further tests to make sure. To diagnose you, your doctor can use: When you have Morton’s neuroma, your doctor will probably try simple solutions first, such as:
If you’re still having problems, your doctor might move on to: Depending on how severe your symptoms are and which kind of treatment you have, your recovery time could be very short or last a couple of months. Some simple precautions will help you keep problems away. They include: For most people, shots, exercises, or changes in footwear are enough to ease or stop symptoms. But if you’ve tried all these things and still don’t get relief, your doctor might suggest surgery. Of the people who have it for this condition, it helps about 75%-85% of the time.