Morton’s Neuroma is a thickening of the common plantar nerve that runs under the ball of your foot and into your toes (often between the 3rd and 4th toe). It is thought to develop because of long-term stress and irritation to the nerve.
The thickened nerve at the ball of your foot (this is the padded section of the sole, under your toes) gets pinched when you walk and run. This pinching produces:
The symptoms are generally made worse when you wear tight or high-heeled shoes or after prolonged activity. It often gets worse over time.
Associated causes include:
Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma can improve with simple treatments such as:
Wearing the right shoe is one of the most important things to do. Make sure your shoes:
Avoid:
Foot roller
Place a tennis ball or rolling pin on the floor, place your foot on top and roll back and forth to massage the bottom of your foot.
Insoles with a metatarsal support can help to support the foot and are available over the counter.
Always build up the use of insoles gradually over a week and stop use if you have new pain.
If you have a problem which does not improve as you would expect with self-care, you should contact a healthcare professional for advice. This may be your GP, Pharmacist, NHS Podiatry Service or a Private Podiatrist.
Please make sure your podiatrist is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and look out for the letters HCPC after their name.
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