Interdigital (Morton's) Neuroma
Contact Information
Sports Medicine Center
Mass General - Boston
175 Cambridge Street, 4th Floor
Boston,
MA
02114
Phone: 617-726-7500
Fax: 617-643-2030
20 Patriot Place
Foxborough, MA 02035
phone: 508-718-4035
fax: 508-718-4036
Orthopaedics at Mass General Waltham
52 Second Avenue
Building 52, 1st Floor, Suite 1150
Waltham, MA 02451
phone: 617-726-7500
fax: 617-643-2030
Explore this Condition
Morton’s neuromas are pinched nerves that occurred in the forefoot. The tissue surrounding the nerve thickens and can cause pain or numbness. Symptoms are typically worse with narrow shoes. It may also feel like you are walking on a marble. Morton's neuroma most frequently develops between the third and fourth toes, usually in response to irritation, trauma or excessive pressure.
Diagnosis
During the examination, you may feel a palpable mass or a "click" between the bones. X-rays may be required to rule out a stress fracture or arthritis of the joints that join the toes to the foot. Presence of a neuroma can be confirmed with an ultrasound.
Treatment
Initial therapies are nonsurgical and relatively simple. They can involve one or more of the following treatments:
- Changes in footwear. Avoid high heels or tight shoes, and wear wider shoes with lower heels and a soft sole. This enables the bones to spread out and may reduce pressure on the nerve, giving it time to heal.
- Orthotics with a pad to reducing the pressure on the nerve.
- Injection - Cortisone can reduce the swelling and inflammation of the nerve, bringing some relief.
- Surgery to remove the neuroma.
Our Foot & Ankle Sports Medicine Team
See our foot & ankle sports medicine team below, or use the button below to see our entire list of clinicians, including sports medicine doctors, advanced practitioners and fellows.
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- Foot, Ankle & Knee Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Team Physician: Boston Red Sox; Consultant: New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, New England Revolution
- Instructor in Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
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- Physician Assistant with Dr. George Theodore
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