Morton’s Neuroma Treatment in Houston, TX
Does it feel like you’re walking on a pebble, or does the ball of your foot burn and tingle after a few hours in your shoes? You may have a Morton’s neuroma. Patients often describe it the same way: “It makes me want to sit down, take off my shoes, and rub my feet.” Dr. Ken Dennis has treated Morton’s neuroma for Houston patients for decades, with a step-by-step approach that resolves most cases without surgery.
What Is a Morton’s Neuroma?
A Morton’s neuroma is a thickened, pinched nerve in the ball of the foot. It most commonly develops between the third and fourth toes, where the nerve becomes compressed between the metatarsal bones. Over time, repeated irritation causes the tissue around the nerve to thicken, increasing pain.
Causes of Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is most often caused by footwear that crowds the toes or puts pressure on the forefoot. Common contributors include:
- High heels and narrow, pointed-toe shoes
- Sports that put repeated pressure on the forefoot, such as running, tennis, and dance
- Tight athletic shoes and ski boots
- Foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, flat feet, or high arches
Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma
- Burning pain in the ball of the foot
- Tingling or numbness in the toes
- Sharp, stabbing pain between the toes
- A feeling of a pebble or folded sock under the foot
- Relief when you remove your shoes and massage your foot
How Morton’s Neuroma Is Diagnosed
Dr. Dennis will examine your foot, press on the area between the metatarsals, and assess your footwear and activity level. X-rays help rule out stress fractures and arthritis, and advanced imaging can be ordered if needed.
Morton’s Neuroma Treatment Options
A systematic treatment plan begins with simple, conservative steps:
- Switching to shoes with a wider toe box and lower heel
- Metatarsal pads to relieve pressure on the nerve
- Custom foot orthotics to improve foot mechanics
- Activity modification and anti-inflammatory medication
- Cortisone injections if pain persists
When conservative care doesn’t provide lasting relief, surgical excision of the neuroma is about 95% successful and can be performed as an outpatient procedure.
Find Relief from Ball-of-Foot Pain
The sooner a neuroma is treated, the more likely it will respond to conservative care. Learn about other foot conditions we treat, including peripheral neuropathy, which can also cause burning and numbness, and toe pain, or browse our podiatry services. Call Kenrick J. Dennis, DPM at (713) 465-8833.
Morton’s Neuroma FAQs
What does a Morton’s neuroma feel like?
Most patients describe burning, tingling, numbness, or a sharp pain in the ball of the foot, often like standing on a pebble. Pain usually improves when shoes are removed.
Where does a Morton’s neuroma occur?
It most commonly develops between the third and fourth toes, though it can occur between the second and third toes.
Can a Morton’s neuroma go away on its own?
Symptoms often improve with footwear changes and padding, but the thickened nerve usually doesn’t disappear without treatment. Early care gives the best results.
What shoes are best for Morton’s neuroma?
Choose shoes with a wide toe box, low heel, and good cushioning. Avoid high heels and narrow, pointed shoes.
Do cortisone injections help Morton’s neuroma?
Yes. Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation around the nerve and relieve pain when padding and footwear changes aren’t enough.
How successful is Morton’s neuroma surgery?
Surgical excision of a neuroma is about 95% successful and is performed as an outpatient procedure.