Foot neuroma refers to a mass that grows around the plantar nerve in the foot as a result of long-term repetitive compression or irritation. The most common type of neuroma of the foot is called Morton's neuroma, also known as intermetatarsal neuroma, Morton's foot, Morton's toe, or Morton's disease. This condition must be distinguished from simple metatarsalgia, which has similar symptoms and is also found on the sole of the foot.
The medical name for Morton's neuroma is intermetatarsal neuroma, which refers to the fact that it usually occurs between the third and fourth metatarsals, or toe bones. However, Morton's neuroma can also develop in other parts of the foot. In this foot condition, repeated irritation or compression of the plantar nerve in the foot leads to swelling or thickening of the nerve and eventually nerve damage. The mass that grows between the metatarsals is not cancerous, but it can cause pain, numbness, a tingling or burning sensation, or the feeling that a small stone is under the ball of the foot while walking or standing.
Morton's neuroma often occurs in women who wear high heels or shoes with narrow toes, which put excessive pressure on the toes. The condition can also be caused by repeated high-impact activities, such as aerobics, tennis, or jogging. People at higher risk of developing Morton's neuroma include people who are overweight, people with a history of other foot problems, and people with arthritis or gout.
Treatment for neuroma of the foot varies depending on the severity of the individual's symptoms. Mild to moderate foot neuroma can be treated with a combination of ice massage at home, wearing braces, taking ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and making activity modifications to relieve symptoms. Other treatment possibilities to temporarily relieve painful symptoms include cryogenic neuroablation, in which nerve endings are frozen, and injection of cortisone or a local anesthetic into the painful area. Surgery is considered a treatment of last resort because it usually results in permanent numbness in one or more toes.
Although foot neuroma is common, other types of neuroma can occur in various parts of the body. Morton's neuroma should not be confused with types of neuroma that are not related to the foot. These include acoustic neuroma, which is a tumor on the nerve that runs from the inner ear to the brain, and amputation or "stump" neuroma, which occurs when severed nerves in an amputated limb begin to regenerate abnormally.