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In the 90's, I had one surgically removed on the left foot. Then had to have one removed on my right foot several years later. Problem solved in each case.
In the end, after trying the cortisone shot and other remedies, nothing but removal surgery permanently got rid of the neuromas. They have not returned.
Orthopedic surgeons specialising in foot issues did both.
I've had a MN in my right foot for about 5 years. First, for a few years, it just felt more like a pesky, occasional "weird" sensation annoyance (as opposed to pain): like I was standing on a small marble stuck under my foot. I got used to "living with that weird sensation in my foot" for a few years and could tolerate it because it didn't really hurt, just felt odd when I was standing barefoot on flat surfaces like tile floors or in the shower. I didn't really notice it when I had my shoes on.
Then, about 3 years ago, the "occasional weird foot feeling" became constant and painful, so that's when I saw a Podiatrist who regularly does MN surgery. She confirmed it was MN and began suggesting "custom-made" ortho shoes and inserts. I had heard from others that these things were really ugly, expensive, and did utterly nothing to really reduce/eliminate the source of the pain, so I passed and instead requested the next "conservative" treatment step: steroid injections. (BTW, I also tried acupuncture which did nothing for the pain.)
In my case, the steroid shots worked "like magic" to rapidly eliminate the pain but lasted only about 6+ months. The pain ALWAYS returned and eventually the area affected felt larger, as if the neuroma (or referred pain?) had grown or spread. Ugh... After a year and a half of shots (3 in all), including discussion of long-term use of repeated steroid shots on foot bones and the rest of the body (definitely not recommended!), we agreed to try surgery, which I am having in 3 days.
But I'm relieved to hear it's the "newer" (more conservative but less complicated) surgery: "DECOMPRESSION" (as opposed to traditional, old-school "neurotomy/neurectomy," where the nerve itself is completely cut and removed, which often creates permanent foot numbness and potentially recurring/painful nerve stumps, and which often requires MONTHS of lengthy recuperation and incapacity).
With decompression surgery the SPACE around the inflamed, compressed nerve is simply widened (or decompressed) to relieve the abnormal pressure on it, but the nerve itself remains intact and is restored to its normal function. Also, DC post-surgery pain is reportedly less intense and the recovery time is supposedly MUCH quicker than traditional neurotomy/neurectomy (a couple of weeks as opposed to MONTHS or longer). In fact, I was told I can drive/shower (with the surgery incision site kept dry), and walk a few days later after the surgery swelling/pain subsides and I no longer need pain meds. At least this is how it has been described to me by my surgeon. Here's hoping it will be a success!!
I know your pain! I stopped wearing any heals even short heals and just wore wide shoes. Eventually, it went away and never came back. No treatment needed.
I've had a MN in my right foot for about 5 years. First, for a few years, it just felt more like a pesky, occasional "weird" sensation annoyance (as opposed to pain): like I was standing on a small marble stuck under my foot. I got used to "living with that weird sensation in my foot" for a few years and could tolerate it because it didn't really hurt, just felt odd when I was standing barefoot on flat surfaces like tile floors or in the shower. I didn't really notice it when I had my shoes on.
Then, about 3 years ago, the "occasional weird foot feeling" became constant and painful, so that's when I saw a Podiatrist who regularly does MN surgery. She confirmed it was MN and began suggesting "custom-made" ortho shoes and inserts. I had heard from others that these things were really ugly, expensive, and did utterly nothing to really reduce/eliminate the source of the pain, so I passed and instead requested the next "conservative" treatment step: steroid injections. (BTW, I also tried acupuncture which did nothing for the pain.)
In my case, the steroid shots worked "like magic" to rapidly eliminate the pain but lasted only about 6+ months. The pain ALWAYS returned and eventually the area affected felt larger, as if the neuroma (or referred pain?) had grown or spread. Ugh... After a year and a half of shots (3 in all), including discussion of long-term use of repeated steroid shots on foot bones and the rest of the body (definitely not recommended!), we agreed to try surgery, which I am having in 3 days.
But I'm relieved to hear it's the "newer" (more conservative but less complicated) surgery: "DECOMPRESSION" (as opposed to traditional, old-school "neurotomy/neurectomy," where the nerve itself is completely cut and removed, which often creates permanent foot numbness and potentially recurring/painful nerve stumps, and which often requires MONTHS of lengthy recuperation and incapacity).
With decompression surgery the SPACE around the inflamed, compressed nerve is simply widened (or decompressed) to relieve the abnormal pressure on it, but the nerve itself remains intact and is restored to its normal function. Also, DC post-surgery pain is reportedly less intense and the recovery time is supposedly MUCH quicker than traditional neurotomy/neurectomy (a couple of weeks as opposed to MONTHS or longer). In fact, I was told I can drive/shower (with the surgery incision site kept dry), and walk a few days later after the surgery swelling/pain subsides and I no longer need pain meds. At least this is how it has been described to me by my surgeon. Here's hoping it will be a success!!
Whereabouts under your foot did you have it? 5th toe? 4th? 3rd?
Is Morton's Neuroma the same as "a neuroma?" Mine was described to me this way:
Between my pinky toe and my "ring-finger toe" is a certain nerve. For whatever reason, it's being pinched, or is somehow injured. The result, the bottom and tip of the ring-finger toe are completely numb, and the top of the toe is sensitive. When I massage the ball of my foot between the bones, I feel a little relief. If I wear shoes with a wide toe-box or open toed shoes I have no pain. If I try tighter or narrower shoes, it feels like a funny-bone bang, except on my foot instead of my elbow, and the sensation gets more and more intense til I take my shoes off. I also wear over the counter orthotic inserts with metatarsal support to further push my toes away from each other.
Does this sound like the thing you're calling Morton's Neuroma? Podiatrist said if it was bad enough he would suggest surgery to sever the nerve, but we both agreed it wasn't that bad since it isn't really "pain" exactly, just a very strange sensation of numbness and tingling combined. Instead, he recommended wide toe boxes and metatarsal supports, and walking barefoot as often as possible. Said if I felt actual *pain* to re-visit the situation.
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