Mortons Neuroma Has anyone had this?

[orangeflutie]

Yesterday I had an ultrasound on my left foot and it's now confirmed that I have a 'Mortons Neuroma'. It's a benign tumour that has grown between my second and third toes. I haven't been able to run for a while due to foot pain and this is the cause of it.

I have opted for surgery as this seems to be the best option. Apparently the tumour is quite fibrous and probably won't respond to steroid treatment. What I wondered was has anyone had surgery to remove the tumour and was it successful? How long did it take to recover etc.. I'm due to see the surgeon next month but probably operation won't take place until next year.

Oh of course. Everyones different and heals differently.

DH is 2 weeks post op with this and his job is walking all day out and about. He's only been reluctantly signed off work for a third week but I don't think that will still be enough. He isn't even back in normal shoes yet! Will he be forced back to work? What can we do? Thanks.

Thanks for all the replies:)

The surgeon is going to go in through the top of my foot, apparently recovery is quicker if done this way. It does sound slightly less painful! I'm trying not to dwell on it all too much until the day of surgery.

doinmummy That's really good you recovered so quickly and encouraging to hear. I've been reading all the after surgery info and it sounds quite grim. Crutches for a few days, recovery up to three weeks and not being able to drive. I must stop worrying but after the first week it's likely I will be on my own with my three dds so it's a bit difficult not to.

Heyho two weeks tomorrow and it's done and then I can begin to move forward.

NickNacks Only just seen your post. I can't see how he can be forced back to work as he simply wouldn't be able to do the job. Surely though if his employers are wanting him back, they should be able to offer him a more sedentary job in the meantime? He might also be able to claim incapacity benefit if he has more time off.

Hope he gets better soon.

Yes that's what I'm thinking. Tbh his employers aren't rushing him back but nurse who changed his dressing last week seemed to think he could hobble in and do desk work . Desk work his employer doesn't really have for him (they employ people on their own right to do this) and full pay on sick isn't a problem.

Good luck with your op too!

I've had and still got this, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to due to choice of shoes - due to back trouble I can't wear the sort that caused me more problems anymore anyway

I was down for surgery, but lots of reasons to keep postponing & problems with the way they wanted to do the OP & then at a pain clinic referral I was actually advised against having the surgery as its not always successful & n my case would take longer to heal & often comes back anyway - so I didn't have it.

Since then I've read articles about newer more successful & less invasive treatment - some sort of injections & from what I've been told its available with some NHS areas, but not others, so might be worth you looking into & asking about ??

I think have heard about injections on feet but I may be getting confused with new surgery that's available for bunion removal. My surgeon didn't mention it regarding neuromas, so I'm presuming it's not available in my area.

I'm going for surgery despite the risks because I want to be normal again, to be able to run again (which I love), dance, jump, play badminton/tennis/squash. Anything that involves more movement for my feet other than a slow painful plod. Even to go for a long walk without pain would be lovely.

Just wondered how long you've had back trouble? I hurt my back quite badly a few years ago. I recovered due to physio and then later sprained my ankle. This again altered how I walked and caused back pain. I have noticed that the two are definitely connected. Because I've been walking differently due to the neuroma I have more back and hip pain again and also pain in my knees. I feel like an old lady!

Do you think your back has got worse since you've had the neuroma?

Just to update on this thread, I had the neuroma out on the 26th March. I haven't posted up until now as I didn't feel I had anything particularly encouraging to report. The op went well but since then I'd had odd tingling sensations and quite a bit of pain still in foot especially at night.

Over the last week the pain subsided and I started going out on my bike to try and regain some fitness. It's been lovely to get out and feel a bit fitter.

Finally today I thought I'll go out for a walk and possibly a small slow jog and I did it no foot pain! I'm really happy today and am really hoping now that I can carry on slowly doing a little bit more as I've missed it so much. It's been over a year since I last run.

I'm writing this really as I want to stress that the recovery time from the neurectomy seems to be quite long in my view and there is little information about it. I would recommend going for the operation now but for a long time I wasn't sure if I'd done the right thing and there wasn't anyone to talk to about it.

I'm seeing the surgeon on Monday for my post op assessment and am pleased to be able to tell him I'm getting better but will point out that there needs to be more reassurance that you will get better and recovery takes longer than you think.

I hope posting this helps.

The dr thinks I may have one of these. Can I ask you ladies, could you feel a lump in your foot? The dr says I seem to have all the symptoms of MN but he can't feel anything. I have of course Googled it and I can't seem to get any hard and fast info about whether or not you should be able to feel something.
Maybe I could tell you my symptoms and see if it sounds like yours?
It feels like a cramp pain in my 3rd and 4th toes, when my toes are squashed in shoes it is agony, I used to love running and can't do it any more. the pain is not constant but when it is there it suddenly comes like a stabbing pain - it feels like a red hot needle is being poked into my foot. It makes me stop in my tracks. It feels like it needs massaging all the time.

Footle Thank you and I'm 44.

AbbyLou Your symptoms sound classic for a neuroma. You can't always feel them. I got referred to a podiatrist who diagnosed mine by squeezing my toes and then it was confirmed on an ultrasound. I recommend getting a referral asap. I ignored my foot pain for ages thinking it would sort itself out and it didn't, it got worse. The quicker you see someone the quicker you can be free of the pain. In the meantime try and stick to wearing shoes with thick soles and plenty of toe room. Good luck.

Thanks so much orange. I thought it sounded like it was a neuroma but felt quite fobbed off by the dr. He said take ibruprofen when it hurts - what all the time!! He also said to get some foot supports from the chemist. He said go back in 6 weeks if no better and the 6 weeks is up now so I am going to go back. Hopefully I will see someone different next time!

I went straight to the podiatrist when my numbness and pain started. Was told its probably a neuroma. Test confirmed some swelling. Told to get inserts for shoes. You can't wear these in the summer. Researched shoes. Found a brand in the US called Dansko. Most of the flat styles are endorsed by American medical podiatry association. Tried one pair out. Brilliant. Got rid of all other shoes and only have these now. They have made a massive difference. The pain etc is gone and I can walk about normally. I have worn them for about five years now and rarely get an problems unless it's summer and I walk around on hard floors in bare feet.

I don't own shares in the company. They are just brilliant shoes and even look ok.

Hello. I know this is quite an old thread, but I am 10 days post op on both feet and looking for some advice/ reassuring stories of recovery! I am lucky to have my parents move in for a few weeks to do school run/ cooking etc so I can properly put my feet up. Wondered if some of you who had surgery a few months ago could give me tips on shoes to wear and how it progresses?? Currently lying in bed! With husbands socks on!
Thanks

He penoma wow you've had both feet done! That's hard going, how much pain are you in at the mo? You're doing the right thing in putting your feet up as much as you can.

Re footwear, I lived in trainers for a good month or two after surgery and occasionally Ugg Boots:), then progressed to fitflops which I still wear a lot as they don't rub against the scar. The surgeon went in from the top of my foot. Is this the same for you?

If you look a bit further up this thread. I mentioned it took me longer than I thought it would to recover. I got a lot of pain at night, random shooting pains. The best thing I found for this pain was diclofenac a non-steroid anti-inflammatory painkiller. ( I had a supply in from when I hurt my back). It would knock the pain on the head and allow me to sleep. Ibuprofen didn't help really.

The good news is I have now fully recovered and am building up my running again.

I wish you well in your recovery. You will get there.

HTH

Helle not He:)

Can't type lol I mean hello:)

Thanks so much for replying so promptly, didn't check until this morning!
Yes had them both done together, surgeon thought better to have one recovery period with 5 yr old kids!!! Can't really do this again. And yes she went in from the top.
Also been getting the random shooting pains, I have diclofenac but find gives me terrible indigestion. And can't take anything for that. Nurofen not much use to me either.
Did you wear your own trainers or go up a size? I can't get my feet in mine even unlaced as too swollen in width and depth, but of course not length.
Glad to hear you are back to normal now. How long did it take from surgery to being able to walk about normally???
Thanks for replying.

I wore my usual trainers once the first padded bandage was taken off as didn't have much swelling and kept just the tubular bandage on for another four days.
They were the trainers I use for running though and were bought with more toe room than usual.

I was walking around more normally by the end of the second week but did find that some days my foot hurt more than others. My surgeon wouldn't give me crutches for the first few days after surgery as he didn't want me to do too much and I was told to walk on my heel initially.

I probably drove a bit too early but found it very frustrating not being able to use my car to get the dds around when DH was away at work over a weekend. It was ok as long as I wore the same trainers.

Make sure you use olbas oil on your scars, it really helps the appearance and massaging the soles of your feet helps the internal scar tissue break down.

Interesting reading through all this, as had never heard of Mortons Neuroma until I started googling my own toe symptoms....

Came home from running club one night and suddenly realised that my big toe joint was hurting...looked v swollen. This is the last time I ran, not due to the toe, but because of thigh/hip pain (ongoing saga). The week before the toe pain started I had fallen off my bike, and wondered if the toe pain was due to getting foot stuck in pedal.

Anyway after 2 weeks of non-running and pain in base of big toe I went to GP (June) who said it was bunion, caused by arthritis, nothing much could be done. Came out feeling v dejected.

Saw my own GP at end of August re thigh pain also mentioned ongoing toe....he seemed to think it was probably soft tissue injury and advised nurofen gel. However it still hurts - feels like a bad bruise and hurts when I bend it, plus in the last few days have had excrutiating pains shooting down big toe. Is this anything like Mortons Neuroma? I keep reading that it usually occurs between 3rd and 4th toe so maybe unlikely?

I should probably go back to GP, just fed up with not getting anywhere when I go though.

I'm not sure whether it is a neuroma because of where it is but it does sound like it's still causing problems.

I would go back to your GP and ask to be referred to a podiatrist. It might take a few weeks for an appointment to come through but I think it's worth it as they know what they're talking about.

Hi ive suffered from mortons nuroma for 4 years it wasnt diagnosed until last year .Pain was worse this year had a ultrasound that diagnosed this ,then a steroid injection which just aggravated it .did some reserch on cryo injections but decided not to as they are exspensive in this country 2,ooo plus you sometimes need more than one ,there not always succesful and some refer to traditional surgery as i have in the end .mortons dosent get better once youve got one its permanent,so i decided surgery was best as i ve had anough of the terible pain ,it felt like 3 of my toes had dislocated!Had the chop last monday and feeling alot better than i thought ,i get around just fine with crutches .the loo and washing is all pretty much pain free.i keep my foot above my hip most of the day as when down it throbs.the foot is bandaged with a special shoe which your ment to take off for bed but i dont as it acts as a cage and keeps the duvet off my toes!!lol. Had the stiches out today my foot has been cut below,between the toes and underneath and is a glorios shade of green yellow and grey!lol The pain of the nuroma has gone just the pain of the cut now.so crossing my fingers i will be disco dancing soon!

podiatrist did me no good whatso ever ,lots of painful manipulations ,orthodontics which are exspensive !I recomend a good orthopedic consultante that specialises in foot pain.Also dont take no for an answer my GP took 3 years to diagnose .i was told i had a tiny nuroma so scurried home feeling guilty for wasteing the good doctors time !I actualy had a massive one!Good luck .

Hi I may not have had neuromas as severe as others but I have found a brilliant way of managing my pain wearing the small corn gel tubes on each toe either side of the nerve - they keep my toes comfortably slightly apart and seem to relieve the pressure on the nerves - I have gone from not being able to walk and waking at night in pain needing to ice my feet to no pain during the day and just a small amount in the morning when I first get up as I don't wear them at night - it has changed my life without needing surgery and I just wanted to share this.