Anyone have experience of nerve excision for Morton's neuroma?

[OuchMyFoot]

Just this really. Has anyone had this procedure and how did it go?

I have had a neuroma for nearly three years and have finally been offered surgery after orthotics, physio, steroid injection etc.

The pain isn't terrible but it does interfere with my life to the point where I really want the surgery. But I'm told you have numbness in the webspace after the procedure and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me more about how it was/is for them?

The issue for me is that I tried an experimental thing called cryosurgery a couple of years ago, and, besides not sorting out the neuroma, it left me with a horrible sensation of having something underneath my foot all the time (despite there being nothing there, obviously) which has often been more of a pain to live with than the actual pain, iyswim.

So I'm a bit worried I might have similar after this op.

On the plus side, I think my consultant is one of the best in his field, so I feel I'm in good hands if I do go ahead; I just wanted to see if I could get any first hand experiences from others before I decide.

So if you had a Morton's neuroma and had the nerve excised I would be really grateful if you could share your experience with me! Thanks

I've had mine done - nearly 3 years ago. The result has been fantastic - no pain or numbness. My foot feels entirely normal. Recovery was about 4-6 weeks and I had some swelling if I was on my feet for too long after this. PM me if you need more details.

That's great to hear, norajane, thank you!

I've had 3 removed, most recent one earlier this year. I get some residual pain at the base of where it was, but no where near as much pain as I had before the surgery. Do it - I put up with it for far too long and they don't go away on their own.

Also good to hear, thank you too wageslave.

I had two , on the same foot, removed about 5 years ago. I'm left with quite a wide area of numbness, and walking for more than a mile or so results in a throbbing, swollen feeling, though it isn't really swollen. If I sit for a little while it improves enough to do another mile. Ideally I'd take a change of shoes with me. All shoes have to be as light as possible, wide over the toes, and flexible.
It is better than it was before but some days I have to remind myself of this. I'm old, btw.

Thanks Footle. Is the numbness just a complete absence of feeling or is there actually a sensation of numbness, iyswim?

Sorry to hear it's not been a great success for you although good that it's better than before at least.

Can I ask roughly how old is "old"?? Am mid 50's myself.

I had one removed early last year. I had them in both feet, both 1.2 cm but only one foot was constant agony. I had the option of getting them both removed together but the recovery would have been a nightmare.
It was a painful recovery, and took me much longer than I imagined to get back into normal shoes (in fact I swear that foot it still wider than it used to be).

Overall it was a success as I can now walk long distances again, but I do still need cushioned shoes. It does still get a bit sore underneath but is manageable whereas before was unbearable and made walking anywhere really hard. The very end of my toe is numb and I get occasional nerve shooting nerve pain, but typing this I realise that's as probably stopped now.

I wouldn't get the other one done though - it plays up a bit but would have to be the constant agony before I'd consider that surgery again. But I am glad I had the bad one done.

Ouch, I'm nearly 70, so was 10 years older than you when I had it done. The sensation in that foot is peculiar rather than properly numb ( thank goodness - no one wants a dead foot, even if the alternative is uncomfortable ).