Foot pain can be bothersome and debilitating. It can vary in severity, affect different regions of the foot, and impact your life as well as your mobility in a variety of ways. For the purposes of this post, we will focus on a lesser known foot affliction known as Morton’s neuroma.
What Is Morton’s Neuroma?
Morton’s neuroma is a condition that produces pain or discomfort in the plantar aspect of your foot, which is more commonly referred to as the ball of the foot by the toes. This affliction typically affects the region between your toes, and it may feel as if there is a crease in your sock or stone in your shoe.
The condition results from a thickening of the tissue around one or more of the nerves leading to your toes related to fibrosis (scar tissue).
Symptoms
With Morton’s neuroma, there may not be obvious signs of this condition from the onset, such as a lump or persistent pain. Instead, the symptoms may be more subtle and could include the following:
–Burning, tingling, stinging, or numbness in your toes.
–A dull ache or sharp pain in your foot that may extend into your toes.
–The feeling of a fold or stone in your shoe.
Causes
Morton’s neuroma appears to develop as a result of pressure, irritation, or injury to one or more of the nerves that lead to your toes. There are several factors that can contribute to the development of this condition. Some of these risk factors may include the following:
—Improper Footwear
Wearing high heels or other ill-fitting footwear can cause irritation and exert additional pressure on your toes as well as the balls of your feet.
—Certain Occupations and Activities
Working in certain occupations (e.g. construction, factory jobs, or dancing) that require specific footwear, such as steel-toed boots or ballet shoes, may result in repetitive trauma to your feet. Moreover, participating in high-impact sports or other athletic activities, such as skiing, rock climbing, snowboarding, jogging, or running, can also result in trauma as well as pressure on your feet and toes, especially with those activities that require tight or restrictive footwear.
—Foot Deformities
If you suffer from fallen arches, hammertoes, bunions, flat feet, or other foot deformities, you are at a much higher risk of developing this affliction.
Diagnosis & Treatment
At The Radiology Clinic, Morton’s neuroma is typically diagnosed via an MRI examination after a clinical exam performed by your doctor. The course of treatment can vary depending on the patient involved and the severity of their condition. Some individuals may experience relief by changing their footwear or modifying their activities, while others may require corticosteroid injections or surgical intervention.
Do you suffer from foot pain or plantar fasciitis? Has the pain and discomfort become a daily concern, inhibited your mobility, or prevented you from enjoying your favorite activities? Have you been diagnosed or received treatment for your condition? If so, are you continuing to experience pain or have the remedies utilized failed to relieve your discomfort? If any of these situations apply to you, The Radiology Center can help diagnose many foot disorders, including Morton’s neuroma.
At The Radiology Clinic, we pride ourselves on providing a multimodality medical imaging approach to diagnose your ailments with a professional caring team including fellowship trained radiologists. We utilize 3T MRI to provide state-of-the art imaging, including high resolution foot MRIs that can pick up even tiny Morton neuromas and numerous other abnormalities in the foot. For more details about our services, please contact The Radiology Clinic via phone (301-217-0500), email (info@theradclinic.com), or our website.
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