Morton's Neuroma

[tooticky]

I have recently been diagnosed with Morton's Neuroma in both feet. I've had this problem for so long (15 or more years!) and finally it got so bad that I decided to see a doctor... Foolish me that I didn't go long ago...

Anyways, I'm wondering if any other MDC people have had this and how they have treated it. Have you had any nonsurgical treatments that worked? If you did have surgery, how was the recovery?

I have just had my first (very painful) steroid injection and the doctor seemed to have a very low confidence that it would help me. Always encouraging when your doctor doesn't think the treatment will work!

I'm in Canada, and if I press hard enough could be referred to a foot surgical specialist, but it could take TWO YEARS to see this person! I could also ask to be referred to a podiatrist.

Any feedback to this post would be greatly appreciated! I am so tired of hobbling around...

Thanks!

[sbgrace]

It's horrible I know. I had that situation too. I had burning/numbness/pain when I was on my feet a lot for quite a while (years) but then it got completely excruciating and I finally saw someone. I, too, was kicking myself for not taking care of it when I first noticed symptoms. You don't realize how important it is to take care of feet until they are too painful to walk on!

We did steriod injections. The podiatrist also built a very specific orthotic for my feet. It fits in some really expensive (but good) tennis shoes. It's all I wear for long at all. I couldn't afford to get any other "special" shoes. But it did help because it takes the pressure off that part of my feet so it can heal. I had an steroid injection and then another maybe six months out. I've done better since then but I corrected some underlying health issues in me that I think were contributing to over-all nerve issues. (i.e. vitamin D deficiency (very common, get 25OHD checked), coq10 deficiency (rare), sleep apnea/upper airway restriction mainly).

My research showed that steroids is as effective (long term) as surgery. People with surgery I talked to still had issues down the line and then there was the recovery from surgery. If you can get really good, supportive shoes and maybe an over the counter (online?) insert for morton's neuroma that might help along with the injection. You may well need another injection (I know, it's horribly painful though it's that moment and feet on fire hurts all the time!) Your best hope for recovery in my understanding is to get the pressure off that point so it can heal while the steroid is still in your system. Focus on that. Maybe you won't need another. I'd check your vitamin D levels (for your over-all health as well as because it affects nerves).

[tooticky]

Thank you so much for your reply! So your situation has gotten to the point where you are generally pretty comfortable with two steroid injections, orthotics, and supplementation...

I admit that I may not be getting enough Vitamin D... I'm embarrassed to say that I force my children to take their cod liver oil EVERY DAY but I often forget to take my own. I'll put some notes around the kitchen to remind myself!

The actual getting of the injection was not that bad - painful yes but over quickly. It was last night and throughout today that I could barely walk on my foot and there has been a real aching pain. He didn't mention that this would happen! Sigh.

I have actually been wearing custom orthotics (with a pad in the right spot to relieve pressure on that nerve) for about 6 months now. My feet feel pretty good with the orthotics, for the most part, but there are times when they still hurt even with them in my shoe. Plus it's annoying to have to move them from shoe to shoe (just another thing to remember to do when you are trying to get two kids out the door!).

I seem to be unwilling to accept that I have to wear orthotics every walking moment! Not to mention that I can only wear shoes that have a huge toe box! I never wear high heels, but it would be nice to have the option to wear something a bit fancier than my Merrell trail shoes once in a while!

HAHAH! I know I'm whiny here. I wish that there was a quick fix for something that I have been ignoring for so long.

[tribalmax]

Hello!

Our situations may not be the same -- I went to the doctor just as soon as it started hurting (because it hurt like HELL!). I got one when I was pregnant with DS.

Anyway, I did LOTS of good fatty acid supplements. It totally has cured it for me -- at least as long as I am taking the supplements. If I run out or stop for more than a week because I forget, it starts hurting again.

I am doing Evening Primrose Oil -- when it was bad I would take 2 pills 3-4 times a day. Now I take less.

Good luck! I would definitely try the fatty acids -- they have an anti-inflammatory effect -- especially on nerves.

Rachel

[vancouverlori]

Oh Erin, that sucks. I'd say surgery can be risky for anything, and sometimes makes things worse, so go for the other options first. But just in case it's going to be a two-year wait, go ahead and push for a referral to the foot surgeon, by then, you'll have given everything else a good try, and you won't have to wait that much longer.

Recently I developed plantar fasciitis, so I have also learned how essential feet are! I finally went to the doctor because it was taking me 30 minutes or more of lying in bed trying to get the courage up to actually get out of bed (PF is most painful when you first wake up).

It may be helpful to see a podiatrist - it certainly can't hurt. I used to see Dr. Tammy Gracen (near Broadway and Oak) and loved her pleasant manner. At the time, she also shared office space with a Dr. Virgil (something like that), and he was ok, but not as gentle as Dr. Gracen. I think if you get referred, it's covered by MSP, but if not, her fees are also very reasonable.

The fatty acid and vitamin supplements may also be helpful. Good luck!