Morton's Neuroma

Marci here.
Had the neuroma surgery on Monday with dr. Shonka. I think he did a great job. I was thinking that the pain would start Monday night but it never happened. I have had no discomfort or pain. I am thankful because the pain meds make me sick. I am having to be careful because my feet feel so good that I am tempted to be on them more than I should.

Thank you all for all your help and information. If you have any suggestions please let me know.

Best, Marci

Marci - Great news! I had the identical experience. I waited for the pain to start and it really didn't. They advise staying ahead of it and do that. Keep it elevated and if you feel a little pain creeping in go for the pain killer. I have trouble with them and ended up using 1/2 of the recommended dose and it was enough (but I had bunionectomies (sp?) at the same time so the pain may have been greater. Who knows. Congrats on getting it done and you'll be on your feet in no time!

Keep it up and iced. Try to stay off it until after your stiches are out.

hmmmmmm. I might have to have the same procedure done on my right foot.
Been struggling with this condition now since March 2011 and it hasn't really changed anything except the size of my right Mythos has gone from a size 40.1 to 43........
I've also seen Shonka and while he isn't convinced that it is a Neuroma he isn't sure that it isn't.

Jack - my shoe sizes went from 38.5 to 42.0 as my feet blew apart. I am not back in 38.5, but am in 39.0 again. Nice to have happy feet. I hope you get happier feet too. :)

It has been a long time since anybody has posted to this thread. I have had neuroma in my right foot for three plus years. I talked to my GP and he stated Hmm. I went to a podiatrist; the old fart said that I have nothing wrong with my feet. He then stated that I have peripheral neuroprothy with unknown causes. I walked around and skied for another year or so until I took Tai Kwan Do and the neuroma became sciatica and neuroma in both feet. Somebody suggested an Osteopath; he was useless but I did get an MRI done on my back and found out that my back looks like any other back my age. I then went to a physical therapist for the sciatica; it helped for the sciatica but not the neuroma. He said that he could not help with the numb feet, so back to the drawing board. I decided that doctors understood sciatica and went to another physical therapist; he helped with the sciatica. I also visited a message therapist and a chiropractor. The chiropractor was useless; the message therapist helped me with the symptoms. I then went to NicK a physical therapist 360 Physical Therapy. This is the first time in my life that I can touch my toes. Since I can touch my toes without pain in my back or sciatica; the problem was not in my back. He then suggested that it was neuroma. I have not yet gone for a consultation but am thankful that I found this site. I fear that it is going to cost me quite a bit of money so I am going to wait until May when my FAS starts again with new funds.

Hi Jeff 4961,

My only advice is don't put dealing with it off too long. You cannot mess with nerves. Also, it will affect your gait and other areas including your hips over the long term.

I'm the odd girl out here. I only regular hike, horseback ride and work on my ranch. I am not nearly as physical as you all who climb. However, I have Morton's Neuroma in my right foot and, probably, in my left. Too much physical work over the years and small shoes apparently.

Anyway, I had my first cortisone shot today but, from what I know about handling disability claims, it's a crap shoot if it will help at all. I had a jones fracture in my right foot in October, 2013 and was laid up non weight bearing for 3 1/2 months. Thankfully surgery wasn't necessary and all healed well. Aye, but here's the rub...due to the layoff and rehab it appears the neuroma has increased and surfaced, although it was likely there before. I'm not sure I'll be able to avoid surgery this time but am doing all I can.

Thank you for the earlier tip for the decompression/relocation surgery as I will discuss this with my Podiatrist when I get to that bridge.

There is no way I'm going to be restricted for the next 50 years of my life and I'll deal with the numbness if I have to.

Thank you all! This is the best information I've found anywhere about this painful and life-altering condition! I'm terrified of the surgery but have outrun my options at this point. I am in the Bay Area in California. I will be contacting Coloradofootinstitute and Facboulder for more info. Any other recommendations for surgeons who do the relocation of the nerve in my area?

Welp... Looks like I've found what's wrong with the toes on my left foot... Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. Thanks for resurrecting this thread Karina, otherwise I wouldn't have found it.

solved my Morton’s neuroma (which was quite severe) with good physical therapy focusing on hip strengthening. 

Given that this thread is over 10 years old - can anyone who has had the surgery comment on long term results? I asked my Doctor about this and she quipped "Nothing ruins treatment success like a long term study." while I appreciate the honesty, it's not the most encouraging!

I'm curious of my fellow climbers how your feet have held up 5+ years after surgery - and what kind of surgery you got!  Thanks!

Benjamin Buck wrote:

Given that this thread is over 10 years old - can anyone who has had the surgery comment on long term results? I asked my Doctor about this and she quipped "Nothing ruins treatment success like a long term study." while I appreciate the honesty, it's not the most encouraging!

I'm curious of my fellow climbers how your feet have held up 5+ years after surgery - and what kind of surgery you got!  Thanks!

Not a ton of great studies, and the average patient is not a climber, so the stresses area different. 

https://advances.umw.edu.pl/pdf/2016/25/2/295.pdf

Currently dealing with a MN in my right foot. It has brought me the worst foot pain I've ever had in 34 yrs of rock climbing. Usually on long crack/trad climbs. On an ascent of Positive Vibes on the Hulk last summer the last 3 pitches were pure torture on my right foot. But I also notice it running/hiking after about an hour or two as well as cycling longer distances, 2-4hrs. My symptoms have only been happening for a little over a year. I had a cortisone shot 2 day ago so we'll see how it goes. 

I've also purchased 5 pairs of new shoes trying to fix the issue without medical intervention. 3 pairs of bigger climbing shoes. New wide altra running shoes. And a new pair of bigger cycling shoes. Also put metatarsal pads in nearly all my shoes and using toe spacers. None of it seems to really fix the issue tho. The spacer might help while cycling but its inconclusive at this point. I plan to ride more this spring and summer so will report back on that. 

For me its about duration. My foot will be totally fine and then all of the sudden the nerve flares up and it jumps from 0 to 60 and the foot is just done. While hiking I can stop and rub the foot and it'll improve until I have to stop 30 min later or so. Same with cycling. But while trad/crack climbing the foot is just toast. I have to stop it hurts so bad. This sux because trad is what I like to do most. It should be noted that in day to day life I have no symptoms at all. AND I can climb a few pitches of crack climbing before the foot goes south so perhaps I've caught the MN early. 

My plan is to give the cortisone shot its best chance to shrink the nerve. 2 weeks no climbing shoes, running, or cycling. Time to hit the weights. I've given up my multi pitch climbing goals this year since I just can't go up on a long route with the likelihood my foot shits the bed and we have to bail in a dangerous situation. Since long days on my feet flare it up I'll know how its doing later in the summer as alpine season kicks in and I hike/run in the mtns. If the shot doesn't work I will probably try this ultrasound shockwave treatment my Dr offers. I'm reluctant to just jump into surgery given its risks. However my doc is a climber and has treated tons of climbers. And when I mentioned my reservations at the surgery she said in 20yrs she's only had 3 people complain it didn't help them. I also chatted with Bruce Miller who is as hardcore as they come. He had the same issue as me, had the surgery, and had no problems with it. 

Will report back later in the summer.

Sunder, my wife suffered a Morton’s for years.  She used toe spreaders for relief. Fortunately, in Greece she was cured by a cortisone shot in the butt (same cheek as the Morton’s foot) following a sting in the sea and bad inflammation reaction. No charge for the treatment at the Greek hospital.  No plan or expectation of Morton’s being related or cured.  Just an amazing result.

Sorry if I sound like a quack, but if my wife’s Morton’s returns we are going back to that ‘rustic’ hospital on Lesbos. Awesome trip and if the shot works, the savings on US medical are like 2x the trip cost easily.  

Good luck.