Morton's neuroma isn't actually a tumour despite the name. It's a thickening of the tissue around a nerve between your metatarsal bones — most often between the third and fourth toes. The compressed nerve fires abnormally, causing pain, burning, tingling, and numbness in the ball of the foot and toes.
What it feels like
- Pain in the ball of the foot, often described as burning or electric
- Feeling of a lump or bunched sock under the toes
- Numbness or tingling in the toes
- Worse with tight or narrow shoes, worse with time on your feet
- Relief when you take shoes off and massage the area
Who gets it
More common in women (partly due to narrow footwear), runners, and people with foot deformities like bunions or hammertoes. Any activity that repeatedly compresses the forefoot is a risk factor.
Conservative treatment first
Most Morton's neuromas respond to non-surgical care if caught early:
- Wider toe-box shoes — the single biggest change most patients need
- Metatarsal pads or custom orthotics — offload the affected metatarsal heads
- Soft tissue therapy to the intrinsic foot muscles and plantar fascia
- Joint mobilization of the metatarsals and midfoot
- Shockwave therapy — increasingly used for stubborn cases
- Acupuncture and dry needling can help modulate nerve pain
What to avoid
Pointy shoes, high heels, tight running shoes. Also avoid repetitive high-impact activity until symptoms settle — no need to make it worse while it's healing.
When to consider imaging or referral
If conservative care over 3-4 months doesn't help, ultrasound or MRI can confirm the size and location. Corticosteroid injection or, rarely, surgical removal is a last resort.
Come in for an assessment and let's build a plan around your footwear, mechanics, and lifestyle. Most patients we see get significant relief within 8-12 weeks.