Important to Learn About Treatment of Morton’s Neuroma

Morton’s Neuroma is a type of non cancerous and benign nerve tissue growth, which can lead to pain. It mainly occurs between the 3rd and 4th toes. If you have been diagnosed with Morton’s Neuroma it is important to learn about treatment options.

People who are diagnosed with Morton’s Neuroma may be asked to change footwear, take painkillers or steroid injections. For some cases, a surgical procedure may be required to remove the affected nerve and release any pressure on it.

The treatment method may depend on multiple factors, such as:

• Intensity of the symptoms
• The duration for which the symptoms have been persistent
• Whether any home treatment methods have been tried

It is to be remembered that the earlier Morton’s Neuroma is diagnosed or detected, the lesser the chances for the person requiring surgery. In case the symptoms remain persistent or become severe and the self-help measures are not able to change things for good, the doctor might recommend some or all of the following treatments:

Corticosteroid Injections:

Steroid medications are helpful in reducing pain and inflammation. They can be injected into the affected area. Only a specific number of injections need to be administered since greater doses can cause side effects, which include high blood pressure or hypertension and weight gain.

Alcohol Sclerosing injections:

Alcohol injections have been found to reduce the overall size of Morton’s Neuromas. They can also help in bringing down the pain. The injections are usually administered every seven to ten days. To ensure maximum relief, only four to seven injections are considered necessary.

Morton’s Neuroma Surgery:

In case the other therapies are not able effective and the symptoms persist even after nine to twelve months, the doctors may recommend Morton’s Neuroma surgery.

A surgical method is usually effective. However, it can lead to permanent numbness of the affected toes. It is due to this reason that doctors prefer attempting the other options first. A surgery to remove Morton’s Neuroma involves removing the affected nerve or simply removing pressure on that nerve by cutting the surrounding fibrous tissues or ligaments.

There are two main surgical methods for Morton’s Neuroma.

The Dorsal Approach:

In this method, the surgeon creates an incision on top of the affected foot, which allows the patient to commence walking soon after the surgery, as stitches are not required on the weight-bearing part of the foot.

Plantar Approach:

In this approach, the surgeon creates an incision on the sole of the affected foot. Most patients are required to make use of crutches for around 3 weeks during recovery. The scar resulting from it might make the process of walking somewhat uncomfortable. However, the benefit of using this process is that it makes it possible to remove the neuroma easily and without cutting any important structures. There is however a certain risk of infection that affects the area around the toes after surgery.