Curious if any of you out there, especially the runners, have any experience in dealing with or treating this condition. This is a problem that I developed after running for almost 28 years. I went the conservative route with custom orthotics, alcohol and cortisone injections in the nerve, then finally surgery to treat this. I had to resort to surgery because I couldn't keep my foot in a ski boot all day without being in incredible pain. So now the toes and front of my foot are always numb, but I can ski all day now! That was in my right foot, and done a couple of years ago. I have that problem somewhat in my left foot also, but since I no longer run, it seems to have slowed the progression. So, just wondering if anyone has any experience with this and maybe a suggestion for innovative treatments to try on my "good" foot. I can live with the condition the way it is if it doesen't get worse. But I have a feeling that with age and the mileage on my feet, it's only a matter of time before it too becomes a real problem. Thanks for any ideas!
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Morton's neuroma
- Thread starter leenski
- Start date
Gloria
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I have never heard of this before, but when I read about numbness in the toes I looked it up. I know personally, my forefoot always goes numb in Nike shoes when I run. I can remember my feet going numb in these starting way back in high school. Did you experience numbness like this while running prior to the condition being elevated? I have to admit I still sometimes wear Nikes despite the numbness because I like the fit of alot of them. I may have to stop doing this.
volklgirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'm going through the cortisone shots right now. I've had right foot toe numbness on and off when skiing or biking for years, but at A-Basin in May my entire foot and leg went numb.
So far, 3 shots in the 2nd-3rd intermetatarsal space with significant improvements while biking, only to develop a second one between the 3rd and 4th.
Started the shots for that one yesterday so I haven't had the guts to try the boots yet. 
Dr. K is checking with my insurance for orthotic coverage in consideration of an arch support orthotic with metatarsal spacers for my shoes and adding a spacer on my custom insoles for my boots. He was impressed with my Cork Superfeet, so I was pretty happy about that.
So far, 3 shots in the 2nd-3rd intermetatarsal space with significant improvements while biking, only to develop a second one between the 3rd and 4th.
Started the shots for that one yesterday so I haven't had the guts to try the boots yet. Dr. K is checking with my insurance for orthotic coverage in consideration of an arch support orthotic with metatarsal spacers for my shoes and adding a spacer on my custom insoles for my boots. He was impressed with my Cork Superfeet, so I was pretty happy about that.Wow, I knew someone else would have this problem. Good luck, I hope the injections work for you. They seemed to be a temporary fix for me. I went through 2 ski seasons and couldn't stand the pain anymore. It would feel like a burning spike was in my ski boot. I also had developed 2 in one foot. The doctor told me that was rare. I guess we're special! I now use boot heaters and boot gloves all of the time to help with the numbness. Keep me posted this winter to know how it goes. Thanks!
Quiver Queen
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I had these, worse on the right than on the left, and fortunately it was adequately addressed simply by blowing out the sides of my boots to give more space at the forefoot.
It's interesting that it seems to effect our right foot the most. I guess we must be right footed! Glad to hear that worked for your boots. Have you had any success in treating the neuroma itself?
Quiver Queen
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
The only treatment was the boot modification. Since neuromas are usually a compression issue, often times if you catch it soon enough there are maneuvers on shoes and boots that work. I got lucky.
RuthB
Angel Diva
I'm the same, except I only have one on the right foot. New boots this season (with a wider toe box) and I have had no problems. Other than that I am just super aware about making sure that I have enough width in shoes/footwear.
Have you furthered your search for new boots yet quiver queen?
Have you furthered your search for new boots yet quiver queen?
volklgirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
So an update on my neuromas.....
Several cortisone shots later and only temporary relief. Thin pads under my footbed in my ski boot and under the insole in my shoe with only minimal relief.
We're now trying to dissolve the nerve by injecting ethanol into it. Two shots so far with no sign of helping, but it can be done up to 7 times. Dr. K says he sees permanent relief in about 60% of his patients. If this doesn't work, the next step is surgery, but I'd really like to avoid that since it sounds like the risks far outweigh the benefits (scar tissue build up and possible destruction of other nerves, tendons, and ligaments, just to name a few). Plus that may require up to 3 weeks on crutches which will also mean no work. Yuck. Still....to be able to walk, run, and ski pain free
.
Several cortisone shots later and only temporary relief. Thin pads under my footbed in my ski boot and under the insole in my shoe with only minimal relief.
We're now trying to dissolve the nerve by injecting ethanol into it. Two shots so far with no sign of helping, but it can be done up to 7 times. Dr. K says he sees permanent relief in about 60% of his patients. If this doesn't work, the next step is surgery, but I'd really like to avoid that since it sounds like the risks far outweigh the benefits (scar tissue build up and possible destruction of other nerves, tendons, and ligaments, just to name a few). Plus that may require up to 3 weeks on crutches which will also mean no work. Yuck. Still....to be able to walk, run, and ski pain free
.
skihub
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
So an update on my neuromas.....
Several cortisone shots later and only temporary relief. Thin pads under my footbed in my ski boot and under the insole in my shoe with only minimal relief.
We're now trying to dissolve the nerve by injecting ethanol into it. Two shots so far with no sign of helping, but it can be done up to 7 times. Dr. K says he sees permanent relief in about 60% of his patients. If this doesn't work, the next step is surgery, but I'd really like to avoid that since it sounds like the risks far outweigh the benefits (scar tissue build up and possible destruction of other nerves, tendons, and ligaments, just to name a few). Plus that may require up to 3 weeks on crutches which will also mean no work. Yuck. Still....to be able to walk, run, and ski pain free
I just ran across this thread and have to tell you that my husband went through this a few years ago. He is a very avid mountain biker and we think his foot was being compressed in his shoes. He tried the cortisone shots - it didn't help. His foot specialist preferred surgery over the ethanol shots. The surgery for him was almost pain free and he recovered quickly. He actually hobbled along to a Detroit Tigers game with us the day after surgery. He has heard that surgery can be very painful for some people, but he was lucky I guess. Now he just has a scar and occassional numbness in his toe. He is very happy with the results from surgery. Hopefully this is encouraging for you........
So an update on my neuromas.....
Several cortisone shots later and only temporary relief. Thin pads under my footbed in my ski boot and under the insole in my shoe with only minimal relief.
We're now trying to dissolve the nerve by injecting ethanol into it. Two shots so far with no sign of helping, but it can be done up to 7 times. Dr. K says he sees permanent relief in about 60% of his patients. If this doesn't work, the next step is surgery, but I'd really like to avoid that since it sounds like the risks far outweigh the benefits (scar tissue build up and possible destruction of other nerves, tendons, and ligaments, just to name a few). Plus that may require up to 3 weeks on crutches which will also mean no work. Yuck. Still....to be able to walk, run, and ski pain free
So sorry to hear that it's not getting better. Your situation sounds exactly like mine did. Exhausted all possible treatments and finally resort to surgery. If possible, get the surgery sooner rather than later. I honestly think that futzing around with conservative treatments only allowed those things to grow bigger and meaner. My surgery was 3 and a half years ago, and my toes are still numb, it cramps up routinely, doesn't really flex and has poor circulation. But I'm glad I did the surgery, because it's now only annoying rather than incredibly painful to do all the things I love to do. And yes, recovery was not fun. Pretty much off it for a week, then limping around for weeks. Don't even think about wearing shoes for a couple of months. I know this sounds awful, but get them chopped out and you'll be much happier for it. Good luck and keep us posted.
volklgirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Did they go in from the top or the bottom?
skihub
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
They went in from the top.
veggielasagna
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I have metatarsal pads build into my orthodics which help tremendously. The only time I really have trouble anymore is in any type of footwear be it boots, shoes, sneakers that are not wide enough for my forefoot. It's a nasty really uncomfortable thing for sure!
-veggielasagna
-veggielasagna
volklgirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Yeah, we added met pads in my right boot and my favorite pair of slides. They seem to be helping, but not enough. Of course, the whole thing with my left leg right now means I'm limping/crutching on the right, irritating the neuromas even more than normal. I just can't seem to win.
volklgirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
So....an update on my situation.
We continued with the alcohol injections and doubled up on the metatarsal pads in all my shoes and my ski boots. Still, I got to a point where I could only wear certain shoes without pain and walking barefoot was an exercise in incredible pain (like someone poking the ends of all my toes with numerous forks). After dealing with this for the last 2 years, I scheduled my surgery for just after my return from A-Basin for Mother's Day this year.
The surgery yesterday went well. He trimmed back the ligament and irritated areas of the tendon sheaths and removed a nickel-sized hunk of tissue and nerve.
I felt fine after, but developed severe nausea later in the day. Today I'm feeling great and have almost no pain in the foot except when trying to walk (only in a boot and with crutches). Just judging by the lack of pain, I'm truly encouraged about my recovery in full.
Here's a link to an explanation of the Morton's Neuroma and the type of surgery I had (warning: surgery pics are a bit graphic!).
We continued with the alcohol injections and doubled up on the metatarsal pads in all my shoes and my ski boots. Still, I got to a point where I could only wear certain shoes without pain and walking barefoot was an exercise in incredible pain (like someone poking the ends of all my toes with numerous forks). After dealing with this for the last 2 years, I scheduled my surgery for just after my return from A-Basin for Mother's Day this year.
The surgery yesterday went well. He trimmed back the ligament and irritated areas of the tendon sheaths and removed a nickel-sized hunk of tissue and nerve
.I felt fine after, but developed severe nausea later in the day. Today I'm feeling great and have almost no pain in the foot except when trying to walk (only in a boot and with crutches). Just judging by the lack of pain, I'm truly encouraged about my recovery in full.
Here's a link to an explanation of the Morton's Neuroma and the type of surgery I had (warning: surgery pics are a bit graphic!).
Empress_ski
Diva in Training
Follow up
I would love to know how you are doing now. I have been struggling with the idea of surgery for my neuroma for several years. Haven't had an issue with it in my ski boots, as they were fitted with it in mind - but walking and hiking are getting more painful.
I would love to know how you are doing now. I have been struggling with the idea of surgery for my neuroma for several years. Haven't had an issue with it in my ski boots, as they were fitted with it in mind - but walking and hiking are getting more painful.
bounceswoosh
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
It's funny. I had an awful Morton's Neuroma that made skiing miserable, but it never bothered me walking or climbing. I had the surgery at the end of 2009, and since then skiing has been great. Oddly, the surgery actually did make climbing less comfortable for me. I went back to the surgeon, and she gave me a few steroid shots that fixed that problem. I'm pretty happy now, though it's definitely odd to have a numb toe.
