2 yrs after a very successful big toe fusion looks like I have a ‘Mortons Neuroma’ that needs ‘removed’.

Anyone had this or know anyone that has ? I trust Mr BUPA man and he did the fusion a treat, but with only 80% success rate and the usual internet horror stories it sounds a bit unpleasant. However zero chance of it going away on it’s own and have had 6 months of steroid jabs without much relief…

a wee daytime bump

My teenage daughter had this done, both feet, a few months ago. They tried steroid jabs for her first too, she said that was very painful and did nothing. The operation was very successful however. She’s at a ballet college in London and spends several hours each day dancing, and some types of dance steps would get very painful. Also long walks, if she had boots on she’d find it painful after a mile or two, but now has no problems.
On the flip side a colleage at work had an operation on one foot and for her it made very little difference.

r6ymy – thanks for the reply, cheers

I have a (internet diagnosed 😳 ) Mortons Neuroma
Putting up with it currently

scaredy – I had a few episodes last tear of instant stabbing pain in base of foot beneath toes, infact on the second one I went to the local hosptital for an xray as i thought I had dislocated a toe, but it was fine.

In September I saw the foot specialist who did my fusion op a few yrs ago and he disagnosed it in seconds by squeezing and rolling my foot and the ‘neuroma’ clicks – a bit unpleasant. Had steroid injection in Sept and again just before Christmas but it is now a constant ache so thinking time to get it ‘excised’. He reckons that they don’t heal/go away……

instant stabbing pain in base of foot beneath toes

rolling my foot and the ‘neuroma’ clicks

Utterly confirms my diagnosis 😉 – saw an orthopod years ago when it 1st started. Said he didn’t know what it was, I think to avoid having to operate on me.

If anything mine has eased a little bit with time (was a very “acute” and painful start though) – or rather, I’ve learned to bear weight differently I think

scaredypants – at least you can be comfortable with your self diagnosis now 😆 I am trying to put off an op too, just in principle, but have a feeling I’m gonna be calling the guy in the next few weeks….I have the benefit of BUPA through work, but often suspect that these guys are a bit quick to jump in a’choppin…….

Had the same diagnosis about 3 years ago and decided against surgery. The consultant i saw suggested i try wide-fit shoes/trainers for a while with a thick, soft sole rather than a hard thin sole that allow the toes to spread and avoid pinching the nerve that causes all the pain, i did just that and it makes all the difference. I still have some ‘normal’ width shoes and when i wear them i instantly get the pinch and the acute pain between the toes… my advice would be to try this before going under the knife

you got flat feet ?

They told me that footbeds lined the road to paradise but I think that was looking too hard at the flat foot bit and not enough at all at the clcky nervy thing. If anything they made it worse.

several of my clients have had very successful surgery to excise a mortons neuroma, no-one on my books with an unsuccessful one (podiatrist so i see a lot of feet) and yes they don’t just ‘get better’

larry and scaredypants – many thanks, yes flat feet here and I wear custom orthotics for my knees. Carl – my podiatrist reckoned it was a neuroma too, so your advice is very much appreciated. If you have any more info etc about the sugery/experiences that you would be happy to mail me that would be very much appreciated.

Lived with one for two years or more, then decided it was becoming just too painful. Saw consultant, BUPA, he tried the injection with no effect. I agreed to surgery. Needed to stay off it for a month afterwards, so crutches to get about. But that was in 2001 and it’s been fine ever since. I get the occasional soreness if I’ve been weighting the area excessively but nothing like that horrible rolling, pinching pain I used to get.
Surgery was done by this guy, brilliant.

Home Style 2

crewlie – excellent info, and good reassurance, many thanks

Not much chance of it gooing on its own, surgery has a good success rate, but your fused toes complicate things. Have you tried orthotic therapy using a met dome to separate the metatarsals and relieve any pressure? they can be very successful

Speaking as an orthopaedic surgeon who has had a Mormons neuroma excised I would encourage you to listen to your surgeons advice provided you have exhausted the conservative treatment options. I found cycling shoes which often have narrow toe boxes worsened it.
Surgery was uncomfortable for 2-3 weeks afterwards but now symptom free. The inevitable small area of numbness is no bother…
If it troubles you enough get it excised!

captain and tim, thanks for this – will phone the guy methinks

I had the surgery a couple of years ago and it ended up being a bit of a palaver.

Due to the nature of the surgery a void is left in the foot where the nerves are removed and causes quite a lot of bleeding, mine bled excessively and caused a haematoma so that when my stitches were removed the wound opened up due to excessive pressure and and I had to have the haematoma flushed out and be stitched up again, the wound was no longer fresh and so took months to heal properly, kept me off the bike for about six months post op. I reckon was it was because I tried to do too much too soon post-op. When your surgeon says sit on the couch for two weeks with your feet up and do absolutely nothing pay attention or you may end up doing it for a month! I went totally stir crazy.

All fine now never notice it except when walking barefoot, is still a tiny bit uncomfortable.

i had the steroid injections about 2 months ago. First reaction was great – no pain at all. Then the local anaesthetic wore off! Still, no pain like before the jabs but still an uncomfortableness and the “clicking”. Now, though, hardly nothing at all – not much in the clicking department and definitely no stabbing, electric shock type pain.

Interestingly, I’ve got my follow up appointment tomorrow morning.

Guess i may be lucky for once (Have had two proceedures on my lower lumber resulting in 5 fused vertebrae).

Hope it goes well for you.

cheers paul – would be good to hear how you get on with follow up appointment

Iainc

Just got back from appointment. Bit of a waste of time to be honest. He asked how i was getting on, i said fine – no electric shock type pain anymore. he said that was possibly the best outcome and that i should be pleased.

I still get a clicking sensation, but he said that will always be there unless i have it surgically removed. Not too keen on that, if i’m honest!!

cheers Paul – good result though I guess !

Oh and to add to my above post two years on and buying shoes is still a pain as my foot is still a bit swolen and my middle toe sticks up higher than all the rest, my left foot is pretty fugly now as it goes. So only have the surgery if you really really have to would be my advice but as people above have said if you cannot manage the pain with wide shoes etc it never gets better on its own

I had one done in my L foot 4 years ago, no probs except agony for 1st 24 hours but I’m sure BUPA will give you something more appropriate than paracetamol. Only lasting effect is slight numbness in 2 toes.

I now have one in my R foot that I’ve ‘lived with’ for a year and a bit, using wider shoes, giving up running, etc.

As I now have the opportunity to compare one that’s been excised and one that hasn’t, I’m waiting for op (NHS again), and if its as successful as the L foot I’ll be happy.

I’d say, if its causing you problems, get it done.

Simon

catfood and Simon – thanks for additional info. Simon – how long was the recovery if you don’t mind me asking ? I am thinking of getting it done mid Feb and hoping to be riding mid March as am signed up for Etape Caledonia mid May and will need a bit of training !

…..going under the chop for this on Monday. Last bike rode for a while tomorrow 😯