Morton’s neuroma is pain, numbness, or tingling in the forefoot, especially between the 3rd and 4th toes. The pain is due to the thickening of the nerve that supplies the sensation to the area between the toes. Learn more about Morton's Neuroma.
What Causes Morton’s Neuroma?
Morton's neuroma seems to occur in response to irritation, pressure, or injury to one of the nerves that lead to your toes. Constant irritation/pressure causes the nerve to thicken in response and causes Morton’s neuroma to develop.
The most common cause of this condition is wearing narrow or high-heeled shoes that force the toe into a tapered toe box. Extensive wear of tight-fitting or high-heeled shoes adds pressure to the nerves and puts you at risk of developing Morton’s neuroma.
High-impact activities (such as running or jogging) that put pressure on the ligament can also cause the nerve to thicken over time. So can sports that require tight-fitting shoes, such as skiing.
Treatment For Morton’s Neuroma
Depending on the cause and severity, Morton’s Neuroma can be treated in a variety of ways:
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Anti-inflammatory medications: Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can reduce swelling and relieve pain.
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Change your footwear: Morton’s neuroma can usually be avoided by wearing shoes that allow adequate space for the foot and toes. It is important to pay attention to your footwear and switch to shoes with a wide, oblique, mitten-shaped toe box. Shoes with rocker soles can also help relieve pressure in the forefoot.
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Ice and stretch: Regular ice massages can reduce swelling and pain. By using an ice pack or freezing a water-filled paper cup or plastic water bottle, you can gently massage the affected areas to reduce swelling and temporarily lessen pain.
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Insoles/Shoe inserts: Certain types of arch supports can help reduce the pressure on the nerve, especially an arch support with a metatarsal pad. Browse our selection of insoles with met pads to add support to your foot and reduce your risk of developing Morton’s neuroma.
How Insoles Help With Morton’s Neuroma
Insoles can reduce pressure on the nerves in the foot and mitigate the effects of Morton’s Neuroma. Here is how they can help:
- Insoles can help spread the bones at the ball of the foot to create more space between them and reduce pressure on the affected nerve.
- Insoles can help redistribute weight away from the irritated nerve while providing support to the transverse arch. This helps lift and separate the bones that might be compressing the nerve.
- Thanks to their arch support, insoles help maintain better foot alignment and prevent excessive pronation that can contribute to nerve compression.
- Shock absorption helps reduce the impact forces traveling through the ball of the foot during walking.
- For those wearing narrow shoes (a common contributor to Morton's neuroma), supportive insoles can help position the foot properly even in less-than-ideal footwear, though wearing wider shoes is still recommended.
