Anyone have any tips on how to make Morton’s neuroma go away? Been dealing with it for 6 months.
Targeted shots using ultrasound worked for me. Had it done 5 years ago. Need to go back now for a tune up.
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There’s no truly effective treatment long-term. It’s more about symptom mitigation than it is “making it go away.”
1.) Ensure that you have proper width in the forefoot of your shoe.
2.) An orthotic to redistribute pressure on the forefoot is often also beneficial.
3.) As @irondave mentioned, targeted injections can provide long-term relief.
4.) The most dramatic option is surgical intervention. It’s only effective about half of the time.
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Shoes that aren’t too tight. Oofos sandals for around the house. These -Neuroma Pads | Hapad
Anti-inflammatory injection may help but I would avoid an alcohol injection as it kills the nerve and may notice toe alignment issue later on.
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I had one in 2001. I got custom orthotics with a metatarsal pad, switched to extra wide shoes, and changed my lacing pattern to loosen the toe box, while still keeping the instep snug. It took a long time to fully resolve. Years, before I no longer had any sense of it. But, it was only a few weeks before I was back to normal run volume.
I can still notice it when my shoes get too old and start to deflate in the midsole. Usually around the 450 mile mark.
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I have suffered with MN for 10+ years. Seen some of the best doctors and surgeons and pretty much all of them says “Avoid the knife if you possibly can”
To @rrheisler ´s point - getting under the knife removes the nerve and hence CAN remove the problem and pain. The risk is high and can cause numbness in the foot and even worse issues. But I recall people here on ST who had surgery and keep running fine after that.
Three things has worked for me: (at least to keep the injury at bay)
- Wider Shoes (both running & cycling) - I am running a lot in Hoka Mach 6 Wide - works wonders
- Shoe insoles - I get mine custom made and updated every 2-3 years. Find a specialist who understands MN
- I moved to Speedplay pedals and moved the cleats all the way back. Improved a lot. SPD pedals for MTB/Gravel are the worst (for me) - I use Speedplay even on my Gravel bike today.
Avoid elastic shoes laces (which initially was the cause of my MN)
What helped a lot was corticosteroids injections directly in the inflamatory nerve. Did that 5-6 years a go a couple of times, which took my MN from “Bad” to “Controlable”
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These are also the things that worked for me.
I would add moving your cleats back.
Not all wide shoes have the same width. I found this particularly true with cycling shoes. Check the website on the actual width of the shoe in your size to find the “widest” shoe. I replaced my wide Shimano shoes with wider North Wave shoes.
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Thanks so much for all of the recommendations everyone. I ordered the metatarsal pads, and placed speedplay pedals and cleats and Hoka Mach 6’s on my Christmas List. I have a cortisol injection scheduled - will be my third one in 6 months and will avoid the surgery and hope the other interventions work. I can run and ride without too much discomfort, but walking is a pain and dress shoes for work are really a pain.
Hoka Mach 6 WIDE that is 
For work, if you need to dress fancy / in a suit (as me) there are good options out there. Rubber soles is a MUST! I use Clarks Chelsea boots, which are actually quite wide out front. And always bring comfy shoes to rush through an airport / transfer etc.
you will probably have to buy new dress shoes, as wide as you can get them…
I like the Clarks Men’s Tilden Cap Oxford, it has an insole for extra cushion and that allows for neuroma pad placement, comes in widths, rubber sole so it’s relatively soft for a dress shoe.
I have a roll of orthopaedic felt and cut small pads out of this, glue under the insoles in the appropriate place to lift and separate the metatarsals. Johnny Halberstadt at Boulder Running Co. showed me this trick many years ago, it’s worked well. Basically this is making your own neuroma pads, placement as per the link that Reid posted,
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It is important that metatarsal pads be properly located or they will make things worse…a couple mm here and there makes a huge difference (mm are miles as the saying goes). I strongly recommend consulting your doctor / PT to aid in getting them properly installed.
Too lazy to search but there was a good thread on here with a handful of people, including me, on treatments that worked. I dealt with it in 2019 to start. It got worse and finally saw a doc. Got a shot that worked for a month, then another shot that worked for a few weeks. Finally got surgery to remove it and no issues since. Surgery was pretty straight forward and easy. Think I was off the bike for a week then on the trainer with only heal pressure then walk/run after 3 weeks and moved smoothly after that.
These also work well for redistributing a wider area and will probably feel more comfortable long term than the smaller neuroma pad - Metatarsal Pads | Hapad
Get Hapad as the adhesive is really strong so it won’t slide around. You can also put them on sandals and in dress shoes. They supply instructions on proper placement. Don’t put it under the metatarsal heads! Just behind them. If your shoe’s insole has established a foot print it’s easier to see where to put it. The wool will conform to your foot so don’t run with them until that happens.
I have a running store in Austin TX and have been making custom foot orthotics for 23 years. We always keep those pads around in the store.
Most Morton’s Neuromas I see with my patients are originally caused by one stiff metatarsal next to a functioning metatarsal (which means it moves up and down to absorb ground forces). When the functioning bone moves up and down next to one that doesn’t it’s like rubbing two sticks together to make a fire. Add in too much compression from the shoe and the branch nerve develops a lesion. Check out removal videos on YouTube for some real honkers.
If a MN doesn’t show up on imaging it could also be capsulitis or plantar plate injury/tear. Capsulitis not MN is more common but has the same conservative fix as MN. Planter plate tear results in two toes, usually 2nd and 3rd to V or spread apart from each other. This is a bad situation and may require surgery. A metpad may cause worse pain.
Good luck and hope you feel better!
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Just had injection #4 today for a recent recurrence
Had to have 4 about a year ago also. I’ve done a lot of research and know my podiatrist quite well–surgery isn’t THAT big a deal and can be curative with the price of a little sensory numbness on the toe, a trade I’d do.
But-I remain hopeful that this one will do it. Can use 8% alcohol injections instead of the 4%. The cortisone also helped me when I had that one.
GL