Morton's Neuroma

Marci here.
Had the neuroma surgery on Monday with dr. Shonka. I think he did a great job. I was thinking that the pain would start Monday night but it never happened. I have had no discomfort or pain. I am thankful because the pain meds make me sick. I am having to be careful because my feet feel so good that I am tempted to be on them more than I should.

Thank you all for all your help and information. If you have any suggestions please let me know.

Best, Marci

Marci - Great news! I had the identical experience. I waited for the pain to start and it really didn't. They advise staying ahead of it and do that. Keep it elevated and if you feel a little pain creeping in go for the pain killer. I have trouble with them and ended up using 1/2 of the recommended dose and it was enough (but I had bunionectomies (sp?) at the same time so the pain may have been greater. Who knows. Congrats on getting it done and you'll be on your feet in no time!

Keep it up and iced. Try to stay off it until after your stiches are out.

hmmmmmm. I might have to have the same procedure done on my right foot.
Been struggling with this condition now since March 2011 and it hasn't really changed anything except the size of my right Mythos has gone from a size 40.1 to 43........
I've also seen Shonka and while he isn't convinced that it is a Neuroma he isn't sure that it isn't.

Jack - my shoe sizes went from 38.5 to 42.0 as my feet blew apart. I am not back in 38.5, but am in 39.0 again. Nice to have happy feet. I hope you get happier feet too. :)

It has been a long time since anybody has posted to this thread. I have had neuroma in my right foot for three plus years. I talked to my GP and he stated Hmm. I went to a podiatrist; the old fart said that I have nothing wrong with my feet. He then stated that I have peripheral neuroprothy with unknown causes. I walked around and skied for another year or so until I took Tai Kwan Do and the neuroma became sciatica and neuroma in both feet. Somebody suggested an Osteopath; he was useless but I did get an MRI done on my back and found out that my back looks like any other back my age. I then went to a physical therapist for the sciatica; it helped for the sciatica but not the neuroma. He said that he could not help with the numb feet, so back to the drawing board. I decided that doctors understood sciatica and went to another physical therapist; he helped with the sciatica. I also visited a message therapist and a chiropractor. The chiropractor was useless; the message therapist helped me with the symptoms. I then went to NicK a physical therapist 360 Physical Therapy. This is the first time in my life that I can touch my toes. Since I can touch my toes without pain in my back or sciatica; the problem was not in my back. He then suggested that it was neuroma. I have not yet gone for a consultation but am thankful that I found this site. I fear that it is going to cost me quite a bit of money so I am going to wait until May when my FAS starts again with new funds.

Hi Jeff 4961,

My only advice is don't put dealing with it off too long. You cannot mess with nerves. Also, it will affect your gait and other areas including your hips over the long term.

I'm the odd girl out here. I only regular hike, horseback ride and work on my ranch. I am not nearly as physical as you all who climb. However, I have Morton's Neuroma in my right foot and, probably, in my left. Too much physical work over the years and small shoes apparently.

Anyway, I had my first cortisone shot today but, from what I know about handling disability claims, it's a crap shoot if it will help at all. I had a jones fracture in my right foot in October, 2013 and was laid up non weight bearing for 3 1/2 months. Thankfully surgery wasn't necessary and all healed well. Aye, but here's the rub...due to the layoff and rehab it appears the neuroma has increased and surfaced, although it was likely there before. I'm not sure I'll be able to avoid surgery this time but am doing all I can.

Thank you for the earlier tip for the decompression/relocation surgery as I will discuss this with my Podiatrist when I get to that bridge.

There is no way I'm going to be restricted for the next 50 years of my life and I'll deal with the numbness if I have to.

Thank you all! This is the best information I've found anywhere about this painful and life-altering condition! I'm terrified of the surgery but have outrun my options at this point. I am in the Bay Area in California. I will be contacting Coloradofootinstitute and Facboulder for more info. Any other recommendations for surgeons who do the relocation of the nerve in my area?

Welp... Looks like I've found what's wrong with the toes on my left foot... Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. Thanks for resurrecting this thread Karina, otherwise I wouldn't have found it.

solved my Morton’s neuroma (which was quite severe) with good physical therapy focusing on hip strengthening. 

Given that this thread is over 10 years old - can anyone who has had the surgery comment on long term results? I asked my Doctor about this and she quipped "Nothing ruins treatment success like a long term study." while I appreciate the honesty, it's not the most encouraging!

I'm curious of my fellow climbers how your feet have held up 5+ years after surgery - and what kind of surgery you got!  Thanks!

Benjamin Buck wrote:

Given that this thread is over 10 years old - can anyone who has had the surgery comment on long term results? I asked my Doctor about this and she quipped "Nothing ruins treatment success like a long term study." while I appreciate the honesty, it's not the most encouraging!

I'm curious of my fellow climbers how your feet have held up 5+ years after surgery - and what kind of surgery you got!  Thanks!

Not a ton of great studies, and the average patient is not a climber, so the stresses area different. 

https://advances.umw.edu.pl/pdf/2016/25/2/295.pdf