With Morton’s Neuroma, what may start out feeling as if you’ve got a pebble in your shoe can progress and have serious consequences. This thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to the toes can lead to long-term nerve damage and permanent loss of sensation. Typically, there’s no outward sign of this condition, such as a lump, so many people just ignore it. But the more a digital nerve is subjected to constant pressure, the protective tissue that sheathes it just continues to thicken to the point of restricting all weight-bearing activities. Morton’s Neuroma won’t go away on its own. This is why you should start by consulting with a skilled foot and ankle orthopedic specialist at OCC – Advanced Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Specialists in Denver, Parker, or Aurora, Colorado.
OVERVIEW
Morton’s Neuroma is a common condition of the foot that affects women around 8-to-10 times more than men. Females are at much higher risk because the anatomical construction of a female foot is inherently higher and narrower which exposes the metatarsals to extra pressure and strain. Morton’s Neuroma typically affects people between the ages of 30 and 60, although it can occur outside of this age range as well. Morton’s Neuroma symptoms are typically on one side of the foot, usually between the third and fourth toes, but the pain can extend outwards or even involve the whole side of the foot. Rarely, a foot may contain two separate Morton’s neuromas. Studies have shown that up to 33% of all patients with pain in the ball of the foot have untreated Morton’s Neuroma.
ABOUT THE FOOT
The foot is a complex mechanical structure composed of 33 joints, 26 bones, and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The foot plays a crucial role in mobility, supporting the body’s weight, absorbing shock, and facilitating propulsion. It adapts to various surfaces and movements, such as walking, running, jumping, and balancing. The nerve branches in the forefoot at the level of the web spaces between the toes are called common digital plantar nerves. Due to its complex structure and heavy use, the foot is prone to various problems including Morton’s Neuroma.
WHAT IS MORTON’S NEUROMA?
A neuroma is a growth or tumor of nerve tissue. The most common neuroma in the foot is a Morton’s Neuroma, which occurs between the third and fourth toes. It is sometimes referred to as an intermetatarsal neuroma. Intermetatarsal describes its location in the ball of the foot between the metatarsal bones. Morton’s Neuroma is not a typical nerve tumor. It is a benign tumor caused by nerve degeneration and thickening of plantar digital nerves due to entrapment, such as compression and squeezing or exposure to chronic pressure.
Read more about Mortons’ Neuroma on our new Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with a foot specialist today.
