Reader Doug writes “I have been having trouble maintaining a level of consistency in my training due a Morton’s Neuroma in my left foot. Over the past two years, I have had 2 cortisone shots, switched shoes multiple times to different sizes, widths, and makes. The first time I had a neuroma, I was running in the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 8 in a size 9 regular width. Then I switched to the Asics GT-2150 size 8.5 2E width.”
Doug is not alone in his frustration of not being able to solve his neuroma pain by changing his shoes. Unfortunately, even with shoe changes or orthotics, neuroma pain can continue to worsen.
A neuroma is an inflamed nerve in the forefoot. Symptoms include burning and tingling in the toes, or feelings of walking on a bunched-up sock. For some people, the discomfort is more noticeable while wearing shoes, for others the discomfort is more pronounced when barefoot. For everyone, however, the more frequent and the longer the symptoms persist, the worse the prognosis.
When this happens, treatment recommendations include cortisone injections and medical grade alcohol, or sclerosing injections infiltrated into and around the nerve.
When a neuroma doesn’t respond to cortisone or sclerosing injections, surgery is the next likely step. To locate a qualified foot and ankle surgeon see http://www.acfas.org/
Dr. Jenny Sanders Shoe Blog 