Learn About Morton Neuroma
Morton neuroma is an injury to the nerve between the toes that causes thickening and pain. It commonly affects the nerve that travels between the 3rd and 4th toes.
Morton neuralgia; Morton toe syndrome; Morton entrapment; Metatarsal neuralgia; Plantar neuralgia; Intermetatarsal neuralgia; Interdigital neuroma; Interdigital plantar neuroma; Forefoot neuroma; Morton's neuroma
The exact cause is unknown. Health care providers believe the following may play a role in the development of this condition:
- Wearing tight shoes and high heels
- Abnormal positioning of toes
- Flat feet
- Forefoot problems, including bunions and hammer toes
- High foot arches
Morton neuroma is more common in women than in men.
Symptoms may include:
- Numbness and tingling in the space between the 3rd and 4th toes
- Toe cramping
- Sharp, shooting, or burning pain in the ball of the foot and sometimes toes
- Pain that increases when wearing tight shoes, high heels, or pressing on the area
- Pain that gets worse over time
In rare cases, nerve pain occurs in the space between the 2nd and 3rd toes. This is not a common form of Morton neuroma, but symptoms and treatment are similar.
Nonsurgical treatment is tried first. Your provider may recommend any of the following:
- Padding and taping the toe area
- Shoe inserts (orthotics)
- Changes to footwear, such as wearing shoes with wider toe boxes or flat heels
- Anti-inflammatory medicines taken by mouth or injected into the area between the toes
- Nerve blocking medicines injected into the toe area
- Other painkillers
- Physical therapy
Anti-inflammatories and painkillers are not recommended for long-term treatment.
In some cases, surgery is needed to remove the thickened tissue and inflamed nerve. This helps relieve pain and improve foot function. Numbness after surgery is permanent.
Fernando Santiago-Ruiz practices in Granada, Spain. Mr. Santiago-Ruiz is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Morton Neuroma. His top areas of expertise are Morton Neuroma, Metatarsalgia, Ledderhose Disease, Neuralgia, and Vertebroplasty.
Michael Seiberg is a Podiatric Medicine provider in Rancho Mirage, California. Dr. Seiberg is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Morton Neuroma. His top areas of expertise are Ingrown Toenail, Plantar Fasciitis, Fibromatosis, and Ledderhose Disease.
Aurora Podiatry
Camille Zizzo is a Podiatric Medicine provider in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Dr. Zizzo is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Morton Neuroma. Her top areas of expertise are Plantar Fasciitis, Ledderhose Disease, Fibromatosis, and Tendinitis.
Nonsurgical treatment does not always improve symptoms. Surgery to remove the thickened tissue is successful in most cases.
Complications may include:
- Difficulty walking
- Trouble with activities that put pressure on the foot, such as pressing the gas pedal while driving
- Difficulty wearing certain types of shoes, such as high-heels
Contact your provider if you have constant pain or tingling in your foot or toe area.
Avoid ill-fitting shoes. Wear shoes with a wide toe box or lower heels.
Objective: To test a study drug, resiniferatoxin (RTX), in people with Morton s neuroma.
Summary: Morton's neuroma is a benign thickening involving the plantar interdigital nerve, most common in middle aged women. Morton's neuroma is one of the most frequent diagnoses seen in the investigators podiatry clinic and is difficult to treat. These lesions cause a burning or shooting pain that can radiate to the toes, or an aching pain in the ball of the foot. The pain is exacerbated with activity an...
Published Date: June 04, 2025
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Grear BJ. Neurogenic disorders. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 87.
Shi GG. Morton's neuroma. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 91.