Morton's Neuroma/Capsulitis experience?

[ravenbait]

To cut a very long story short, I was diagnosed last year with Morton's Neuromas in my left foot by way of ultrasound. There are two neuromas, the larger between 3rd and 4th metatarsals, the smaller between 2nd and 3rd. Both have been injected with steroids. The first injection into the 3/4 neuroma hurt like buggery, but that one has been fine since. The other injection, into 2/3, didn't hurt much but hasn't really resolved.

Worth noting at this point that my 2nd and 3rd toes are no longer friends. The third toe is attempting to escape to the comfort of 4th and 5th.

I've been doing C25K on well padded running shoes (Altra Provision 6) and it has been going fine, but on Thursday I was in the gym on the treadmill wearing slightly thinner, but still padded Altra trail shoes. Since then, my left foot has swollen and my 2nd and 3rd toes don't touch the ground when my foot is flat on the floor.

I suppose it's another trip to the doctor, but he has been dismissive of my questions around plantar plate tear and capsulitis, which I understand the gap between my toes might indicate. I'm not sure whether to push for an orthopaedic referral or try another steroid injection in the hope he just didn't go deep enough last time. I think repeat injections are contra-indicated.

Has anyone got experience of having capsulitis diagnosed and treated, and did it work? Any words of wisdom for Morton's? I don't really want to have surgery to remove the nerve if that's not the actual problem.

Sam

[L CC]

My guy said mine was as much metetarsalgia as neuroma pain.
I've had the neuroma removed but I still have the pain. And flat feet. And it really made the arthritis in my (other) knee flare up.
You need a good foot specialist. My biggest regret is leaving Mr Mohammed Al-Maiyah of Teesside to go to Mr Bansal of South Tyneside.

You think your toes don't like each other?

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The nerve removal also cuts the ligaments between the toes. I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

ETA I had ultrasound guided injections twice. I wouldn't have wanted a GP to do it, feet are complicated. Push for an orthopaedic consult.

[ravenbait]

Sorry to hear you've had such a hard time with it.

My toes are worse than that, but I have broad feet and more room for them to flee.

I'll see about a referral, thanks so much.

Sam

[L CC]

I did the Bont shoes thing to see which of their footbeds are most appropriate for my wide feet. You draw around the foot when you're standing putting weight through it.
They are too wide for even their customisable footbeds and I would need from the ground up custom as the uppers aren't wide enough.

Good luck.

[sojournermike]

Not much to add to LCC but

- I was diagnosed with Morton’s a few years ago by a physio. I’ve been fortunate that it’s not stopped me running but narrow shoes are a big no. I think I’m fortunate mind in that one.

- General rule is to avoid the knife if at all possible - I understand the ops complicated and they (apparently) go in through the bottom

- go for an orthopaedic consult. Someone who will listen to what you want to do and not rush to operate or write it off. I had a nurse suggest ibuprofen when I couldn’t walk more than 190m due to a knee cyst!


Hope you can get it sorted.

[JonBuoy]

Not much to add to LCC but

- I was diagnosed with Morton’s a few years ago by a physio. I’ve been fortunate that it’s not stopped me running but narrow shoes are a big no. I think I’m fortunate mind in that one.

- General rule is to avoid the knife if at all possible - I understand the ops complicated and they (apparently) go in through the bottom

- go for an orthopaedic consult. Someone who will listen to what you want to do and not rush to operate or write it off. I had a nurse suggest ibuprofen when I couldn’t walk more than 190m due to a knee cyst!


Hope you can get it sorted.

 

[L CC]

They went in from the top for my excision. Apparently it heals better /faster and is more successful that way. I would have said no if they'd planned to do mine from the sole, but it's still the preferred way for some surgeons.
The steroid injections I had were one from the top and the other from the sole, and top down was more efficacious. That said, top down was Mr Al-Maiyah and I really rated all the treatment and advice I had from him.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Ex-MrsLWaB had Morton’s Neuroma and had one foot operation done from below (didn’t work) and then both feet done from above (basically fixed, with careful shoe choice).

[ravenbait]

Both injections were from the top. As I say, the first one seems to have worked. The second one, not so much. It might just need to be deeper. Doc said he could see my toes moving further apart when he put the needle in, so he thinks the gapping is just from the swelling.

Sam