Morton's neuroma
Morton's neuroma is a painful foot condition that affects one of the nerves between the toes.
It's also known as Morton's Metatarsalgia or interdigital neuroma.
In Morton's neuroma, a nerve in the foot becomes irritated and thickened, which can cause severe pain.
The condition can occur in one foot or both feet. It usually affects the nerve between the third and fourth toes, but sometimes the second and third toes are affected.
Morton's neuroma can occur at any age, but most often affects middle-aged women. This may be because women tend to wear tight or high-heeled shoes that can put pressure on the feet.
It's also increasingly seen in runners, possibly because of the increased pressure on the toes that occurs when running.
You may initially experience a tingling sensation in the space between your toes, which gets worse over time. This eventually develops into a sharp shooting or burning pain in the ball of your foot or at the base of your toes.
Morton's neuroma occurs when one of the nerves between the toe bones becomes irritated, which causes it to become thicker. The exact cause of the irritation is unknown, but it may be caused by the nerve being squashed, stretched or damaged.
Treatment for Morton's neuroma will depend on how long you've had the condition and its severity. Simple non-surgical treatments are effective for some people. Others may need surgery.
It's a good idea to make an appointment to see a podiatrist (specialist in foot problems) if you have persistent symptoms of Morton's neuroma, as the conditions unlikely to improve on its own.
Morton's neuroma is a condition that affects the nerves between the toes. Morton's neuroma can occur at any age, but most often affects middle-aged women. This may be because women tend to wear tight or high-heeled shoes that can put pressure on the feet.