Neuromas in Feet
OVERVIEW
A neuroma is when a nerve in the foot between the third and fourth toes becomes compressed due to factors such as improper footwear and repetitive stress. This neuroma will result in a variety of symptoms, including pain, swelling, and tingling. These symptoms can be fixed both surgically and non-surgically, but a specific treatment plan will be created to best suit the severity of your own unique case of the neuroma.
ANATOMY
Neuromas in feet are also known as pinched nerves. There are many nerves inside of the foot that allow you to move them. These nerves become pinched or compressed due to things such as improper footwear and too much stress applied to the foot. Once the nerve has become pinched, and a neuroma is formed, some form of treatment is necessary to stop pain as well as other problematic symptoms.
DESCRIPTION
Foot neuromas, also known as Morton’s neuroma, occur in the balls of the foot between the third and fourth toes. It feels like there is a small pebble in your shoe. This “pebble” is actually the thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes, causing a sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot.
Although the exact causes of neuromas are unknown, there are some factors that can trigger them, including:
- Biomechanical deformities, such as a high-arched foot or a flat foot, causing instability around the toe joints, leading to the development of a neuroma.
- Trauma, which can result in the inflammation or swelling of the nerve.
- Improper footwear, like high heels.
- Repeated stress, especially from sports.

SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of a neuroma are:
- Swelling between the toes.
- Tingling and numbness in the ball of the foot.
- Pain in the ball of the foot when weight is placed on it.
- Pain in the forefoot and between the toes.

DIAGNOSIS
Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will look at your symptoms and health to help determine your diagnosis. Your physician may also order x-rays to view the affected area to ensure that you have a neuroma and not another condition.
TREATMENT (OVERVIEW)
There are both surgical and nonsurgical treatments available for neuromas. Surgical procedures are not usually recommended unless nonsurgical treatment are unsuccessful, or if the neuroma is severe.
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS
The type of nonsurgical treatment you will receive is decided based on how severe your neuroma is. If your neuroma is mild to moderate, then possible treatment options may include:
- Icing. Icing the affected area will help reduce swelling.
- Padding. Wearing padding in the affected area will provide support for the foot, lessening the pressure on the nerve.
- Activity Modifications. Activities that apply stress to the neuroma should be avoided.
- Shoe Modifications. Shoes with a wider toe box will help keep pressure off of your neuroma, allowing it to heal.
- Orthotic Devices. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician may provide you with custom orthotic devices that will provide foot support, reducing the pressure on your neuroma.
- Medications. Medications such as ibuprofen may be recommended to help reduce inflammation and pain.
- Injection Therapy. Cortisone, local anesthetics, or other agents may be injected to help reduce your symptoms.

SURGICAL PROCEDURES/TREATMENTS
Surgical treatments are only recommended when nonsurgical treatment options have been exhausted, and symptoms have not improved. There are various surgical procedures available for neuromas – all involve removing the inflamed and enlarged nerve. Your physician will help to determine the best surgical procedure for your specific case of neuroma.
NEXT STEPS
Since each neuroma case needs a different treatment method, your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will walk you through your own unique recovery process. Additionally, your physician will recommend long-term measures to help prevent the neuroma from reoccurring. These measures include appropriate footwear and modification of activities that apply repetitive pressure and stress to the foot.
Areas of Focus
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Bunions
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Metatarsalgia
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Sprained Ankle
- Total Ankle Replacement
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Neuromas (Foot):
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Upper Extremity
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- Primary Care Orthopedics Sports Medicine
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis