Jun 26, 2025
By TJICLondon

What Is Morton’s Neuroma? Causes, Treatments, and Who Is at Risk

Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition that affects the nerves in the ball of the foot, typically between the third and fourth toes. It causes symptoms such as discomfort, tenderness, tingling, or a burning sensation under the toes or forefoot. Many patients describe it as feeling like a small pebble is stuck under their foot while walking.

What Causes Morton’s Neuroma?

The primary cause of Morton’s neuroma is compression or irritation of the nerve between the metatarsal bones. Over time, this leads to nerve thickening and inflammation. Common causes and contributing factors include:

Wearing tight or narrow-fitting shoes, especially high heels
Abnormalities in foot structure or biomechanics
High-impact sports or repetitive forefoot stress
Having bunions or flat feet
Sudden increases in walking or running distances

This condition is more common in women and in those who frequently wear narrow footwear. If you live in a busy urban area like London, where daily walking is common, you’re more likely to notice the impact of footwear and activity on your feet.

Morton’s Neuroma Symptoms

Pain between the toes while walking
Numbness or tingling in the forefoot
Sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot
Discomfort that worsens in tight shoes and improves when barefoot

If you’re asking, “Does Morton’s neuroma cause leg pain?” - it typically doesn’t, but discomfort can radiate slightly upward if left untreated.

Conservative Treatment Options

In most cases, Morton’s neuroma treatments start with lifestyle changes:

Switching to wide-toed, supportive footwear
Using orthotics or custom shoe inserts
Reducing high-impact activity and overall time on your feet
Physiotherapy focused on foot mechanics and Morton’s neuroma exercises to relieve pressure

Some patients explore therapies like ultrasound or massage, though evidence for these is variable. Many people find relief without surgery when treated early and properly.

When to Consider Injections

For persistent or severe symptoms, ultrasound-guided steroid injections can be a helpful treatment. These aim to reduce inflammation and pain around the affected nerve. Injections are often considered one of the best treatments for Morton’s neuroma when conservative approaches haven’t worked.

The procedure involves injecting a combination of corticosteroid and local anaesthetic between the affected toes. This helps alleviate pain and inflammation while enabling further rehabilitation with orthotics or podiatry support.

At The Joint Injection Clinic in London, we specialise in targeted, image-guided injections for Morton’s neuroma and other musculoskeletal conditions.

Surgical Referral

If multiple injections and conservative treatments fail, surgical removal of the neuroma may be considered. However, surgery is usually a last resort after trying other measures.

If you’re struggling with Morton’s neuroma in London, our team at The Joint Injection Clinic can help. We offer comprehensive assessment and conservative treatment options, with the expertise to provide advanced injection therapy if needed.