Morton's neuroma natural history
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mohsin, M.D.[2]
Overview
Symptoms of morton's neuroma begin gradually and initially occur only occasionally while wearing the narrow-toed shoes and performing certain aggravating activities. Symptoms may go away temporarily by removing the shoe, massaging the foot and avoiding the aggravating shoes/activities. Symptoms become even more intense & start to worsen progressively with time and may persist for several days or weeks. Ultimately, the temporary changes in the nerve become permanent if left untreated for prolonged periods of time. Common complications of morton's neuroma include difficult walking, trouble performing activities that put pressure on the foot (pressing the gas pedal of an automobile), and feet hurt with wearing certain types of shoes especially high-heels. Postoperative complications include permanent non-painful numbness, small risk of infection around toes after surgery, incisional soreness, scarring, & recurring stump neuromas. Non-surgical treatment is successful in 80% of the cases but does not always improve symptoms and surgery to remove the thickened tissue is successful in about 85% of cases.
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Natural History
- Symptoms of morton's neuroma begin gradually
- Initially, the symptoms occur only occasionally while:
- Wearing the narrow-toed shoes
- Performing certain aggravating activities
- Symptoms may go away temporarily by:
- With the passage of time, symptoms start to worsen progressively and may persist for several days or even weeks
- Symptoms become even more intense as the neuroma enlarges
- Ultimately, the temporary changes in the nerve become permanent if left untreated for prolonged periods of time
Complications
- Morton's neuroma can make walking difficult
- Persons with this foot condition may also have trouble performing activities that put pressure on the foot, such as pressing the gas pedal of an automobile
- It may hurt to wear certain types of shoes, such as high-heels
- Few of the post surgical complications include:
Prognosis
- Non-surgical treatment is successful in 80% of the cases but does not always improve symptoms
- Surgery to remove the thickened tissue is successful in about 85% of cases[1]