Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition caused by irritation, thickening, or entrapment of a small nerve that runs between the toes — most commonly between the third and fourth toes. This nerve irritation occurs where it passes under the ligaments connecting the toe bones, leading to sharp, burning, or tingling pain in the ball of the foot.
Typical symptoms include:
Common causes include repetitive pressure or irritation, tight footwear, high heels, foot deformities (such as bunions or flat feet), or previous injury. Because Morton’s neuroma can mimic other causes of forefoot pain, such as arthritis or metatarsalgia, accurate diagnosis by a specialist is essential.
At Wessex Pain Clinic, diagnosis begins with a detailed medical history and foot examination. Our consultants look for local tenderness between the metatarsal heads and may reproduce pain by gently compressing the forefoot — a key feature of Morton’s neuroma.
We often use ultrasound imaging to visualise the thickened nerve tissue and confirm the diagnosis. MRI scanning may be used in complex cases or when other foot conditions are suspected.
Our physiotherapy partners play a key role in recovery.
At Wessex Pain Clinic, we work as a team and meet regularly to discuss complex, treatment resistant or unusual cases. As such you will often receive the expertise of several pain consultants. We believe that we are one of very few pain clinics to offer this.
We may recommend:
Medication plans are personalised and reviewed regularly for safety and effectiveness.
Our consultants perform ultrasound-guided steroid injections into the affected web space to reduce inflammation and pressure on the nerve.
In some cases, radiofrequency ablation may be used to reduce the nerve’s sensitivity and provide longer-lasting relief.
When conservative measures are insufficient, we coordinate with specialist foot and ankle surgeons for neurectomy (nerve removal) or decompression procedures where appropriate.
Our friendly team is on hand to support you every step of the way. Please get in touch at any time.
