About Neuroma
If your toes hurt or the ball of your foot aches when you walk, you may have a benign nerve tumor called a neuroma. Dr. Neil Zwiebel — a caring podiatrist at Park East Podiatry in New York, New York — treats your neuroma to prevent it from growing and worsening. If you live or work in the New York City area and have pain in your toes or forefoot, call the dedicated Park East Podiatry staff or book a consultation online.
NEUROMA / MORTON’s Neuroma
Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
What’s a neuroma?
A foot neuroma — sometimes called Morton’s neuroma — is a pinched and swollen nerve that usually appears between your third and fourth toes. Neuromas are fibrosous around the nerve, and can be very painful, especially when you walk.
How can I tell if I have a neuroma?
The main symptom of a neuroma is pain between your toes when you walk. You might even feel like you have a pebble or rock in your shoe. Other symptoms are:
- Pain at the front of your foot
- Pain in the ball of your foot when you step on it
- Numbness and tingling in the ball of your foot
- Swollen areas between your toes
- Pain that radiates to your toes
What are the risk factors for neuroma?
Women are most likely to develop a neuroma because the high heels and small toes boxes in women’s footwear puts extreme pressure on the toes. Other factors that may increase your risk include:
- Heeled shoes higher than 2 inches
- Tight shoe box
- High arches or flat feet
- Injury or trauma to foot
- Repeated stress on foot (e.g., occupational hazards)
Can I treat my neuroma myself?
How do podiatrists treat neuromas?
If your neuroma doesn’t quickly resolve with lifestyle changes, you should call Dr. Zwiebel for treatment. Neuromas worsen when they’re not treated in time.
Treatments he may recommend include:
- Custom orthotics designed to support your foot and relieve pressure on the toes
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling and pain
- Corticosteroids
- Sclerosing injections of 4% alcohol that are performed as a series
Sclerosing injections are effective even in cases of severe neuromas that normally would require surgery. However, if your neuroma doesn’t respond to sclerotherapy, Dr. Zwiebel may need to remove the inflamed nerve surgically. He performs the procedure at Park East Podiatry using local anesthesia. Recovery takes several weeks.