Morton's syndrome (Morton's neuroma): causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

How often, when removing a narrow uncomfortable shoes, do you notice that the foot is hurting? The pain between the third and fourth fingers is especially strong. Maybe you are just tired for the day, or maybe Morton's neuroma develops. Symptoms of this disease are not immediately apparent, but you need to know about them.

What it is?

The problem has several names: Morton's syndrome, Morton's neuroma, Morton's disease, Morton's metatarsalgia, perineural fibrosis, Morton's finger. This is a benign thickening on the foot, consisting of fibrous tissue. There is a thickening on the plantar nerve of the foot. In most cases, the pathology is one-sided, although occasionally it develops on both feet. Most often, Morton's syndrome occurs in women, because they wear narrow shoes on an uncomfortable heel. But men are prone to this disease.

The causes of peritoneal fibrosis Morton

The development of the disease is provoked by the following reasons:

• Overweight. The reason refers to the most common in this disease. The legs experience a heavy load, as a result of which the growth of fibrous tissue of the plantar nerve begins.
• Frequent wearing of high heels. The load on the feet increases, which provokes an inflammatory process in the area of the plantar nerve.
• Wrong selection of shoes by size and volume. Long squeezing of the foot in tight shoes traumatizes the nerve fibers.
• The resulting injuries (fractures, bruises, bruises) along the nerve and chronic diseases.
• Transverse flatfoot.
• Obliterating atherosclerosis of the legs, which causes blockage of the vessels of the legs with cholesterol plaques.
• Tumors.
• Physical exercise.

Symptoms of the disease

If you suspect that you have a Morton neuroma, the symptoms will manifest depending on the neglect of the disease. This process depends on the degree of nerve irritation by nearby tissues. For a long time, the foot does not experience discomfort during walking, but when the interdigital region is squeezed, a slight pain appears. As the fibrous tissue grows, the nerves of the metatarsal bone press on both sides from the two sides, and the swollen tissues and hematoma aggravate this effect. The first complaint is most often associated with numbness of the foot and unpleasant sensations in the process of long walking. Morton's disease is especially painful for those who prefer shoes with heels, because pressure on the zone of the neuroma increases.

Another symptom is burning in the tissues of the foot and fingers. An internal tingling is also noticeable at this time. There is a sensation of a foreign object in the intercellular space. Exacerbations roll in waves: the period of rest alternates with intense pain.

Morton's syndrome prevents him from being on his feet for long. The pain becomes very strong, but if you take off your shoes and massage the feet, then it decreases or completely disappears.

Further development of the disease increases the intensity of pain. It acquires a pulsating character, and the intervals between attacks are significantly reduced. The lack of treatment leads to the fact that Morton's disease causes constant pain, which ceases to depend on the quality of the shoes and the duration of walks. Neither massage, nor complete rest pains do not remove.

One of the features of the disease is that the patient's symptoms can disappear completely and do not repeat for several years. But the disease does not pass, but it seems to freeze. At what point it appears impossible to predict. In addition, it should be noted that external manifestations on the foot for a given neuroma are not noticeable.

Diagnosis of pathology

The logical question of a patient with Morton's syndrome is which doctor treats this disease? Symptoms of this disease can be addressed to a neurologist, surgeon or orthopedist. First of all, doctors interview the patient and examine the problem foot. Sometimes this is enough to make a diagnosis.

For clarification, a specialist can refer a patient to an X-ray, MRI or ultrasound. These examinations make it possible to determine the exact location of the neuroma and to indicate its dimensions.

Methods of treatment

If the disease is not badly triggered, then the patient has a choice as to how Morton's neuroma will be treated: treatment at home (conservative) or surgery. However, the decision must be based on the opinion of a specialist. As you understand, each method of treatment has its pros and cons.

Conservative method

If the patient does not agree that surgery is necessary, the doctor will choose a conservative method of treatment:

1. To reduce the load on the foot, it will be recommended to walk less, and not stand long in one place.
2. To prevent compression, the patient will have to reconsider his preferences in shoes. Shoes and boots should be on a low heel, and with wide noses.
3. In shoes, you need to insert orthopedic insoles with liners. In certain cases, Morton's syndrome requires wearing the finger separators.
4. It is necessary to perform daily foot massage from the ankles to the fingertips.
5. The doctor prescribes the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tablets or ointments). It can be Ibuprofen, Nimesulit, Diclofenac.
6. If necessary, corticosteroids are prescribed.

With these recommendations, Morton's syndrome, which was treated at home, should decrease in 3 months. If the pain does not lose intensity, then additionally prescribed painkillers.

Pros and Cons of the Conservative Method

The main advantage of this method of treatment is the absence of postoperative pain and a long rehabilitation period. Conservative treatment can be conducted without the preparation of a sick leave sheet. The patient lives in the usual rhythm, just adds a few mandatory items to the daily routine.

The minus of this method is the duration of the course (as already mentioned, with the diagnosis of "Morton's neuroma", treatment at home can last up to three months). Often patients simply do not have the patience to complete the course to the end. In addition, prescribed drugs can give side effects and affect the work of other organs and systems. In addition, the method does not always help.

An operative way of treatment

An operative type of treatment is offered to patients at a late stage of neuroma or the absence of the results of conservative therapy. The operation can be carried out in several ways:

1. Removal of the tumor through the incision. This is the simplest operation that removes Morton's syndrome. Fibrous tissue is removed along with a small portion of the nerve. Postoperative sutures are removed on the fourteenth day. Such an intervention is considered to be minimally invasive. The next day the patient is allowed to gently load his leg.
2. Occasionally, the patient is required to perform excision of the inflamed part of the foot. This radical method leads to a loss of sensitivity of the fingers, pain is not felt in the future.
3. In rare cases, the artificial bone fracture method is used. Rehabilitation after such an intervention is delayed for a month or more.

Advantages and disadvantages of the operation

The main advantage is the complete elimination of the problem in a short time. Conducting a simple operation is financially less expensive than a long medication course.

A disadvantage of surgical treatment is long rehabilitation. In addition, in the future, you can feel minor discomfort when walking.

Morton's syndrome: treatment with folk remedies

It is very important to understand that with the Morton neuroma, traditional medicine is not capable of eliminating the problem. However, it alleviates the condition and reduces pain.

Traditional healers offer several recipes that are used in conjunction with medical appointments:

1. Lotions of bitter wormwood. The plant is rinsed and rubbed into the gruel, which is applied to the inflamed part of the foot and fixed with a bandage. It is most convenient to perform before bedtime and keep the lotion until the morning.
2. Salted pork or goose fat. A tablespoon of salt is mixed in a hundred grams of pork or goose fat. Mass carefully rubbed into a sore spot, overlaid with a warming bandage.
3. "Hot" rubbing. This warming agent consists of two tablespoons of dry mustard, two hot peppers and two tablespoons of salt. All this is mixed and insists on a glass of vodka. Rastirka improves blood circulation and warms up the foot well. The procedure is performed before going to bed, after it wear warm socks.
4. Ointment from laurel leaves and pine needles. Dry laurel leaves are grinded in a coffee grinder. Pine needles are ground with a knife. Then 2 tablespoons of the first ingredient and 1 tablespoon of the second are mixed with the softened butter. The feet are lubricated and insulated. The procedure is performed before bedtime, the minimum course is 1 week. The product is stored in a cool place.

In addition, you can make warm baths with chamomile, lavender or calendula, in which add a sea mole. The temperature of the bath should not exceed 38 ° C. Herbs before use boil for 3-5 minutes and insist for about an hour.

And again about insoles

Choosing quality comfortable shoes with a good orthopedic insole can prevent overload of the forefoot and prevent the development of the disease. Any doctor will confirm that orthopedic insoles with Morton's neuroma become an important element of treatment. Ideal option - the manufacture of individual insoles by the standards of the patient's legs. Thus, the foot in the shoes is fixed in the correct position, the load is distributed and a damping effect is created. Wearing individual insoles is recommended not only with conservative treatment, but also after surgery to eliminate Morton's disease.