Surgery for Morton's Neuroma?

[OnionPatch]

I posted here last year sometime about my Morton's neuroma and had a handful of responses from people who also suffered from this. I've had this thing for three years now and tried all the conservative treatments and shots. I've also been having chronic low back pain for about the same time period and it's getting progressively worse. My doctor is convinced this is because I turn my foot funny when I walk to avoid the pain from the neuroma and it's affecting my spine. I can't take it anymore and want to get surgery. I wonder if those of you who also had Morton's neuroma still have it and if not, what you've done. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had the surgery or knows about it.

[yy4me]

1. Hi OnionPatch, I think was one of those with whom you chatted

before regarding Morton's Neuroma. It is a stinker of a problem and I have found that my long quest for relief--at least for now--has been with the use of "ProFoot 2Oz Miracle Molding Insole".

After the cortisone shots, the alcohol shots, the poorly designed initial orthotics (they were hard on the ball of the foot-Youch)I was still in pain so I went to another Foot Doctor for an evaluation. He took x-rays and told me that not only did I have Neuromas in both feet but that the right foot has a pinched nerve and of course the lovely bunion.(all those pointy toe shoes in the 1960's). I use a foam toe divider between big toe and second to keep the big toe from overlapping the second-which had started.

I had purchased (see link below) these 2 oZ insoles before my visit to the second doctor because I was in such pain that I could hardly walk. It was my stubborn attempt to avoid foot surgery that caused me to try them. A pair of plain foam innersoles helped a little but the ProFoot innersole went much further for support and for cushioning of the ball of my foot. At the second doctors, I also found out that I was flat-footed, something I never knew. Guess What? A secondary benefit to the innersole, the Arch support, helps my back. The turning of my foot was also helped because the pain was so greatly relieved that I could walk almost normally. I should write to the company with this story because the results have been remarkable. Not only can I tolerate my foot problem but my back, which has bothered me for 25 years as a result of carrying lots of furniture, is far better.

The new Doctor told me I was on the correct path with the soft ball of foot innersole and arch support and gave me a prescription for custom orthotics. He also told me that if what I am doing now works, keep buying these but remember that when the foam flattens, replace them or use them in a secondary pair of shoes or, as I do, in my slippers. They are about $4.50 at Wal-Mart, more at Walgreens. Whatever they cost is not the point, rather, they do the job.

http://www.profootcare.com/


Good luck, I know this is a serious and painful problem. A $5.00 experiment for a few weeks will beat an operation any day. I hope these work for you.

[OnionPatch]

2. Hi yy4me. Glad you found something that helps.

I have actually tried all kinds and types of insoles and foot pads, in fact, the only way I can really get around is to have them. The weirdest thing that works for me....out of desperation, I carved a hollow out of a pair of foamy-soled sandals, right under the spot that pinches. (The pain is like a strong, sharp, burning pinch every time I put weight on the ball of my foot.) With the hollow under that exact spot, it really made it possible for me to step pretty normally again without that pinch. But I can't find a way to do this to any winter shoes, so I just use very soft insoles....and limp a little. None of the insoles I've tried have a hollow spot under in the area I need it, instead most Morton's Neuroma insoles seemed to be built-up just behind the ball of the foot toward the arch, and that doesn't seem to work for me at all. I'm not flat-footed, I actually have a very high arch. Arch support has not seemed to help me at all. :(

I used to do a lot of hiking and backpacking. I miss it so much and feel like I'm really getting out of shape because exercise usually hurts either my foot or my back. This is really getting depressing. I am going to ask for the surgery because nothing else is working. I'm glad you are able to avoid it.

[yy4me]

3. Have you tried Memory Foam? There are slippers and shoes

on the market with a memory foam innersole.
The inserts that I told you about are Memory Foam under the ball of the foot. It is fairly thin and I think I will write to the manufacturer to see if they make a model that has a thicker ball of foot area. When I tell people what Morton's neuroma's feel like, the only thing I can think of is to say it feels like I am walking on marbles made of razor blades.

I hope it goes as you expect with the operation. I am told that I may have to go through that someday but maybe i will make it with the current solution. I know it is temporary but, for me, the only choice.
There is that little problem of $$$, I don't think Medicare will cover this. I buy a supplement through work that would pay for part of it if Medicare did cover the cost but I can't be out of work or I'll have no job, therefore no insurance. Geeze, round and round.

Keep me posted.

[OnionPatch]

4. Would you be out of work if you got the surgery?

I heard you can be up and walking around a few days after the surgery. I'm figuring I'll only miss two or three days of work at the most. But I work at a desk. If you do strenuous work or stand on your feet, you'd need more time off. :( Sorry to hear about your insurance situation. It just stinks that people can't get the medical care they need in this country. Wish I could lend you my insurance. :hug:

I have a pair of slippers with memory foam that work pretty well, they're my favorites, but I still get the pain when stepping on the ball of my foot, even in them.

I talk to the doctor on Friday. I'll check in then.

[OnionPatch]

5. Update. Went to the doctor yesterday.

And he has talked me into trying the shots again. :( I didn't really give them a fair shot (no pun intended ;)) last time because I quit before the recommended amount of shots, which is three in a row, a week apart. I'm pretty worried about getting them again because they were so awfully painful. But he insists that even though my neuroma is three years old, he thinks the cortisone shots have a good chance at making it go away for good. I asked about surgery and he said he would do it if that's what I wanted, but talked to me about how I really should get more shots before I undergo the risk of surgery. My main obstacle is the pain of the needle, so I talked to him about that. He said he can put lydocaine in with the solution and put the needle in so slowly that the lydocaine will be numbing the area as the needle goes in. Hmmm, not sure if my last doc did that, but if so, it didn't help much. I asked him about a sedative or pain killer and he laughed and said they could knock me out for the shot if they took me over to the hospital. (Just a joke.) But then agreed that if I am that paralyzed by the fear, some pharmaceutical help might be the ticket. He suggested some Xanax for the anxiety because he doesn't think the pain is really that awful. But I remember the pain and it was bad. Much, much more so than a blood test or vaccination or something. Those things are nothing in comparison. I almost passed out, and have read on other internet forums where other people have almost passed out from those shots too, so I'm not just totally over-reacting. I wonder if Vicoden or two before hand wouldn't dull the pain at least a little. :shrug:

So I'm going to go to my regular doc first and see what she can give me for this and try it. I guess I don't have anything to lose. I'll post after my first shot.

yy4me, I hope you find something to help your problem, too. I know how much of a pain it is. Let us know how you are handling it.

[elleng]

6. OnionP, I wonder whether the location

causes the severe pain. Daughter had shot in finger, after some sort of injury, and doc said she'd never seen anyone turn that color (green!!!) She passed out, of course.

Wonder whether in fact lydocaine would do it, kind of like dentist uses it, first deadens surface with something, waits a moment or so, and then does lydocaine before the 'surgery.' Is it the pressure of the stuff being injected that caused the pain?

My worst pain ever was from a tetanus injection; had NO pain from the injury itself, but felt as if they were injecting a gallon of stuff into my leg!

Good luck to you!

[OnionPatch]

7. It was a very deep, aching pain.

It almost felt like it was accompanied by muscle cramps or something.

I've had lots of dental work and novocaine shots. In fact I just had an apicoectomy, which is a kind of dental surgery, last Monday. Novocaine shots don't bother me in the least, but the Morton's Neuroma shot....:hide:

I was taking Vicoden right after my dental surgery earlier this week and noticed the neuroma didn't hurt at all. That's why I'm wondering if a Vicoden or two before the shot wouldn't dull the pain? :shrug: