Morton's Neuroma and other foot issues discussion

[Tinijocaro]

I've been having a VERY hard time with pain in my feet. After undergoing TWO bunionectomies to eliminate pain and get my feet all set for my older years, I've run into other foot problems that are making me feel VERY old.

The right foot has a Morton's Neoroma-burning, burning pain along the ball of my foot and up into two toes and it feels like there is a large sock rolled under the ball of my foot. When walking, I can't roll onto the ball of my foot, so my gait has changed.

The left foot has a touch of plantar faciitis (not bad) and the anklejoint is incredibly weak and painful. I'm thinking it's arthritis. This foot causes a great deal of pain. Today was my first pain free day in the left foot in weeks.

I went to my podiatrist who just about gave up. He gave me a shot for the neuroma and it didn't work and said there's not much you can do for the ankle. I sort of believed him but now that I'm in so much pain, I've made an appointment with my regular physician and will get a blood test to check for rheum. arthritis.

I am shocked how much pain can affect your quality of life. Pain in the feet is especially bad since it hurts every step you take. I go to work each day and deal with it, sometimes taking pain meds but don't want to take it too much.

Anyone else dealing with similar painful foot issues?

 

[GusGus77]

Yup! I have a touch of plantar fasciitis right now but the bad part is I think I have a heel spur. I have had it for several months and it hurts like he**! I just had my tonsils out and sinus surgery so I am not in the mood to deal with it right now. I have been using night splints and wearing orthotics when I go out but they haven't helped. I hope they figure out your foot probs OP especially your ankle!

 

[GusGus77]

Oh and I do have a neuroma too and bad bunions, but luckily those haven't been bothering me lately!

 

[LisaR]

Yep, I just started down the road of bunions. I guess it is genetic. My mom has them and my sister has had five bunion surgeries starting in middle school. Seeing how it hasn't helped her, I will not get surgery. Now I am having pain on my pinkie side. Not sure if it is arthritis or what. I guess I should go to the doctor, but from what I am reading there isn't a whole lot that can be done besides surgery and injections and I don't want either!

I don't know if this will help you at all with your ankles, but they make a small balance board with a squishy ball in the middle and it is meant for strengthening ankles.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I had a Neuroma on my left foot, that started with an injury... I know EXACTLY what you are describing.

My first thought is to do whatever necessary to get to a good foot and ankle surgeon right away.
The podiatrist I saw were also useless.

Immediately, when I finally got to a good foot and ankle surgeon, he scheduled to surgically remove the neuroma right away. This was 3 years ago now... It has been SO much better! (still have issue with the longest middle toe that was smashed years ago, and is giving me almost as much grief today)

Okay, having a surgery like this to the foot is painful... And, well, since it is the foot, this is not the kind of thing one gets up and walks away from. But, it really is a 'must' to get rid of a painful neuroma like that.

Get a rollater/scooter, and you will be mobile without using that foot after surgery... Plan on taking the pain meds and being on drugs for a few days....

Then after the stitches are out, a week or ten days later, I would also consider a post-op shoe.

Believe me, a shoe that immobilizes the foot is a GODSEND!!!
I have walked around in black Reebok shoes that are made for people to work in, like those who work for hours on their feet in a factory or something... I could walk Disney in those. They are very supportive and 'stiff'....

Most athletic type shoes these days are lightweight and very flexible. Like running/sprinting shoes. Which is NOT good for this type of foot problem.

I don't know if they still make these Reeboks, but you might want to check.

Try a shoe like I am describing, and you should be able to walk and get around with relief. Not stylish... But, sometimes you gotta be able to get up on your feet and go!

Hope this helps.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I've been having a VERY hard time with pain in my feet. After undergoing TWO bunionectomies to eliminate pain and get my feet all set for my older years, I've run into other foot problems that are making me feel VERY old.

The right foot has a Morton's Neoroma-burning, burning pain along the ball of my foot and up into two toes and it feels like there is a large sock rolled under the ball of my foot. When walking, I can't roll onto the ball of my foot, so my gait has changed.

The left foot has a touch of plantar faciitis (not bad) and the anklejoint is incredibly weak and painful. I'm thinking it's arthritis. This foot causes a great deal of pain. Today was my first pain free day in the left foot in weeks.

I went to my podiatrist who just about gave up. He gave me a shot for the neuroma and it didn't work and said there's not much you can do for the ankle. I sort of believed him but now that I'm in so much pain, I've made an appointment with my regular physician and will get a blood test to check for rheum. arthritis.

I am shocked how much pain can affect your quality of life. Pain in the feet is especially bad since it hurts every step you take. I go to work each day and deal with it, sometimes taking pain meds but don't want to take it too much.

Anyone else dealing with similar painful foot issues?

OMFG! Sorry to say that but I am just pissed reading what you posted.

I am dealing with exactly that.

1) See a different podiatrist. I went through 3 before I saw one that gave a damn. Not joking. In fact the PT was the one whole actually diagnosed me with the neuroma. Yep.

2) You need to get proper footwear AND custom orthotics. This is absolutely vital to your recovery. If you do not have a podiatrist that you can get to you can go to a footwear store like Brown Shoe for example and see a certified pedorathist. This is the person that can fit you in proper footwear and make you custom orthotics. Unfortunately this will not be covered under insurance. Orthotics made by your podiatrist has a better chance of being covered.

3) Physical therapy is vital for recovery. In addition you are going to have to exercise. I am so sorry to tell you this however part of the issue of the neuroma is that you need a SOLID core strength so you can take the pressure off the toe.

4) Your goal right now is to get that nerve ball to stop being inflamed. I had a shot and it did not do squat either.

5) Oh and you are not allowed to go barefoot, wear sandals, crocs, slippers, etc. You wake up, do some PT in BED before you put those feet on the floor and put your shoes on with your custom orthotics. As long as that neuroma is inflamed you have to really put some effort into it.

I did PT LAST YEAR (Jan-March)and now I am to the point where my PF is gone and my neuroma is not hurting. I can feel the nerve ball when I walk which is creepy but it is no longer hurting.

I am doing my hardest to work on my core strength for a yr now. I am getting there however it is certainly a slow progress. It makes a HUGE difference though. My problem is that my muscles in my legs are SO tight (still grrr...) and my ankle strength was in the negatives (that has improved).

Anyway there is my summary. I know what it is like. It is doable but you have to work for it. And since I like to WALK I am trying as hard heck as I can to get "healthy".

 

[minkydog]

I have had flat feet all my life. Even wore orthopedic shoes for years to no avail. As we say in the South, my feet are flat as a flitter. Over the years the bones in my feet have completely given way and are lying on the floor. My xrays look really terrible.

All this flat-footedness has left me with severe arthritis in the bones on top of my feet, especially my left foot. The great toe joint on my left foot has deteriorated and causes me a lot of pain, so my gait has changed, which has caused severe knee problems. I just had a knee arthroscopy for that. I have had Morton's neuroma and many bouts of plantar fasciitis. My right ankle is very weak ever since I partially ruptured the post-tibial tendon which runs from the back of the leg, past your ankle bone and attaches inside the arch. I broke the other ankle once, which caused me to be on crutches, which caused enormous problems in the OTHER foot and ankle.

I am soooo over it. But what can you do? I mean, there is surgery that can be done to fix the foot but it is pretty extreme. It involves cutting the heel bone and remaking the arch by securing the bones with up to 11 pins. I would have to be walking on my hands and knees before I would go that far. Recovery takes about a year or more and often with subpar results.

I am 57 and I don't see it getting any better. I wear custom orthotics which I wear through in about 18 months. I wear nothing but New Balance athletic shoes, the kind you have to buy only in the New Balance store. I go through two pairs in a year. I cannot wear any pretty shoes at all, so I wear my NB shoes to church, to work, to my children's graduations, to weddings, and to funerals. Did I mention that these orthotics and special shoes also cost an arm and a leg? When the arthritis pain becomes unbearable, I have my ortho give me a cortisone shot into the top of my foot. It feels like he'd hammering my foot to the floor and it takes days to improve, so I have to really be in immense pain to have it.

If you haven't been to a sports medicine specialist, I would encourage you to do so. I tried two different podiatrists but my foot and ankle problems were just beyond what they could handle. They genuinely tried. My ortho specializes in sports medicine and he works on some of the Atlanta Hawks players. He has done more to help me than any other doctor I've tried.

If you think arthritis is the problem, see a rheumatologist. It never even occurred to me to see one, despite all the pain I had. When I finally did go, I found out that I had a particularly aggressive form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis. It causes specific deformities in the joints and can become severe very quickly. I have it in my hands and feet pretty badly. Fortunately there are meds with help to stabilize it and relieve the pain.

Good luck to you. I really sympathize because I know how badly I hurt and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.