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Morton’s neuroma and pain in ball of the foot

(2 discussions)

I’ll try to be brief. Several months ago I started feeling pain in the ball of my left foot (right below my second toe), specially while wearing high heel shoes or while dancing. The pain feels like the ball of my foot has no padding left and I’m standing on my bone.
I went to see a podiatrist and he said that the condition is due to: the bone of my big toe is not long enough, so all the pressure has gone to the second toe and now it’s worsen to the point where it hurts. He recommended orthotics, which I had made and wear.On another hand, it seems that I have Morton’s neuroma not only on my left foot but also on my right foot (this one is the worst). When I wear the orthotics, the neuroma in my right foot starts hurting so bad that I can hardly walk. By the way we tried cortisone(which we found out I’m allergic to) and alcohol injections, but that just deals with the pain, not the condition, and they’re temporary solutions.
When I told the doctor about the orthotics situation he said that the only other option (not 100% guaranteed) would be bonion surgery on my left foot. He would shave the bonion and also cut the bone in an angle so that – somehow- the bone alignes(??) itself better and hopefully the condition in the second toe would go away.
Is this real? I don’t want to undergo surgery to find out later that I’m worse than when I started.
I’m a dancer and I haven’t been able to dance for 6 months. This is taking a toll on my life and I really need to have it back. I’m only 36 years old.
What do you suggest to do?
Thanks in advance

2 comments

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    9 10

    Pitu, I’ve had two different surgeries in the past 4 months. Tarsal Tunnel Surgery and Morton’s Neuroma surgery……..both are taking a LONG time to recover from. I have always enjoyed going for long walks and hiking…. I am no longer able to do those things as there will ALWAYS be pain in my foot. (Also numbness as in my case.) I can certainly understand your frustrations being a dancer and all but do understand that just because the Dr. says surgery “might” make it better……. He means must that….MIGHT. Make sure you have a surgeon or Dr. that you trust and don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions before having anyone cut on your foot. Don’t get me wrong, SOME of the pain is gone from the first surgery but for instance, it feels like I’m walking on bone instead of padding on the ball of my foot now since my tarsal tunnel surgery….. I’m still recovering from the Morton’s neuroma surgery…. I have a toe that will probably always be numb and feels kind of wierd. You should know this since you are a dancer and it would most definitely affect your dancing. Anyways, good luck to you! Let us know what you decide to do. It would be helpful to others on here!

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    9 10

    Gwen,I’m sorry to hear about your experience. I really hope that you get better soon. What you are telling me is EXACTLY my fear. Nowadays I can walk, run and do all kind of activities with no major pain or numbness. What happens after surgery is still unknown right? Not to mention the pain and rehabilitation. I’m really depressed about my condition and I don’t know what to do. Surgery doesn’t really appeal to me as a solution.Has anyone have something similar to the problem I have in the ball of my foot related to the lenght of my big toe bone? Any experiences to share? Thanks.

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