Suffer from foot pain? It could be your shoes
If you suffer from chronic foot pain, your shoes could be to blame. Morton’s neuroma refers to a relatively common, treatable, and often misdiagnosed painful ailment of the foot, caused by a pinched nerve usually between the third and fourth toes (Figure 1). Fortunately, there may be an easy fix: change your shoes!Definition
- Morton’s neuroma: a thickening of the nerves at the base of the toes, causing either numbness and/or pain
- Most prevalent in adult women due to narrower feet and narrow shoes with high heels
- Mostly absent in barefoot countries

Figure 1
Symptoms
- Chronic, aching forefoot pain, relieved in part by removing a tight shoe
- Sharp, stabbing forefoot pain
- Numbness
- Radiating pain that travels up the leg
- Some describe the feeling of a pebble in their shoes
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Treatment starts with a proper diagnosis from a board certified orthopedist
- Usually made by obtaining medical history, followed by thorough foot exam
- Other disorders such as stress fractures, neuropathy, metatarsalgia, and even lumbar disc herniations may be considered
- X-rays do not show disorder but can rule out others
- Blood tests, MRIs, and nerve testing seldom necessary
