The Disappearing Foot Pain – or Morton’s Neuroma
By Total Foot Health | Originally published: February 2022, Updated: June 2025
What is this mysterious condition?
Morton’s Neuroma is a painful and often frustrating condition that affects the nerves in your foot — yet it can be difficult to pinpoint. It typically flares up while wearing shoes or after being on your feet for extended periods. For me, it begins when I’m out walking, around the five-mile mark. It feels like a lump between my third and fourth toes — it can fizz, ache, or feel tender — but when I press on my foot, I can’t find the spot that hurts.
Tight-fitting shoes, narrow toe boxes, or even snug socks can aggravate the pain, and before long, I was finding myself avoiding certain activities just to manage the discomfort. Over time, it became more and more limiting.
The root cause? An enlarged nerve in the foot that becomes irritated and inflamed — a textbook case of Morton’s Neuroma.
Why Does Morton’s Neuroma Develop?
It’s often associated with one or more of the following:
- Wide, mobile feet
- The presence of a bunion or a developing bunion
- Hammer toes or clawed toes
For me? I tick three out of three.
How Is It Diagnosed?
The clinical test we use is called a Mulder’s Click — we gently squeeze the forefoot and apply pressure with the thumb. If the nerve is thickened, it shifts with a noticeable ‘click’ beneath the skin.
At Total Foot Health, we also use diagnostic ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and view the neuroma directly inside the foot, offering fast, accurate results.
How Is Morton’s Neuroma Treated?
When conservative measures don’t relieve symptoms — such as wider footwear or insoles — we may recommend a steroid injection to reduce inflammation. At Total Foot Health, we use ultrasound-guided injections to ensure that the treatment reaches the exact location of the neuroma. These injections are often effective at providing relief, and additional sessions can be arranged if needed.
If the neuroma doesn’t respond to injections, we can refer you for a surgical opinion regarding surgical excision of the nerve.
Don’t Let Foot Pain Limit You
Foot pain doesn’t need to be part of your daily life. If you’re experiencing pain that worsens when walking or wearing shoes, our biomechanics specialists can help identify the cause and recommend effective treatment options.
Book an appointment online or call us on 01722 340057 to speak to our team.