Morton’s Neuroma Excision
 

After two years of not being able to do any long hikes or run at all, bit the bullet last week and had an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle remove the neuroma (inflamed nerve) from my left foot. The surgery only took 15 mins but total time in and out the door was 3 hours since recovery from anesthesia took some time.

The negative is losing sensation of two adjacent toes, which as to be expected - and ultimately the area in the ball of my foot where the pain reside/d.

Stitches and bandages come off Nov 7, and can’t wait. Already did some very low level spins on the trainer - 15 mins, then today 30 mins, to see how the site would tolerate it. The post op sandal is pretty rigid.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cb311929e.jpeg

Good luck with the healing and recovery.

I had the same procedure done 5-6 years ago. I wasn’t required to wear the boot though. I was concerned about the potential loss of sensation post-op…but that didn’t happen. My surgery was done by a podiatrist, and he indicated at the time that the nerve ‘could’ regenerate (grow back) after 5-6 years (or some period of time). Everything has been good, but lately I have occasionally been feeling an ever-so-slight twinge in the same area. Nothing I’m concerned about yet. But I hope the dr’s warning isn’t coming to fruition.

Dan

Should not cause you any problems. Finally no more pain and now you can focus on getting back to normal.

I hope the end result is the relief you're looking for!

Over the past few years, I've had an issue with what I unofficially think was Morton's neuroma in my left foot. I.e., I had pain at the joint between my 3rd and 4th toe that I haven't had officially diagnosed by a foot doctor, but sure fits the symptoms of Morton's neuroma. For reference, I have ginormous feet (Size 14 US / 48 EU) that are very wide across the toe.

Thankfully, the pain is currently gone as I type this and I made a few discoveries that I believe are the cause of the issue which may (or may not) help others experiencing a Morton's neuroma pain:

• I drive a manual transmission vehicle with a relatively stiff clutch and have for years. Most of my shoes have very soft and flexible soles and once my foot starts hurting, driving my truck make things worse... and perhaps it's the clutch that is one of the causes of the issue in the first place? Since I only have the pain in my left foot and the clutch is a left-foot operation, perhaps correlation is causation in this case?
  
• My primary cycling shoes make the neuroma pain worse. Like most shoes, cycling shoes are not made for foot health. Almost every shoe on the market has a point toe and a narrow toe box which compresses the joints at the base of the toe and/or puts the toes in unnatural positions for long periods of time. I have two pairs of riding shoes... Lake MX242s that are my "daily drivers" which have a pointy toe and cause pain in my foot and Lake CX201 road shoes that have a very wide toe box and do not cause pain. I wish I could ride with the CX201s all the time, but my feet have other issues with the shoes and so I'm stuck suffering with the MX242s.
  
• Socks and shoes are not a friend of Morton's neuroma. I noticed over the years that my foot pain existed primarily in the Fall and Winter when I wear shoes or boots due to the cold, but the pain went away in the Summer when I primarily wear very, very minimalist sandals (Xero Z-Trail EV). It took several years before I realized why this happens. Our feet and toes were designed to "splay" when they come in contact with the ground, but this doesn't happen when the foot is enclosed in a shoe. In addition, most socks are made with very tight, pointy toe areas and so even the sock prevents splaying and the elastic in the sock compresses the toe joints. When I eliminate the socks and shoes, the pain goes away. When I wear shoes and socks, the pain comes back.

I'm of the belief that things like Morton's neuroma happen for a reason... but it might be hard to figure-out what that reason is. I'm 100% convinced that shoes (and tight socks) are the primary cause of most foot issues. We spend decades wrapping our feet in tight little coffins and then wonder why our weak, squished feet start to hurt. As such, I try to be barefoot or close to it as much as possible and I hope that some day the cycling industry starts to make shoes, like the Lake CX201s, that are actually shaped like feet.

Kharma for a Speedy and Good Recovery !

I had a chuckle, seeing your photo !
I had the same trajectory, last summer, after getting T-Boned by a driver who went thru a stop sign...
no need for detail... when far enough, 'the Trainer' was the 1st step towards feeling almost 'normal' again. I so dislike using a trainer ! But it WAS The Greatest Thing those first 2 weeks of regaining mobility....
That 1st Real Ride around the neighborhood was Incredibly Spiriit Lifting ! Mobility is so much a part of my life (and I expect for many of us), we take it for granted....

Anyway, A Wish for a Speedy Return to 'Intensity' !!!! LOL! :beer:
Ride On
Yuri

I had Morton's neuroma, some years back. Quite debilitating.... After much doctoring and looking for solutions, I came up with something which worked, for me.
I put a small foam pad/cushion - firm but still compressible. I tried a gel piece, those toe spreaders used for pedicure, but found that some thin, slightly firm packaging foam, cut to size and rolled, worked the best for me. Since then I have told a number of hiking friends who also have had Mortin's Neuroma to give a try, and they all found it very effective after just a few weeks of use.
I continue to use the foam pad between the 3rd & 4th toe on every long hike and especially backpacking with a heavy pack on rocky trails (which all are here and in the Sierras)...
Prolly work fine in cycling shoes, if I ever feel that 'Ting' again...
Ride On
Yuri

Good to know if I choose to self inflict myself with another. This one was caused by using too long cleat bolts, one of which (unknowingly - until it started becoming painful) was pushing into the ball of my foot, thus irritating the nerve. FWIW: First I saw a podiatrist a couple of times and got it injected, tried foam pads, had a custom pad fitted to my cycling shoes and other shoes, invested in HOKA shoes (which are fantastic) and just about everything that was a supposed remedy (for me!). Surgery was the very last option.

Interestingly enough, cycling after a while, didn’t bother the neuroma and I could do 50 miles with no issue. It was hiking on uneven surfaces after a few miles that kicked the pain up to Holy-crap this is terrible. I really missed hiking since I love being in the mountains. My backpacking days are over.