Morton's Neuroma

Hello,

Has anyone on here ever had to deal with this? I have been dealing with this for quite a while now and its starting to get worse. Day to day stuff its fine. Some days I can tell that it's there but not really any pain. Hiking is generally OK except for maybe days where I put in some long or difficult miles. Where its really an issue is skinning and is down right excruciating, feels like someone is stabbing my foot. I recently had some boot work done but it didn't do anything. Its got to the point now where I can't even go touring, which sucks of course. I fear I am getting to the point where my only solution is surgery. Anyone here dealt with this? Anyone have any recommendation for a good foot doctor in Seattle? Someone who knows about outdoor recreation. Want to see what some options or other treatments might be. Thanks.

John

I'm not sure if morton's neuroma is the term for the foot pain I used to have, but I use orthodics to relieve the condition.  What I had was foot pain related to having a collapsing arch.  As it was explained to me, the nerve paths travel down your foot inbetween the bones and when your arch collapses, those nerves are compressed and cause pain.  The remedy that worked for me was simple. I got orthodics with a "metatarsal pad" in them which supported my arch so it didn't compress the nerves and the pain went away

My first orthodics were perscription ones and cost hundreds of dollars. Later a chiropractor friend told me that I could get generic ones for about $60 bucks and I've used those ever since and never had the foot pain return.  I use the lynco brand

aetrex.com/lynco-orthotics

You can read the section on "metapads" and you'll see they mention morton's neuroma.  HTH

My wife has trouble with this too. One important touring-specific thing is to not use your bindings heel risers until truly necessary. Lots of people engage them on terrain that is too mellow, positioning the heel slightly higher than the toes, which puts extra pressure on the front of the foot and aggravates the condition. Keeping her weight back on her heels provides some relief.

I have an ultrarunner friend that had this for a while, a long while, before getting surgery I believe. Fixed it and not heard a word since. I can get details if required.

I had this same problem for many years and the first orthopedic doctor did the shots, boot inserts,etc. with zero improvement.  That went on for a year or so.

When I would explain my foot would start really start hurting after about 7-8 miles of hiking or 4 hrs of skiing he would act like it's really nothing because I was not in any pain normally during non skiing or hiking days.  Right before I switched doctors I couldn't hike over 2 miles.  I asked about an MRI and that suggestion was blown off.  

I switched orthopedic doctors and the first thing the new doctor did was have an MRI done on that foot.  Found a 8 mm Neuroma and pretty much said all the shots and inserts in the world won't be able to fix that.  He removed it and it is fine now.  One toe is a little numb now but that is a small price to pay.  I live south of Olympia so I don't know of any good orthopedic doctors around Seattle area.  
If you are interested in who my doctor was pm me.  

Thanks for the replies. Some additional info and replies.

I did have a metatarsal pad added to the foot bed on the problem foot. Yesterday was the first time using and it did nothing, maybe even made it worse as it almost never hurts when riding (only skinning) but yesterday it hurt while riding down as well. It may be in the wrong spot I'll have to have that looked at again.

Jake I hear what you're saying about the touring riser but touring out on the flats yesterday was painful as well. May have been from it already being aggravated. This also isn't just a soreness or dull pain its excruciating.

Haggis and khp1 I'll send you a PM.

Thanks.