Mortons Neuroma

[Cajun shooter]

Cortizone shot on mine burned and ached until the next morning. Dr said it was "steroid flare". I think I'm pretty tough, but that pain made me think my Neuroma isn't so bad!

I decided I would focus on fixing the cause instead of the symptom. I started with stretching/loosening the toebox/laces of all of my shoes. I will actually not crossover the first two eyelets on my hunting boots but snug down the ankle really well (The lace lock hooks on my Salomon Quest 4D's work really well at keeping the tension isolated to the heel/ankle).

If/when they flare up, I soak that foot in the coldest Ice bath I can stand in the evenings or after a run/hike. I'll soak 10 minutes and out 10 minutes for 4-5 cycles.

I'll also stretch/massage my feet a little in the morning and before the run/hike.

Agwrestler these are good thoughts heading in the right direction. Another thing I usually go through with people is evaluating the width of their forefoot in relation to the width of their shoes. Attempting to loosen your laces is a good thought but if the sole of your shoe (which is where you apply force when on your feet) is no wider than or narrower than your foot when its forced to the ground then lose laces may not do you much good.

You have to move into shoes that have a sole plenty wide enough to allow your forefoot to expand fully with some extra room when your foot hits the ground. Also member that when you have been on your feet for a while your feet actually swell so you need to allow room for that also.

[agwrestler]

^^^ this is why my next pair of trail runners will be Altras.

[BrandonH]

I was fortunate that the steroid injection worked, at least for the last couple years.

[rferg84]

Agwrestler these are good thoughts heading in the right direction. Another thing I usually go through with people is evaluating the width of their forefoot in relation to the width of their shoes. Attempting to loosen your laces is a good thought but if the sole of your shoe (which is where you apply force when on your feet) is no wider than or narrower than your foot when its forced to the ground then lose laces may not do you much good.

You have to move into shoes that have a sole plenty wide enough to allow your forefoot to expand fully with some extra room when your foot hits the ground. Also member that when you have been on your feet for a while your feet actually swell so you need to allow room for that also.

What do you think about the custom Birkenstocks? Never in my life did I think is become a dirty hippy Birkenstock wearing guy.

[JES]

What do you think about the custom Birkenstocks? Never in my life did I think is become a dirty hippy Birkenstock wearing guy.

What's not to like about Jerusalem Cruisers?!

Can you give some details about this custom version? I'm looking for a flip flop/sandal that works with my high arch.

[rferg84]

What's not to like about Jerusalem Cruisers?!

Can you give some details about this custom version? I'm looking for a flip flop/sandal that works with my high arch.

They can make some based on foot scans, supposedly one of the best for people with foot issues. I don't know a whole lot more about them or the process.

[Cajun shooter]

What do you think about the custom Birkenstocks? Never in my life did I think is become a dirty hippy Birkenstock wearing guy.

I'm not familiar with the "custom" Birkenstocks but they typically are a problem because they form a sort of scoop around your foot. So if the aren't plenty wide enough for your foot then your forefoot really bra ones compressed. They're not a big problem if your foot is narrow but one other thing I think they are not good for is they all have a pretty big arch support. So your arch not only will not be supported by the muscles whose job it is but the arch support is pressing into those muscles which will likely cause them to fail.

[rferg84]

Ttt

[agwrestler]

I'm not familiar with the "custom" Birkenstocks but they typically are a problem because they form a sort of scoop around your foot. So if the aren't plenty wide enough for your foot then your forefoot really bra ones compressed. They're not a big problem if your foot is narrow but one other thing I think they are not good for is they all have a pretty big arch support. So your arch not only will not be supported by the muscles whose job it is but the arch support is pressing into those muscles which will likely cause them to fail.

If I have too much arch support, my weight lands on the outside of my foot. Instead of pronating across to the ball of my foot, it stays on the outside for the whole stride and my outer shin muscles tighten up and get worn out quick.

[Cajun shooter]

If I have too much arch support, my weight lands on the outside of my foot. Instead of pronating across to the ball of my foot, it stays on the outside for the whole stride and my outer shin muscles tighten up and get worn out quick.

That is happening because the muscles of your arch aren't doing the job they are intended to do. So conventional wisdom says "let's just stick something under there".

Suppose you take that approach eith the rest of your body? We could start coming up with prosthetics (and that's what an arch support is) for every part of your body. So any time any part of you body goes weak just go out and buy something to take the place of the weak muscles. Does that really sound like the right approach?


Chootum!

[Cajun shooter]

If I have too much arch support, my weight lands on the outside of my foot. Instead of pronating across to the ball of my foot, it stays on the outside for the whole stride and my outer shin muscles tighten up and get worn out quick.

Agwrestler I just realized I read your post too fast and didn't properly respond to it! I tried to edit my post but I can't so I'll readdress it here.

You are right if the false support to your arch is too high then it will force you to transfer the weight to the outside of your foot. The bad new is that those bones are not designed to take that kind of weight and that will injure them.

This is just one of the reasons "arch supports" can be a problem. It's not possible to get the to perfectly replace the true function of your muscles.


Chootum!

[SabreKiller]

I had one removed after suffering with it for about 6 years. I had been terrified of having cortisone shots and never would do it. Finally broke down and got a shot. It worked for about 3 months then wore off.Went back the second time and that shot gave me no relief at all. Went back the third time and told him to take it out. Went in for day surgery and had it taken out. Originally my doctor said he didn't think mine was too bad. After surgery he came out and told me we shoulda skipped the cortisone shots. He said, "You had the real deal!" Best decision I've ever made. One week of recovery in a boot and I was good to go.

[rferg84]

Can anyone here read an MRI?

lol I have a doctors apt tomorrow but I'm impatient. I have access to the photos.

[rferg84]

Well the MRI shows no neuroma which is a good thing in itself. There is some nerve inflammation but they think its a mechanical injury and not a neuroma.

Now the rest of the story, definitely have two bad spots of Plantar Fasciitis, come off the heel spur. My Achilles has some degeneration. Looked like I'd sprained my ankle a lot in my life, which is true. Have some bone swelling which isn't helping. Anyways, going to try some PT and see if it gets better before going to some other alternatives.