Morton's neurinoma is a fairly common disease, which is accompanied by the appearance of a benign thickening in the region of the plantar nerve of the foot. Many terms are used to refer to an ailment in modern medicine, including Morton’s finger syndrome, perineural fibrosis, and foot neuroma.
The growth of fibrous tissue in this part of the foot is accompanied by compression of the nerve. This ailment can develop over the years, without causing much concern. But, despite the sluggish course, patients need qualified help. So what is Morton’s neurinoma (foot)? How dangerous can a disease be? What symptoms should I look for? Does modern medicine offer effective treatments? The answers to these questions interest many people.
What is Morton's disease?
Morton's neurinoma is a benign thickening formed by the growth of fibrous tissue. A neuroma is located in the area between the third and fourth toes. According to statistics, women are more likely to suffer from the disease. Doctors associate this trend with the constant wearing of narrow shoes with uncomfortable heels. On the other hand, the disease also occurs in the male population.
At the initial stages, a neoplasm rarely causes a person serious inconvenience. But with less growth of neurinoma, Morton begins to squeeze the finger nerves, which affects the patient’s well-being and foot functionality. In most cases, the lesion is one-sided - only in rare cases of a neuroma affects both limbs at once.
The main causes of the development of the disease
Why does Morton's neurinoma develop? Unfortunately, to date, the exact causes of the onset of the disease are unknown. We can only say that the disease develops if the nerve fibers are constantly compressed by bones and ligaments. Scientists were able to identify several risk factors that, in a certain situation, can provoke the appearance of seals in the area between the phalanges of the fingers. Their list may include:
- The presence of excess weight is considered one of the most common causes of the development of the disease, because the feet have to withstand heavy loads, which affects the work of the articular and bone apparatus.
- The reasons include the constant wearing of narrow, uncomfortable shoes, especially when it comes to high-heeled shoes. This leads to deformation of the foot, compression of the connective tissue elements and nerve endings.
- Sometimes neurinoma develops against the background of excessive physical activity, constant stay on the legs without rest.
- Flatfoot also refers to risk factors, because the nerve is compressed due to the progressive deformation of the bones of the limbs.
- Risk factors include injuries and bruises of the foot, infectious diseases that are chronic.
This is what the liver of causes looks like that can lead to the development of such a pathology as Morton's neurinoma. Diagnosis necessarily includes procedures to find out what exactly caused the formation of the neoplasm.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
As already mentioned, Morton's neurinoma (feet) is characterized by a sluggish development. In the initial stages, some characteristic symptoms may even be absent. People note only a slight soreness and burning sensation when they compress their toes. As the disease develops, discomfort appears when walking. In the initial stages, patients feel soreness only when wearing narrow shoes or high heels. Later, pain becomes a constant companion of a person.
Nerve compression can be accompanied by tingling and burning in the toes. Sometimes patients complain of numbness of the foot. The sensitivity of the skin in the area between the third and fourth toes decreases. There are no visible changes in the shape and structure of the limb, because neurinoma is not a tumor. Symptoms periodically appear and may disappear for years to come. That is why many people do not immediately turn.
In the later stages of development, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply. Soreness does not only appear while standing or walking. Even at rest, a sharp, shooting pain in the foot periodically appears.
Morton's neurinoma (feet): diagnosis
As a rule, already during the general examination, the doctor may suspect the presence of neurinoma. The clinical picture is characteristic. On palpation, patients complain of pain. A sick person is also offered to fill out a special questionnaire - so a specialist can collect the most complete information about the patient’s health status, bad habits, intensity of symptoms, etc.
Radiography is performed to confirm the diagnosis. In the picture you can see the presence of thickening in the interphalangeal space. Informative is the ultrasound examination of the suspected area of ​​the neuroma. Magnetic resonance imaging is performed only if the diagnosis is in doubt. The same study is necessary for patients who are indicated for surgical intervention.
Drug therapy
What should patients do who have Morton's neurinoma? Treatment depends on the stage of development of the disease and the severity of symptoms. Drug therapy is used to anesthetize and relieve the inflammatory process.
Quite effective are such drugs as Codelac, Nimesulide, Diclofenac, Solpadein, and Ibuprofen. Medicines are used in the form of tablets and ointments. In the most severe cases, anesthetics are injected directly into the tissue of the affected area.
Other non-surgical treatments
The action of medicines is aimed only at relieving pain and inflammation. But patients need to follow some rules. First of all, you should refuse to wear narrow shoes. It is recommended to wear flat-toed shoes with a wide toe and special orthopedic insoles. To prevent fingers from being squeezed and deformed when walking, patients are advised to use special dividers.
It is also worth reducing the load on the feet, abandoning physical activity, which involves prolonged standing, walking or running. Periodic foot massage courses are recommended. Physiotherapeutic methods are also used to relieve inflammation and slow the deformation, including shock wave therapy, acupuncture, electrophoresis using appropriate medications, and magnetotherapy.
Pros and Cons of Conservative Treatment
To begin with, it is worth noting that conservative therapy is effective only if the disease is diagnosed in the initial stages. This treatment has its pros and cons. Medications and physiotherapy avoid surgery and the associated risks, including tissue scarring, infection, etc. In addition, there is no need for rehabilitation - during the treatment period, a person is not required to break the usual rhythm of life.
As for the minuses, you need to understand that conservative treatment lasts for months, and sometimes years, and success can be achieved far from always. The medicines used by doctors are not so small, and their prolonged use is fraught with the development of side effects.
Morton's neurinoma (feet): surgical treatment
The simplest method of surgical treatment is excision of the neuroma, which, in fact, is part of the nerve. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. A small incision is made in the projection of the heads between the third and fourth metatarsal bones (length about 2 cm). The doctor immobilizes and removes excess tissue, after which the wound is sutured in layers.
That is how Morton's neurinoma is removed. The operation is associated with excision of a part of the nerve, therefore, after the procedure, patients partially lose sensitivity in the area between the metatarsal bones. Nevertheless, the functionality of the foot does not suffer from this.
There are also less radical procedures - dissection of the ligament between the metatarsal bones. This procedure eliminates the compression of the nerve, allowing you to maintain the sensitivity of the fingers. In the event that the operation did not lead to the desired result, the neuroma is removed.
Osteotomy of the fourth metatarsal bone is much less common. During the procedure, which is carried out using special equipment through small punctures on the skin, the doctor displaces the head of the metatarsal bone by means of an artificial fracture.
Advantages and disadvantages of surgical intervention
Surgical excision of neurinoma has its advantages. In particular, it is possible to get rid of the disease quickly. Therapy is successful, relapses are recorded very rarely. The cost of the operation is also not too high.
On the other hand, the success of treatment largely depends on the skills of the surgeon, so you should carefully consider the choice of a doctor. This is an open operation, therefore there is always a risk of tissue infection. Patients are prescribed a prophylactic course of antibiotics. Surgical intervention is associated with a long period of rehabilitation. However, in the most severe cases, this is the only possible treatment.
Rehabilitation after surgery
Like any surgery, removing Morton's neurinoma requires rehabilitation. The patient can go home a few days after the procedure. However, a constant change of dressings is required during the first few weeks. Sutures are usually removed 10-12 days after surgery.
Depending on the complexity of the procedure, a complete restoration of mobility takes from 3 weeks to 2 months. Many patients complain of discomfort that occurs while walking after surgery. This is a normal phenomenon, which helps to cope with the wearing of suitable shoes, regular massages and therapeutic exercises.
Alternative methods of treating the disease
Is it possible to get rid of a disease such as Morton's (foot) neuroma at home? Treatment with folk remedies is possible. For example, some folk healers recommend using wormwood juice. To prepare the medicine, you need to pick fresh grass of bitter wormwood, chop and grind it to a pulp state, then attach it to the affected area, fixing it with a bandage.
A cream of pork fat will help cope with the pain. To do this, 100 g of fat should be thoroughly mixed with ordinary table salt (one tablespoon). The resulting ointment should be rubbed into the skin of the foot, applying a bandage bandage on top.
It is worth noting that such drugs are not able to eliminate the disease. Ointments can only alleviate soreness and other symptoms that Morton's neurinoma leads to. Treatment with folk remedies is possible only after prior consultation with a doctor. Sometimes, formulations prepared at home serve as a good complement to drug therapy.
Predictions for Patients
It should be understood that the predictions for people with a similar diagnosis directly depend on when exactly they were given medical care. At the initial stages, the inflammatory process and irritation of the nerve endings can be completely eliminated with the help of medications and medical procedures.
Lack of therapy is fraught with dangerous consequences. The area of ​​damage is only increasing, and soreness is constantly growing, significantly reducing the quality of human life. In the later stages, the only way to combat the disease is a surgical procedure.
Preventive actions
Unfortunately, you cannot completely protect yourself from the development of such a disease. Nevertheless, following some recommendations, it is possible to minimize the likelihood of developing neurinoma.
It is recommended to give preference to comfortable shoes, preferably with orthopedic soles. If there is a need to wear high-heeled shoes, then you need to regularly make warm, relaxing foot baths. Do not forget about foot massage, which you can do yourself.
It is important to monitor weight. Extra pounds negatively affect the condition of the body and are associated with a lot of risks of developing various ailments, including the gradual deformation of the bones of the foot. In the presence of flat feet, it is also necessary to undergo appropriate therapy.
If you are at risk, then periodically need to undergo medical examinations. Neurinoma, like any other disease, is much easier to treat with early diagnosis and timely medical attention.