Recovery after surgery for Morton's Neuroma

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I have just logged onto this site today and read the posting from "Tekla" and feel exactly the same way. I was a runner, 50 - 60km a week, and had surgery on both feet for MN's in May 2006, nearly two years ago. The surgeon said that I would be back on my feet (literally) in eight weeks but two years after surgery I am still suffering pain, almost daily. The burning sensation is horrific and I suffer from other general pains, aches, tiredness and discomforts nearly all the time. I have specially made orthodics from one of the best podiatrists in Sydney, have spent a fortune on the right shoes, do acupuncture, massages and exercises and still suffer tremendously. I have had small bouts of wellness but the heat seems to make the burning worse. I can run occasionally but I cannot believe that after two years I am still lying on the couch with ice packs on my feet. I would give anything to hear from someone who knows something about this or who has had a similar (or positive!) experience.

Kathleen.

AVRChick · Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

It has been 6 weeks since I had a Morton's Neuroma removed from my right foot (between 3rd and 4th toe). I've been babying this thing for years! I first saw a podiatrist and underwent the cortisone shots, which did provide temporary relief. The pain just kept coming back after the steroid injections so I agreed to ultrasound treatments. What a joke and a waste of my time. I have friends in the medical field and each one told me that if I elected to have the neuroma removed, make sure I had it performed by an orthopedist, not a podiatrist. So, I did my research and found an orthopedist with a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery. We agreed that the only way for me to experience permanant relief was surgery. I had the nerve removed on Valentine's Day - 6 weeks ago. Post Op; I did EVERYTHING my doc instructed me to do. I kept my foot elevated above my heart for 5 days after the surgery. I went back to work on the 6th day, but continued to keep my foot elevated as much as possible while at the office. 2 weeks after surgery, my stitches were removed and I was told I could get my foot wet (YEAH!!!) Unfortunately, I was also told that I could not work out for another 4 weeks - to include no running, aerobics or even elliptical. This was especially hard for me to accept since I normally work out 4-5 days a week. I kept my foot in a soft shoe over the last 4 weeks as instructed and will attempt to start wearing my normal shoes next week. As far as the pain: It's a funny thing because I feel all sorts of twitches in the arch of my foot -of all places- and some aching in the 2nd and 3rd toes, but absolutley no feeling whatsoever in the area where the nerve was removed. The scar is healing nicely. At this point I'm very pleased with the results. I do however, have one concern: I understand that once nerves are severed, they do not die. The ends will either find their way back to one another or they will attach themselves to other nerves. I am doing everything possible not to aggitate the nerves around the metatarsals to include wearing shoes with a wider toe box now. Is it possible that I will encounter this exact same problem in the exact same place in the future?

Snoo · Newbie Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 1

I just went to see a foot surgeon at a major university hospital. All this surgeon does is foot and ankle surgeries. He will do surgery on my foot later in the summer for Morton's Neuroma.

A local surgeon told me that there is a 20% chance that the neuroma will reappear at some point in time. When I told my foot surgeon this, he told me that the nerve will try to repair itself and will attempt to re-grow itself. He is going to make a longer incision to prevent this nerve from re-growing to the ball of my foot. He said the nerve runs along the bottom of the foot so he will have to go deep to remove it. He is very particular about activity after surgery and I will have a knee-high wrapped splint on at all times for two weeks and then a boot cast for another 4 weeks before he removes the stitches.

I think many of you are expecting too much too soon. This is not a "running after 7 days" type of surgery. Still, this is a much longer recovery time than with the local surgeon. This doctor, however, is highly regarded in his field - and besides if it keeps the neuroma from returning, it'll be worth it.

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I AM A UPS DRIVER GOING ON 20 YEARS. I HAVE JUST RECENTLLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH MORTONS NEUROMA AND MY FOOT DOCTOR WANTS TO TAKE IT OUT.....I'M NERVOUS.....I WALK FOR A LIVING AND IF I CAN'T HAVE 100 % OR EVEN CLOSE I MIGHT HAVE TO THINK OF A CAREER CHANGE.....IT FEELS LIKE I STEP ON A NERVE.........VERY EXCRUIATING PAIN......YUCK......IT'S NEVER BEEN THIS BAD.......HE SAID I WILL PROBABLY BE OFF 3 WEEKS, AND WORSE CASE I'LL BE OFF A MONTH..........WOW.......OK...........CORT INJECTIONS DON'T DO ANYTHING AND ALCOHOL INJECTIONS JUST NUMB MY FOOT......HELP...........DO THE SURGERY OR NOT ? Sad

neilrenault · Posted: 06/04/08 - 11:28 Post subject: morton's neuroma surgery

Hi

I am paying to have Morton's neuroma surgery tomorrow, between my 3rd/4th toe. I have tried steriod injections (3), had an ultrasound diagnosis. Tried 4 alcohol injections (20% conc.). No good, gotta have it taken out. Anyway information on the followup from the previous cases....how did other operations go.

I compete for great Britain at the marathon (2 hours 18mins) and have been able to run much in the last 5 months. I am only 24 yrs old and am hoping this operation sorts it.

Cheers
Neil

neilrenault · Posted: 06/07/08 - 06:03 Post subject:

H, it is now 48 hrs after my surgery. My neuroma turned out to be 30mm!!!! very big! Have just laid down since with my foot elevated, will continue to do so for another 1.5 days! I have been given a soft shoe and crutches so I can wait bear gentley, although I have and will avoid this. The more I move the more scar tissue that forms. As I am a runner that runs up to 120-130 miles a week, my sugeron opted to operate through the top of the foot to minimize damage to the base of the foot. I wll have the stiches out 2 weeks aftr the operation. I also have dissolvable stiches inside the big gap that was left. Will keep you updated.

johingle · Newbie Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

A few days before I had a scheduled Morton's neuroma removal surgery for both my feet, I poked around on the internet and came so get people's takes on the recovery, and completely freaked myself out. I went through with it anyway since nothing else had solved the problem and it was severely inhibiting my ability to function on a daily basis (note: I'm one of the work-out-most-days, play-outside-every-weekend people).

Of course, most of what you find on the internet is stories of things going wrong and people looking for help. Rarely do people post anything saying "yep, it went just as expected". The horror stories are very real, of course, but they are likely the minority for most conditions. And so I'm posting a "hey, things are going well!"

It's been 11 days now, and things are going great so far. I had the surgery on both feet on Tuesday, and I planted myself on my butt at home until Saturday. I could hobble around in my post-op shoes without crutches, but made an effort to stay off my feet to speed up the time of and increase the quality of the recovery.

I went back to work on Monday (a desk-type job), and back to the gym (bike and lifting only) on Thursday. I also got the stitches out and went back to normal shoes (big, squishy Crocs) on Thursday.

My feet ached a little on day 2 after the local anethesia completely wore off, but I had not yet taken anything else. Other than that, I have had no pain. Only the feeling that my feet are tired and a little swollen if I do too much, and some tingling when I put pressure on the ball of my foot. My doc said that the tingling at the ball and toes will probably be a bit acute for 4-6 weeks, and may be there at a low level in the background for up to a year. I do still try to limit time on my feet as much as possible just to keep the progress moving forward.

I'll keep you posted on how things continue to go!

neilrenault · Posted: 06/09/08 - 05:06 Post subject:

For me too its now Monday and the op to remove my 30mm neuroma on one foot was was 5 days ago. Yesterday I went out for the first time, but only on crutches, have also been keeping my feet up 99% of the time. The stiches come out in 9 days time! Have been placing my weight very gentely today on my foot with post-op shoe. Get some discomfort. Since the op though I didn't take the painkillers after 24 hrs after as it didn't hurt (just laying down), its also a good way to know where your at and not hide the pain. So far so good, but I've been ultra cautious up to now. I paid £1700 for the private surgery so its worth being cautious!
I'll also keep you posted.

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I had surgery for morton's neuroma 8 months ago. Toes are numb and still feels like i'm walking on something hard. My toes cramp and draw and now my foot is drawing and cramping up. I'm beginning to think this is how my life will be from now on.

neilrenault · Posted: 06/18/08 - 16:33 Post subject:

Had stiches out today, its been 2 weeks now. Just got light dressing on now, encouraged to wear normal shoes from now one. Slowly get back to walking within 4 weeks. No running till 6 weeks though. Foot still very bruised. A little sore after getting stiches out, but nice to bin physio shoe and crutches. Can easily put weight and walk a little now already, still takin it easy. Doctor says it looks like its healing well, especially as I've really tried to keep off my foot as much as possible.

Recovery after surgery for Morton's Neuroma

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