Recovery after surgery for Morton's Neuroma

https://www.steadyhealth.com&hpr=Cryosurgery_for_Morton_s_Neuroma__VIDEO_INCLUDED_

I posted a video showing how cryosurgery can treat morton's neuroma

It is now 5 weeks since I had a Morton's Neuroma removed, also the nerve as the M/N was huge and on the nerve. I am surprised to find I can't get any of my shoes, even trainers on as my foot is still swollen. The scar feels sore and tingles as does the underneath of my foot. Am I expecting too much, too soon?

I had a MN removed from my right foot in April 07 and in the weeks after the op I was estactic as I did not need anymore painkillers and apart from the 2 numb toes, things were looking up. I have now changed my mind. After 5 months my foot is sore again walking bare feet, in certain shoes and believe me all my highheeled shoes are packed away for good. So I am worried again. Has it come back? Is my hobby the cause of it, hillwalking? I will have to stop wearing my wonderfull sandals as the weather is no longer permitting it, so I am hunting for wide toed padded shoes which is quite difficult for me in Scotland as I have size 9. Also what if this is it, what am I going to be like later on in life!
I am not letting it get to me too much and am trying to ignore the pain when out in the hills. Diclofenac which I still have left from before the op does do the trick when taken regular, but don't really want to keep taking it. Have you all noticed that doctors don't really know much about this at all. Especially what happens after.. So frustrating.
These conversations online although you tend to hear only about the ones that go wrong are helping a bit. I have met a few people that it has worked for, so I am still hopeful..

I too had a neuroma of the 3/4 meta tarsal removed June 23and is now Oct 1. The stabbing pain is gone and I have to admit it is better than before but I still can't walk bare footed on a hard surface and sometimes have pain in my toes. The numbness I can live with. I also have problems from walking in such an incorrect way for so long. I was wandering how long it will take to fully recover, if anyone knows?

Nearly 3 weeks ago I had surgery to remove a Morton’ Neuroma for the 3rd web on my left foot. I had my foot elevated for 12 days and wore a surgical boot after the operation. I had the stitches removed last Tuesday and everything appeared fine with the wound healing well. But in the past few days I have noticed a small pea sized firm lump behind the ball on my foot running in line with the webbing where the neuroma was removed. It is tender to touch and walk on – the surgeon who removed the neuroma is now on holidays for 2 weeks. Is this normal and should I seek a second opinion?
Appreciate any advice?

With regard to the last posting - I'd go to see a doctor - now! - I've had 3 ops for morton's now and have never heard of this :-(
The reason I'm on here is that I'm still in pain... I had ops on both feet last December, when I had excision of mn in right foot (successful) and excision of one (2/3) and decompression of the other (3/4) in my left foot. Further pain in February showed the one which had been decompressed was 1.2cm and, after an unsuccessful cortisone injection it was excised in June. Post the most recent op the burning had gone and I thought everything was fine - I went back to walking and slow jogging for a few days (6 weeks post op) as advised, with specialist orthotics, special trainers etc - all on advice of podiatrist and surgeon. I was off all pain killing drugs and really positive everything was getting better. I stopped as my gait was wrong after being in pain for so long, and was hurting my hip/knee.
A few days after this the pain started - burning in the ball of my foot, shooting pains through from my 4th metatarsal head into my arch. I can't walk in anything but specialist trainers with my orthotics - barefoot is competely ruled out. Ultrasound shows a bursa in 2/3 which is uncomfortable, calcification under 4 (but not where I walk), x rays show calcification, claw toes (which have got worse post op and now also 'float'), also a severely dropped 4th metatarsal head. There is no stump neuroma. The pain I get from behind my 4th metatarsal head is extreme and feels like someone is sticking a knife into my foot. It radiates out from there until I feel the ball of my foot is on fire (not helped by the bursa though). I have to take diclofenac, tramadol and paracetomol to get through the day. I can't drive, I can't walk very far. It's been a year since my last run and I fear I'll never run again... I've read others on this website who have had this - has anyone got better? I've never read anyone coming back with positive news... ?

Hi,

I am eight weeks post-op neuroma surgery. I had a lot of doubts about doing the surgery after reading so many terrible stories of people's suffering after this surgery. I tried everything first, from cortisone injections to orthotics, and nothing helped. The last six months before the surgery were the absolute worst, and I was not able to wear any type of closed shoe, not even a sneaker. For anyone in this same condition, try Birkenstocks - they were a lifesaver for me during this time! I was able to walk several miles in them tolerably, which was important to me since I was VERY active prior to this problem.

I decided to go ahead with the surgery, since I am a 33-year-old woman and was basically looking at a lifetime of not being able to wear anything closed on my foot. I am so happy so far that I did!! ALL the pain is gone in my foot and all that is left is a little numbness and a slight tingle if I press on the excision site, which I will gladly take in place of the horrific pain I experienced before. Honestly, the best I was hoping for was to be able to get back into sneakers and flat shoes and back to an active lifestyle, but I have actually been able to return to all of my shoes, even my high heels (although mine are pretty practical from years of developing neuroma problems, very soft leather and not too high a heel).

Maybe I have just been lucky, but as other posters have commented, make sure you find a reputable doctor. I saw a foot and ankle surgeon with an orthopedic practice, and he performed two bunionectomies and then the morton's neuroma excision on me, all successful so far (I know, I have BAD feet!)

In case you are considering the transmetatarsal ligament release surgery without excision, here was my experience with that: My doctor wanted to try the ligament release, but recommended I give him authority to remove the neuroma if he determined it was too large during the surgery. I am so glad I gave him this permission prior, because he said my neuroma was incredibly large ( a "monster" was his quote), and he said that releasing the ligament in my case would probably have done nothing. He went ahead and excised it right there, therefore saving me having to go back again and get it removed if the ligament release didn't work. Anyone with a MN can imagine how great it feels to not have that crazy nerve pain anymore!

Just wanted to let everyone know that this surgery had a good outcome for me and for many others, according to my doctor. Good luck in your decision!

I am a 33-year-old active female as well. I've been suffering from neuroma pain for about 5-6 years. I had two neuromas excised 10 days ago (between the 2nd and 3rd, and 3rd and 4th toes on my right foot going in through the top). I have had very little swelling because I've kept my foot elevated 24/7 since the day of the surgery. I have limited sensation in the 2nd and 4th toes, and feel nothing but pressure in the third. I feel like I have a dead toe--the way your lip feels for a few hours after you have dental work! It' very disturbing, but I'm hoping I'll just get used to it. They'll be removing my sutures one week from today.

My Current Pain--
I feel slight burning and small electric shocks in various parts of my foot at different times of the day and night. If I put my foot below waist level, it begins to throb, and the shocks and burning increase. I still have a significant amount of soreness and bruising on the top and bottom of my feet from the injections (lthe local anesthesia for the surgery). I'm trying to be patient.

Everyone reading these posts should realize that this is a very small sampling of people who've had the surgery. The successful ones are not on here because they're out there doing all the things they couldn't do before the surgery. I let mine go untreated for too long and had no choice but to have them removed. I know 2 other people who've had the surgery with great success! One (a prominent doctor in New Orleans) said that without the scar, she wouldn't even think about it.. She did, however, say that she was in pain for about 3 months following the procedure. I don't know how my recovery is going to be, but I'm going to keep my chin up and pray. I wish you all the best, and I will post updates as my condition changes (for the better or worse). Good luck to all of you! If any of you would like to ask questions or give advice...
:)

**edited by moderator**

Message to Grieth.....am too a 33 y.o. female who had removal of morton's neuroma on the 5th of December on my left foot between toes 3 and 4. I am experiencing the same electric shocks from time to time in the exact place the nerve was removed. It most often happen if I plantar/dorsiflex my foot accidentally. I am wondering how your recovery is going and if you are still experiencing the same sort of shocks and burning now 3 weeks after surgery. I understand this is normal, but I am wondering if they will ever stop! I am still in my surgical boot and cannot put too much pressure on my foot. Please update me on your recovery. It sounds positive and that is what I would like to hear!
:-)

Burschsc,
I'm so glad to hear from someone else in my position!
I’m still trying to stay off my foot and continue to keep it up as much as possible. I never did walk in the surgical shoe. I’m still using crutches. I was so swollen and bruised that it was excruciatingly painful just to put it on (much less walk in it). My sutures and bandages were removed on Monday (17 days post surgery). I wasn’t able to wash it until last night because my skin had healed over several of the stitches, and he had to clip through the skin to get them out (yes, it did hurt, and I was not the happiest patient when I left). I had to continue to keep it dry for a few days because he didn’t want to chance infection that close to the incisions. I must say—it feels SO much better without the bandages and a little soak in the tub. :)
He said I needed to try to wear a tennis shoe for an hour a day and work up from there. My foot is still pretty swollen and bruised. It still hurts to the touch in some places.
I tried to put on a tennis shoe yesterday (per the doctor’s instruction), but it was WAY too painful (from the bruising and swelling). At this point I’m focusing on flexing, stretching, and wiggling my toes. I just can’t walk on it yet because it’s far too painful to put pressure on those bruises (on the arch and in the ball of the foot)! I know I need to just bite the bullet, but it brings tears to my eyes!
:D The good news-- In the last two days, the electric shocks seem to have subsided a little bit. That doesn't mean they won't come back, but for now, I'm relieved.

Here are some pics:

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc17/grieth1974/17dayspost.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc17/grieth1974/3dayspost.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc17/grieth1974/neuromacopy.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc17/grieth1974/100_0666copy.jpg

I’m going to try the tennis shoe again tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying.

How is your foot feeling? When you walk in the boot, do you only walk on your heel? I never could figure out how to do that! Also, have they removed your sutures? How is the bruising and swelling?

Grieth--thanks for getting back so fast! Wow! You've got some great pics up. Removal from one interspace was bad enough, so I feel for you having had 2 neuromas. I'm not sure what size my neuroma was, but I think much smaller than yours. My Ortho said that size was not related to pain, but in my case, the nerve itself had several strange branches (not normal) going off in directions of the other toes (I was having discomfort under toes 2,3 and 4). He said also that the nerve was wrapped around a bunch of blood vessels and basically trapped within them!

Anyway, my bruising is still apparent over the entire foot. I think your foot looks much better! Also, my recovery was complicated by a very bad allergic reaction to steristrips he placed over the sutures--blisters and rash. My sutures were the kind that dissolve on their own and my follow up appt. was 9 days following the surgery, or last Friday. My incision is about twice the length of yours. He said to stay in the boot and try to walk without the crutches and gradually get back into a shoe. So, I've been trying to do that, but yes, just walking on my heal. Way too painful to try and bare weight on the forefoot at this time. Still a lot of swelling on the forefoot area, bruised toes and a good sized bruise on the arch. PLEASE keep me posted. You can email me at _[removed]_. :-)

Hi all,

I have gotten 2 cortisone injections over the past month, per my doc's diagnosis for my neuroma, and 1 more in two weeks. I am still in a ton of pain following these shots, and fear that the dr. will recommend surgery after the last installment. After reading your posts, I am even more worried than I was before because I am an almost 30 year-old active person who loves to work out and be active, and would hate to be in pain for the rest of my life. Has anyone been treated in NYC? I have a doctor on the Upper West Side... just wondering. Thanks!

Now 9 months since my last operation and the pain has increased. I can't even walk my son the half mile to school and the pain is more-or-less constant. The only relief I get is from a foot spa of warm water or pedicure heated booties (which I can't recommend highly enough!)
My original surgeon won't operate on me again, and cortisone didn't work. Another surgeon has suggested peripheral neuropathy, despite the obvious presence of the bursa and that 4 health professionals have suggested that I now have a stump neuroma in the 3/4 interspace of my left foot.
I've also grown yet another mn in my right foot, which is so big it makes my toes cross over each other, but no surgeon wants to operate. The surgeon who suggested pn seems to ignore its presence, although it has been professionally diagnosed. Has anyone had any experience of pn and mn together? Can they co-exist?
Obviously all those on this site are the ones for whom the surgery has been unsuccessful, but I find it helpful to read that I'm not on my own.
As I can't run any more I've become a pretty good swimmer and have gone from 'public baths breastroke' to a mean front crawl!
To anyone who is considering the surgery and reading these pages - don't be put off - in 90% of cases it is successful. The surgery on my right foot was great - it's just that my foot decided to grow another mn in the adjacent space!
If you don't want the surgery, get some really good custom orthotics or buy birkis, which are fantastic!!!

It has been 17 days since my surgeon removed my 7 mm x 1.4 cm 3/4 neuroma. A normal nerve in that location is 1 mm diameter. My foot is still quite swollen in the surgery area, but no pain as long as I don't overdo it or leave my foot down too long. I'm basically optimistic about the surgery and in a hurry to get back on both feet. One good thing is that my other muscles are gettinga workout and strengthening.

I didn't expect the recovery to be so, well, difficult. That is, from a getting around standpoint. I haven't worked a full day yet since the surgery all because I have to keep my foot elevated and the best place for that is at home in the recliner and bed.

I stayed with my mom for two weeks because of the huge flight of stairs going to my the main floor of my house. Until I was able to put weight on my heel, that was an impossibility. Speaking of the heel, it hurts when I walk on it at first for some reason, but gets better during the day. I should mention that I'm 100 pounds overweight, so that doesn't make anything easier.

I laugh when I think of all that I've done to get around. At first, I thought that I could do with crutches. After all, it will only be a short time. lol That lasted about 2 days because I have a rotary cuff injury in my right shoulder which flared up with crutches.

Then I bought a walker, thinking that would be the solution, and it does make it easier to balance, but isn't made to hold full weight - just to shuffle, like some old people do. It hurts my hands to put full weight even when the handles were wrapped with a really thick material. Any way, it works for short distances.

Now I'm using a rented wheelchair that I got a couple days later, that someone else has to push on the rug because of my bad shoulder. It is better than the previous solutions. I'm actually using the curtches some at work to get my blood going, and the walker at home to get where the chair won't go.

Someone offered their spare automatic scooter, and I'll probably just use it at work, and out and about. I haven't been out much, but my son did wheel me around Hobby Lobby. That was fun. Dinner with my husband was great and the restaurants were very accomodating.

Thought this kind of detail might prepare someone for what's coming up. I am following doctor's orders to a tee. He said that I will be able to walk in 6 - 8 weeks, depending on the swelling at that time. I know I'm not ready yet, but am counting down the days. I think that if I allow my foot to heal early on, the recovery time overall will be faster and I hope to have less problems later. That's what the doc says and it made sense to me.

Good luck to every body else. Stay positive.

It has been 17 days since my surgeon removed my 7 mm x 1.4 cm 3/4 neuroma. A normal nerve in that location is 1 mm diameter. My foot is still quite swollen in the surgery area, but no pain as long as I don't overdo it or leave my foot down too long. I'm basically optimistic about the surgery and in a hurry to get back on both feet. One good thing is that my other muscles are getting a workout and strengthening.

I didn't expect the recovery to be so, well, difficult. That is, from a getting around standpoint. I haven't worked a full day yet since the surgery all because I have to keep my foot elevated and the best place for that is at home in the recliner and bed.

I laugh when I think of all that I've done to get around. At first, I thought that I could do with crutches. After all, it will only be a short time. Lol. That lasted about 2 days because I have a rotary cuff injury in my right shoulder which flared up with crutches.

Then I bought a walker, thinking that would be the solution, and it does make it easier to balance, but isn't made to hold full weight - just to shuffle, like some old people do. It hurts my hands to put full weight even when the handles were wrapped with a really thick material. Any way, it works for short distances.

Now I'm using a rented wheelchair that I got a couple days later, that someone else has to push on the rug because of my bad shoulder. It is better than the previous solutions. I'm actually using the crutches some at work to get my blood going, and the walker at home to get where the chair won't go.

Someone offered their spare automatic scooter, and I'll probably just use it at work, and out and about. I haven't been out much, but my son did wheel me around Hobby Lobby. That was fun. Dinner with my husband was great and the restaurants were very accommodating.

I stayed with my mom for two weeks because of the huge flight of stairs going to my the main floor of my house. Until I was able to put weight on my heel, that was an impossibility. Speaking of the heel, it hurts when I walk on it at first for some reason, but gets better during the day. I should mention that I'm 100 pounds overweight, so that doesn't make anything easier.

Thought this kind of detail might prepare someone for what's coming up. I am following doctor's orders to a tee. He said that I will be able to walk in 6 - 8 weeks, depending on the swelling at that time. I know I'm not ready yet, but am counting down the days. I think that if I allow my foot to heal early on, the recovery time overall will be faster and I hope to have less problems later. That's what the doc says and it made sense to me.

Good luck to every body else. Stay positive.