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Chondromalacia Patella | Plantar Fasciitis | Achilles Tendonitis | Shin Splint | Morton's Neuroma | Ilio Tibial Band Syndrome

What is it?

Morton's neuroma is a condition wherein there is a thickening of the nerve tissue between the metatarsal heads (almost always the third and fourth metatarsal heads).

What are the common symptoms/complaints?

Patients will complain of extreme pain felt between the metatarsals (usually the 3rd and 4th metatarsals) as well as burning, pins & needles, tingling and loss of sensation in the corresponding toes.

How is it caused?

During certain kinds of over-pronation, a pivoting on the 3rd and 4th metatarsals can cause a shearing force. This shearing force between the 3rd and 4th metatarsals entraps the digital nerve and causes inflammation. The inflammation is what causes the pain.

Another theory is that since the 1st, 2nd and 3rd metatarsals articulate with the cuneiforms and are in a fixed position, and the 4th and 5th metatarsals articulate with the cuboid and float, there is motion between the 3rd and 4th metatarsals which can cause an irritation to the nerve that runs between them. This inflammation causes the pain.

How is it treated?

Since the problem is the over-pronation, the patient should be fitted with orthotics and will likely experience some pain relief within weeks and complete recovery within months (generally 2 - 3 months, but may take as long as 12 months).