Symptoms
- Sharp, burning or shooting pain in the ball of the foot.
- Tingling or numbness into two neighbouring toes.
- A feeling of a stone or a folded sock under the foot.
- Relief when you take your shoe off and rub your foot.
What makes it worse
Tight or narrow shoes and high heels squeeze the forefoot and the nerve. High-impact activity and the way your forefoot loads as you walk can add to the irritation.
How we help
- Assessment to confirm the source of the pain, as other forefoot problems can feel similar.
- Footwear advice: width, depth and a lower heel.
- Padding to spread the toe bones and offload the nerve.
- Custom orthotics where they reduce forefoot pressure.
- Mobilisation of the foot to improve how the forefoot moves.
If symptoms don't settle with conservative care, we will advise you on next steps, which may include speaking to your GP about a specialist referral.
Common questions
Is Morton's neuroma serious?
It isn't dangerous, but it can be very painful and limit activity. Many people improve with footwear changes and offloading.
Do I need a scan?
Not usually to start with. A scan may be useful if symptoms don't settle or the diagnosis is unclear.