14/04/10

Morton's neuroma: A swollen inflamed nerve in the ball of
the foot, usually between the base of the second and third toes (known as the
third intermetatarsal space), caused by chronic compression of a branch of the plantar nerve between the ends of the metatarsal bones. The disorder is especially common in women who wear high-heeled and/or narrow shoes.

Morton's neuroma causes a stinging sharp pain on the

The symptoms can completely resolve with simple
treatments: resting the foot, better fitting shoes with low or no heels and a
wide toe box, a domed insert in the shoe to support the metatarsal arch,
anti-inflammation medications, and ice packs. Rapid relief of symptoms can
follow a local cortisone injection. For those with persistent symptoms, the
swollen nerve tissue may be removed by surgery. This condition is named for the
American surgeon Thomas George Morton (1835-1903), whose father was the dentist
who discovered the anesthetic effect of ether.

Also known as Morton disease, Morton metatarsalgia,
Morton nerve entrapment, Morton's disease, Morton's neuroma, Morton's
metatarsalgia, and Morton's nerve entrapment.

For information about a syndrome with foot pain and a shortened first metatarsal bone, see Morton's syndrome.

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