Morton's Neuroma - Treatment
How can Morton’s Neuroma be treated?
Non-operative treatment
- Initial treatment should include avoiding activities (e.g. long distance running) and shoe wear (narrow, high heeled shoes) that aggravate the condition.
- Insoles and Morton’s Neuroma pads can be bought off the shelf or made to relieve symptoms but are not always successful.
- If the above treatments do not help then it is worth considering targeted injections to the neuroma. These consist of cortisone, a type of steroid, and local anaesthetic. This is successful in approximately 50%+ of cases.
Operative treatment
If symptoms continue despite the above treatments then surgery to remove the neuroma is generally very successful. It is successful in approximately 90% of cases.
When can I return to work after surgery?
This will depend on the type of work you do
- Sedentary jobs: Return to work after 1 week if able to maintain foot elevated at level of waist, otherwise 2 weeks off.
- Standing/walking jobs: Return after 2 to 4 weeks, but may be sooner depending on comfort and swelling.
- Manual/labouring jobs: 6+ weeks, but may be sooner depending on comfort and swelling.
When can I drive after surgery?
The DVLA state that it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure they are fit and able to stay in control of their vehicle. A good guide is if you can stamp down hard with the foot comfortably and are able to perform an emergency stop then you may be ready to drive. For left sided surgery in an automatic car i.e. no clutch is required, driving is probably safe 1 week after surgery. For right sided surgery or a manual car, driving is probably safe at 2 weeks after surgery, once in a normal shoe. If you are unsure please ask Mr. Al-Nammari. It remains your responsibility to drive safely and you should check with your vehicle insurer to confirm you are covered.
This is a small procedures and takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to be performed. They can be undertaken as a day case under local anaesthetic block making the foot numb for six to twelve hours. You will be seen by an Anaesthetist and can be awake, sedated or have a general anaesthetic during surgery. It is possible to walk straight away after the operation with just a special shoe. There is no need for a cast or prolonged immobility with modern surgical techniques.
Mr. Al-Nammari undertakes the majority of his private operating at The Nuffield Hospital in Ipswich. Using the latest techniques in local anaesthetic blocks means that most people having surgery are comfortable enough to get home on the day of surgery should they so wish. For those who need to or just feel more comfortable spending the night in hospital after surgery this is of course possible. The choice of anaesthetic is based upon your own preferences and the opinion of the Consultant Anaesthetist who you will meet before any surgery. Many people prefer to be asleep during surgery and have the local anaesthetic block performed while asleep to control any post-operative pain.