Morton’s Neuroma Treatment Michigan | Balance Foot & Ankle

Quick answer: Treatment for mortons neuroma treatment michigan follows a stepwise approach: 1) conservative care first (rest, ice, supportive footwear, OTC anti-inflammatories), 2) physical therapy and targeted exercises, 3) in-office treatments (injections, custom orthotics) if conservative fails at 4-6 weeks, 4) surgery for refractory cases. Most patients resolve at step 1 or 2. Call (810) 206-1402.

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Township, MI. Last updated April 2026.

Morton’s Neuroma Treatment Michigan

Morton’s neuroma is a thickening of the nerve tissue between the third and fourth metatarsal heads, causing burning, sharp shooting pain and numbness in the ball of the foot. At Balance Foot & Ankle, Dr. Tom Biernacki DPM offers evidence-based Morton’s neuroma treatment in Michigan at our Howell, Brighton, and Bloomfield Township locations.

What Is Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma forms when the common digital nerve between the third and fourth toes becomes compressed and irritated, triggering a benign but painful enlargement of the nerve sheath. The condition is not a true neuroma (tumor) but rather perineural fibrosis — scar tissue around the nerve. It is far more common in women, strongly associated with high heels and narrow toe boxes.

Morton’s Neuroma Symptoms

• Burning or sharp pain in the ball of the foot
• Sensation of walking on a pebble or bunched sock
• Numbness or tingling radiating into the third and fourth toes
• Pain worsened by narrow shoes and relieved by barefoot walking
• Clicking or snapping sensation (Mulder’s click) when the forefoot is compressed

Diagnosis

Dr. Biernacki performs a thorough clinical examination including Mulder’s click test, web space compression, and plantar palpation. Diagnostic ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality — it allows real-time visualization of the neuroma and can guide injection therapy in the same visit. MRI is reserved for equivocal cases or when surgical planning is required.

Morton’s Neuroma Treatment Options

Conservative treatment resolves symptoms in the majority of patients with Morton’s neuroma. First-line options include wider toe box footwear, metatarsal pad placement just proximal to the neuroma, and custom orthotics to offload the affected interspace. Anti-inflammatory medications and activity modification reduce acute pain.

Corticosteroid injections delivered precisely under ultrasound guidance provide significant relief in 60–80% of patients. A typical course involves up to three injections spaced 4–6 weeks apart. Alcohol sclerosing injections are an alternative for patients seeking a longer-lasting non-surgical solution.

Surgical excision is recommended when conservative and injection treatments have been exhausted. Dr. Biernacki performs neurectomy (excision of the neuroma) through a small dorsal or plantar incision, typically as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with sedation. Patients walk immediately in a surgical shoe and return to normal footwear within 3–4 weeks.

Why Choose Balance Foot & Ankle for Morton’s Neuroma?

Dr. Biernacki has treated hundreds of Morton’s neuroma cases across Michigan. He uses in-office diagnostic ultrasound to confirm diagnosis and guide injections in real time, improving accuracy and outcomes. Most patients are seen within the same week. All three Michigan locations accept most major insurance plans including Blue Cross, Aetna, United, Cigna, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule your Morton’s neuroma consultation at Balance Foot & Ankle in Howell, Brighton, or Bloomfield Township, Michigan. Call or book online for a same-week appointment.

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In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle

If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your metatarsalgia, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Morton’s neuroma feel like?

Patients most often describe it as walking on a pebble or a bunched-up sock — a burning, aching pressure between the third and fourth toes. Some feel an electric shock-like sensation that radiates into the adjacent toes. The pain typically worsens in narrow shoes and improves when barefoot or in wide, low-heeled footwear. This shoe-dependent pattern is the hallmark — if removing your shoes relieves your forefoot pain within minutes, a neuroma is the most likely diagnosis.

What causes a Morton’s neuroma?

A neuroma forms when the digital nerve running between the metatarsals becomes compressed and irritated, leading to perineural fibrosis (scar tissue thickening around the nerve). Common causes: narrow footwear that compresses the forefoot, high heels that shift body weight to the metatarsals, foot deformities (bunions, hammer toes, flat feet) that alter metatarsal spacing, and high-impact repetitive activity. Women develop neuromas 8–10 times more often than men, largely due to footwear choices.

Can a Morton’s neuroma go away without treatment?

Mild neuromas occasionally resolve with footwear changes alone — switching to wide, low-heeled shoes removes the compression causing symptoms. However, once a neuroma has been symptomatic for 6+ months, the nerve thickening is usually permanent without active intervention. Conservative treatment (footwear, metatarsal pads, steroid injections) resolves symptoms in 50–70% of patients. Surgery (neurectomy) has a 75–85% success rate for cases that don’t respond to conservative care.

Does a Morton’s neuroma require surgery?

Only when conservative options have failed. The escalation: wide-toe-box shoes + metatarsal pads → corticosteroid injection (works in 40–60%) → ultrasound-guided alcohol sclerosing injections (70–80% success) → surgical neurectomy. Surgery involves removing the thickened nerve segment under local anesthesia with a short recovery (2–4 weeks). The trade-off: permanent numbness in the web space between the affected toes. Most patients consider this acceptable given significant pain resolution.

How is a Morton’s neuroma diagnosed?

Clinical diagnosis is most common — the history and Mulder’s test (side-to-side metatarsal compression that recreates pain or a palpable click) identify the majority of cases. Ultrasound confirms the diagnosis and measures neuroma size — this helps predict treatment response; small neuromas (<5mm) respond well to injections, large ones (>8mm) often need surgery. MRI is reserved for atypical cases where a ganglion cyst, bursitis, or stress fracture may be mimicking a neuroma.

Can I run with a Morton’s neuroma?

Often yes, with the right footwear. Switching to wide-toe-box running shoes (Altra, Hoka with wide forefoot) with a metatarsal pad placed just proximal to the 3rd–4th interspace reduces compression during running. Reduce mileage temporarily. If pain exceeds 4/10 during a run, the nerve is being compressed and stop — continuing through moderate pain causes further fibrosis. Most runners with neuromas can return to full training after 4–8 weeks of proper shoe and pad adjustment.

Can both feet have neuromas at the same time?

Yes — bilateral neuromas occur in about 15–20% of neuroma patients, most commonly in women with a history of prolonged narrow-shoe wear. Multiple neuromas in the same foot (double neuroma) are less common but occur. When both feet are symptomatic, we typically treat the more painful side first to assess response before proceeding to the other foot. The treatment approach is the same bilaterally.

What shoes are best for Morton’s neuroma?

Wide, deep toe box is the top priority — enough room that the metatarsal heads aren’t compressed at all. Low heel (under 1 inch) to minimize forefoot load. Firm, cushioned forefoot. Best performers: Altra Torin, Hoka Bondi (wide toe box version), New Balance 574/993, Brooks Adrenaline wide. The test: you should be able to wiggle all toes freely with the shoe on. If the forefoot feels snug, the shoe is compressing the neuroma.

What is a metatarsal pad and does it help neuromas?

A metatarsal pad placed proximal to (just behind) the 3rd–4th metatarsal heads spreads those metatarsals apart, decompressing the interdigital nerve. It’s one of the most cost-effective interventions — $5–15 for OTC pads, significant relief for 50–60% of patients when placed correctly. Placement is everything: the pad goes behind the metatarsal heads, not under them. We fit them in-office to confirm position. Incorrectly placed pads (under the heads) increase compression and worsen symptoms.

Are corticosteroid injections safe for Morton’s neuroma?

Yes — for short-term pain relief. Ultrasound-guided cortisone injections reduce inflammation and perineural swelling, resolving symptoms in 40–60% of patients for 3–12 months. We limit to 2–3 injections per neuroma; repeated injections can cause fat pad atrophy and skin depigmentation. If 2 injections don’t produce lasting relief, alcohol sclerosing injections (3–5 treatment series, 70–80% success) or surgery is the next step. Injections are office-based, take 5 minutes, and are covered by most insurance plans.