Morton's neuroma is a painful thickening around a nerve between the long bones of the foot, most often between the third and fourth toes. It causes burning, shooting or tingling pain in the ball of the foot, or a feeling of walking on a pebble. Wider footwear, insoles and padding are usually tried first, with injections or surgery considered if symptoms persist.
Also known as Morton's metatarsalgia, interdigital neuroma, intermetatarsal neuroma, plantar digital neuritis
Symptoms
- Burning, sharp or shooting pain in the ball of the foot
- Pain or tingling that spreads into two neighbouring toes, often the third and fourth
- A feeling of a pebble or folded sock under the ball of the foot
- Numbness in the toes
- Pain that is worse in tight or high-heeled shoes and eases when shoes are removed
Causes and risk factors
- Tight, narrow or pointed shoes that squeeze the front of the foot
- High heels, which increase pressure on the ball of the foot
- Repetitive loading through the forefoot, such as running or standing work
- Foot shape or other forefoot problems that change pressure under the metatarsals
- Being female and middle-aged
What the evidence says helps
- Wider shoes with a roomy toe box and low heel, together with padding or insoles to reduce forefoot pressure, are commonly recommended as a first step.64
- A randomised trial found that customised insoles with metatarsal and arch support reduced walking pain and improved function compared with flat insoles.3
- Joint mobilisation and manipulation of the forefoot showed pain reduction in a small trial, but more research is needed.2
- Steroid injections can reduce pain in the short to medium term, and a Cochrane review found ultrasound-guided injections probably work better than unguided ones.12
- In one trial, steroid injections gave greater satisfaction than footwear changes alone, although the difference was not statistically significant at one year.4
- Overall, few treatments have been tested in high-quality trials, and surgery may be considered when other treatments have not helped.12
Things you can try at home
- Choose shoes with a wide, deep toe box and a low heel
- Avoid tight, pointed or high-heeled shoes where you can
- Take shoes off and massage the forefoot when symptoms flare
- Try a simple metatarsal pad positioned just behind the painful area
- Reduce high-impact forefoot activities temporarily and build back up gradually
When to get urgent help
Contact your GP urgently, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency if you have:
- Numbness, tingling or burning in both feet, or spreading up the legs: see your GP
- A hot, red, swollen foot, especially with a high temperature: contact NHS 111 or your GP urgently
- Sudden severe forefoot pain after an increase in activity, with swelling on top of the foot (possible stress fracture): see your GP or an urgent treatment centre
- If you have diabetes and notice a wound, colour change, swelling or heat in your foot: seek same-day advice from your GP, diabetes foot team or NHS 111
- Weakness in the foot or toes: see your GP
How Apollo can help
Our podiatrist and osteopaths assess your forefoot, footwear and walking pattern to look for a neuroma and rule out other causes of ball-of-foot pain. We give footwear advice, padding and load management, and hands-on care where appropriate. If an insole is likely to help, we can assess you for 3D-printed custom orthotics, and we refer you to your GP or a specialist for imaging, injection or surgical opinion if symptoms do not settle.
No GP referral needed. Clinics in Sheringham, Coltishall and Norwich.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Can Morton's neuroma go away on its own?
Symptoms can settle for some people, particularly with wider footwear and reduced forefoot pressure. Others find the pain persists and need further treatment such as insoles, injections or, occasionally, surgery.
What shoes are best for Morton's neuroma?
Shoes with a wide, deep toe box, a low heel and a cushioned, fairly firm sole are usually recommended. Avoiding narrow, pointed and high-heeled shoes reduces squeezing of the nerve.
Do insoles help Morton's neuroma?
One randomised trial found that customised insoles with metatarsal and arch support reduced walking pain compared with flat insoles. They may not help everyone, and larger studies are needed.
References
- Matthews BG, et al. (2024). Treatments for Morton's neuroma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. View source
- Matthews BG, et al. (2019). The effectiveness of non-surgical interventions for common plantar digital compressive neuropathy (Morton's neuroma): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. View source
- Oliveira HAV, et al. (2019). Effectiveness of customized insoles in patients with Morton's neuroma: a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Clinical Rehabilitation. View source
- Saygi B, et al. (2005). Morton neuroma: comparative results of two conservative methods. Foot & Ankle International. View source
- Millán-Silva MO, et al. (2024). Infiltrative treatment of Morton's neuroma: a systematic review. Pain Management Nursing. View source
- Colò G, et al. (2020). The effectiveness of shoe modifications and orthotics in the conservative treatment of Civinini-Morton syndrome: state of art. Acta Biomedica. View source
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice. If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your GP or a registered healthcare professional. Content prepared from the sources above, November 2026.
