Mortons neuroma

[Bhasvic64]

I have been struggling with the above since April thinking that was extreme athletes foot. But mentioned this to my rheumatologist who suggested a scan. The cardiologist diagnosed Mortons neuroma . Just wondered if anybody has the same thing and if there is any connection with R A? Which I have had for 10 years. It is pretty uncomfortable making sleep difficult which we all know added to fatigue is not the best. Any ideas would be very much appreciated.

[KittyJ]

if you put it into the search box and filter for NRAS all the posts about it will come up. There was one very recently 😊

[AgedCrone]

A cardiologist diagnosed a Morton’s neuroma? Do you maybe mean a radiologist or a podiatrist?

I had neuromas removed from both feet…..unfortunately they returned & I had ultra sound guided injections which helped a bit….but different people have different reactions.

I think quite a few people on this site have had treatment for them. The discomfort in mine comes & goes….I find I can put up with them.

Hope you have better luck with treatment.

[Bhasvic64 in reply to AgedCrone]

yes sorry too many "gists"!

[Bhasvic64 in reply to Bhasvic64]

i meant radiologist also seeing a podiatrist

[AgedCrone in reply to Bhasvic64]

I hope you have better luck with your treatment.

[medway-lady]

Its very common and easily treated either a steroid jab guided by ultra sound or an operation. I had the operation and no more pain. but they an regrow and its just a repeat exercise. Don't put up with the pain , some say insoles work but they didn't for me and the op was quick, and simple.

[grumpygirl]

Hi

I think this is also called Morton’s neurofibroma and I had it several years before I was diagnosed with RA in my foot. Luckily I was on holiday with a podiatrist at the time who instantly diagnosed it and my gp at the time gave me an ultrasound guided steroid injection which sorted it out and it has never returned.

[OldTed60]

interesting as I was diagnosed with a Morton’s years ago when I also had what was assumed to be sudden onset RA. It was never confirmed by the podiatrist but I just lived with it, hobbling a bit due to the nerve sensation and intermittent pain. Never told it was anything to do with RA, my old podiatrist’s specialism.

Finally during pandemic it got so I could barely walk and a different private podiatrist told me to get it properly diagnosed and possibly removed on NHS. By this time I have MCTD -,or scleroderma, myositis and sjogrens with inflammatory arthritis. So I have bad Raynaud’s and also Erythromelalgia. I had ultrasound and they said it was largest Morton’s the radiographer had ever seen - must have had it for years. I think I have one in other foot too but she only checked the most affected one.

I saw an orthopaedic surgeon who confirmed and referred me to the rheumatology podiatrist. He refused to remove mine as my feet are so vascular and I have peripheral neuropathy. I saw the podiatrist and she gave me insoles which help a lot. I still get pain with walking though especially when my Erythromelalgia is flaring and feet swell. She said I can’t wear sandals without heal support and should wear footwear with wide toe space and good heel support. No mention at all of guided steroids though which I think I could do with as affected foot is often swollen and zaps and then crippling pain.

I asked her about my twisted little toes which also can be excruciating sometimes - turn red and burn. They are on their sides now and had always been told this was RA previously. She was dismissive of this suggestion and said these are Tailor’s bunions - or bunionettes. Like any bunion they can be operated on but like Morton’s they would grow back. They are rare and usually a hereditary thing. And anyway she said no one would consider operating mine due to my Raynaud’s, Erythromelalgia and neuropathy.

So I think perhaps RA in my feet (and hands) was misdiagnosis due to much rarer stuff confusing my doctors including a rheumatologist. My present rheumatologist thinks now that the foot and hand pain is related to my MCTD/ Scleroderma and hereditary hypermobility. Morton’s neuromas are associated with all connective tissue diseases I believe - not just RA - but all the rare ones too.

[marie66 in reply to OldTed60]

Gosh, I feel your pain. I’ve toe supports from podiatry and insoles and big push splints from orthotics for the worst days and still hobbling along walking like a penguin as grand babies say! Foot pain is just the worst! M x

[Whiskers64]

Hi sorry to hear you are suffering with Mortons Neuroma. I have been suffering with this complaint for 2 years & have had 2 steroid injections but still suffer with this painful complaint. The next treatment is an operation but would mean being in a surgical boot for 6 weeks which I cannot cope with at this time. The Doctor told me that women suffer this complaint through wearing high heal shoes but being male I didn’t think that this applied to me. I also suffer with RA but don’t think that the two are connected. I hope you get some relief soon. Take care.