I don’t know if anyone else has Morton’s neuromas & RA.. but I have neuromas in both feet. Had progressive pain in both for 2/3 years now. Then last September I was diagnosed with sero-positive RA..
My feet have gotten a lot more painful since diagnosis and my rheumatologist says it is probably triggering the neuromas. I did have surgery to remove one in my left foot just over 3 weeks ago,, and I know it’s early days, but at the moment the pain under my forefoot feels exactly the same as pre-surgery. It feels like something is permanently wedged under my toes, and then if I walk for a while both feet end up burning and I have to take anti-inflammatorys till it stops.
The rest of my joint pain is now relatively well controlled since being on methotrexate (which I hate but does seem work).. but j guess my concern is that the pain in my feet is linked to my RA, rather than the Morton’s neuromas.
Does anyone else have experience of post neuroma surgery, or burning foot pain with RA even if other joints improved?
After having to give up or stop so much since diagnosis, walking is my absolute saviour.. I guess I’m concerned that the pain in my feet will stay..
thank you for reading if you’ve got this far x
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Sapphire1701
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I’d advise contacting your surgeon asap as they can do an ultra sound and see them they also can feel a click on manipulation. I had one removed twice as they can regrow and numerous steroid injections to deaden the pain. In my case the operation works and completely stops the pain so call your surgeon and ask if you have more than one have they removed them all. In my case yes they were the first sign of RA and I know are a common condition associated but I don’t think they are caused by RA. Make sure when your support shoe is off you wear shoes that have a wide toe box and are supportive. I found insoles dreadful and have also had my foot straightened again with no issues.
my RA diagnosis started with what the GP’s said was just a ‘Morton’s neuroma’.
Mine was a long road to diagnosis as my GP was shocking, despite me basically telling her I thought I had some kind of inflammatory arthritis (but that’s another story!)
I, like you had burning foot pain to the bottoms of both feet long after they got on top of my other pain. In fact my feet were swollen and painful all over for about a year. I was in despair, unable to find a comfy shoe etc.
I had a steroid injection via U/S directly into the area that eased it slightly.
My consultant said to be patient and that when my RA was better controlled the foot pain would ease and she’s get me back into my shoes….
I didn’t believe her BUT she was right. I’m now 2.5 years post diagnosis and my feet are much better and I can wear lots of my shoes (albeit slightly wider fit due to changes in shape)
I guess it’s worth discussing with your surgeon and maybe rheumatology team but you are only 3 weeks post surgery and I believe our healing time is prolonged with the RA and associated treatments.
Good luck, I hope your pain continues to improve 😊
I have them two steroid injections shrunk and helped right foot but left foot very persistent and I have now been referred to a foot and ankle surgeons
This is reassuring to hear, thank you.. sounds so similar to me. Likewise diagnosis took ages with my doctor just offering me anti-depressants when I kept saying I didn’t feel right. It was eventually a training GP that thought to check Rhematoid.
Hopefully things improve with time and I’m just being inpatient. They are considering surgery for my right foot, but I will not be rushing for this!
I literally have about 2 pairs of shoes I can wear, and now live in Crocs due to the wide forefoot and whilst I continue to recover. But fingers crossed. Thank you
In had both ultra sound guided injections & surgery to remove neuromas..but they grew back. However three weeks isn’t really long enough to know whether the procedure has been successful. Weren’t you told to keep off the foot for a while?
I could have had further surgery, but my surgeon said if they grow back once, they can grow back twice….so I kept mine….living alone I found the recovery time really dragged on…..not being able to drive was particularly irksome.
I have found you just get used to the discomfort. Sorry not to be more helpful….. I don’t regret my decision, but I do understand it wouldn’t suit everybody.
thank you for sharing your experience, and yes I’ve been off my feet as much as possible for first 2 weeks.. but living alone with a daughter it wasn’t easy. So yes it’s early days, and maybe in time it will resolve of the feeling could be due to the loss of nerve.
But likewise over time I had got used to discomfort, but my left foot had become painful all the time and it was growing so surgery agreed. Won’t be rushing for the other foot though,,
I was a glutton for punishment & did have the other foot done eventually…with the same result…..but as I say I got used to it .& now it doesn’t really bother me…hope yours get less painful soon.
I think I will end up having the right foot too.. eventually.. as my left had progressed quite significantly. But might have a bit of a break first, has been a tougher surgery than I thought!
I have both ra and Morton neuroma on my left foot. I only initially had issues with my feet when flaring and then when slowly but surely gave up my heels which helped. Then a couple of years ago I was referred to see a podiatrist when I started have electric shock type pain (footbed to toes) and they provided some insoles with pads to help elevate the issue and they help greatly but of course do not totally eliminate the pain. I do manage with the insoles, pads and the appropriate footwear manage a daily walk of around 3 miles.
thank you.. has really helped hearing others have similar issues. I was considering looking at podiatry or asking for referral., and as most say on here just living with them.
I was walking similar distance each day pre-op, and just walked through the pain. I think all our tolerances for pain increase.. !
I had been using gel insoles, supports and comfortable footwear and then decided it was time for an actual diagnosis. The first podiatrist sorted the leg cramps and the second one sorted or at least relieved the symptoms of the neuroma so worth persevering. Always remember you are the one living with the condition and all its delightful issues so make sure you are getting the care and support you need.
look up Vionic shoes. Their shoes and footbeds have addressed my problem s (whilst wearing them). I have 2 neuromas in one foot and 1 in the other. Had ultrasound guided injections several years ago. Surgeon told me to try to live with them without surgery as he said they often grow back. I live with them. RA hindered the issue as specialists kept telling me my foot pain was RA and I kept insisting it didn’t feel like RA - took a couple of years to persuade them to scan my feet and look …
thank you for that recommendation, I’m literally trying to find new shoes at the moment and not heard of them!
It’s very frustrating isn’t it.. my neuromas (or foot pain) definitely got worse since RA, and as other joint pain has eased, my feet have if anything got more painful. Fortunately both my consultants are really great, and have both said they will keep reviewing / scanning. But I will definitely look at these shoes, thank you so much.
try fitflop and teva too. They both work for me. Not much else does (that looks fashionable). The advantage with vionic is that some of their shoes are more stylish such that I can still get away with a kitten heel for work. But beyond a kitten heel the height is still too much pressure on my balls, unless it’s a wedge. Vionic often run sales, which is when I usually stock up …. Aim for wide fitting versions
I had a neuroma diagnosed a couple of years before my RA diagnosis. It continued to grow and was so painful I had surgery to remove it.
It was only when the surgeon opened my foot (from the top) that it was so big - just shy of a golf ball! He sent it away for pathology and it was actually a RA nodule.
Recovery was slow as RA went in to overdrive. But I was advice to keep off foot as much as possible for 2 weeks then lights exercise for next two. I was off work 6 weeks.
It was painful for a few weeks - lots if numbness and tingling but it did improve by week 6. So glad it was removed.
hi, thank you for sharing.. very similar stories, my Morton’s was diagnosed about two years before RA too.. I have read there is a link.,
But wow golf ball size, ouch!! Can’t imagine how painful that was.. mine was 10mm across so nowhere near that size. Fortunately I haven’t really flared in recovery, a little more twinges in other joints, but nothing too bad other than my feet.
I’m on week 3 now, so still early days..so hopeful things improve. And reassuring to hear your experience, so thank you x
Hi there, just read this thread. I had mortons neuromas removed from my feet just over 2 weeks ago. My left foot seems to be doing really well, but my right foot it painful. I had two neuroma in my right, just one removed so far. I have RA also which seems to make it worse. I was interested to see how your recovery went?
hi there, ah wow having both done at once, bless you. Well in the end my left foot recovered pretty well, it did take a while though. I do get slight pain every now and again and a bit of numbness, but on the whole that foot seems to have recovered ok.
However since that time my right foot got significantly worse and I had surgery in February. Initially recovery was going ok, but unfortunately pain has returned last two months and I’m waiting for MRI. They either think like you I have a second in same foot, or have developed a stump.
So I’m not sure that’s hugely reassuring for you. But definitely two weeks in I’d say is not long enough to assess the long term.
Mine definitely got worse with RA, even though apparently there’s no link!
So all I can say is that my first foot definitely improved, just took a good 3-6 months I think. But sadly I have to wait on my right foot.
Fingers crossed for you. I truly know how debilitating these can be. Some days I found them harder to deal with than my RA.
I wish you all the best and fingers crossed for you x
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