Neurinoma Morton: diagnosis, treatment

Neurinoma Morton - a fairly common disease, which is accompanied by the appearance of a benign thickening in the field of the plantar nerve of the foot. To denote the disease in modern medicine, many terms are used, including "Morton's finger syndrome," "perineural fibrosis," and "foot neuroma."

The proliferation of fibrous tissue in this part of the foot is accompanied by squeezing the nerve. The disease can develop for years, without causing much anxiety. But, despite the sluggish course, patients need qualified help. So what is Morton's neurinoma (foot)? How dangerous is the disease? What symptoms should I pay attention to? Does modern medicine offer effective methods of treatment? Many people are interested in answering these questions.

What is Morton's disease?

Neurinoma Morton is a benign thickening, formed by the growth of fibrous tissue. There is a neuroma in the area between the third and fourth toe of the foot. According to statistics, women are more likely to suffer from ailment. This tendency is associated with the constant wear of narrow shoes on an uncomfortable heel. On the other hand, the disease also occurs in representatives of the male population.

At the initial stages, the tumor rarely causes serious inconveniences to a person. But for less growth neurinoma Morton begins to squeeze the finger nerves, which affects the patient's well-being and functional capabilities of the foot. In most cases, the lesion is one-sided - only in rare cases does the neuromus affect both limbs at once.

The main causes of the disease

Why is Morton's neurinoma developing? Unfortunately, to date, the exact causes of the onset of the disease are unknown. One can only say that the disease develops if the nerve fibers are constantly squeezed by bones and ligaments. Scientists managed to identify several risk factors, which in a certain situation can provoke the appearance of seals in the area between the phalanges of the fingers. To their list it is possible to carry:

• The presence of excess weight is considered one of the most common causes of the disease, because the feet have to withstand heavy loads, which affects the operation of the joint and bone apparatus.
• For reasons include and the constant wearing of narrow uncomfortable shoes, especially when it comes to high-heeled shoes. This leads to deformation of the foot, squeezing the connective tissue elements and nerve endings.
• Sometimes the neurinoma develops on the background of excessive physical activity, constant stay on legs without rest.
• Flattening also refers to risk factors, because the nerve is squeezed due to the progressive deformation of the limb bones.
• Risk factors include injuries and bruises of the foot, infectious diseases that are chronic.

This is what the liver looks like, which can lead to the development of such a pathology as the neurinoma of Morton. Diagnostics necessarily includes procedures to find out what exactly the formation of the tumor has provoked.

What symptoms are accompanied by ailment?

As already mentioned, Morton's neurinoma (foot) is characterized by a slow development. At the initial stages, some characteristic symptoms may not be present at all. People note only a slight soreness and burning sensation when squeezing their toes. As the disease develops, discomfort appears when walking. At the initial stages, patients feel painful only when wearing a narrow shoe or high heels. Later the pain becomes a constant companion of man.

Nerve compression can be accompanied by tingling and burning in the toes. Sometimes patients complain of numbness of the foot. The sensitivity of the skin in the area between the third and fourth toes decreases. Visible changes in the shape and structure of the limb are absent, because neurinoma is not a tumor. Symptoms periodically appear and can disappear for many years. That is why many people do not go far at once.

At later stages of development, the patient's condition deteriorates sharply. Soreness appears not only during standing or walking. Even in the state of rest periodically there is a sharp, shooting pain in the foot.

Neurinoma Morton (feet): diagnosis

As a rule, already during the general examination the doctor can suspect the presence of neurinoma. Characteristic is the clinical picture. At palpation patients complain of soreness. The patient is also offered to fill in a special questionnaire - so a specialist can collect as much information as possible about the patient's health, bad habits, intensity of symptoms, etc.

Radiography is used to confirm the diagnosis. In the picture, one can see the presence of thickening in the interphalange space. Informative is also an ultrasound examination of the proposed area of the neuroma. Magnetic resonance imaging is performed only if the diagnosis is questionable. This same study is necessary for patients who are shown surgical intervention.

Medication Therapy

What do patients who have Morton's neurinoma? Treatment depends on the stage of development of the disease and the severity of the symptoms. Medication therapy is used to anesthetize and relieve the inflammatory process.

Quite effective are such drugs as Codelac, Nimesulide, Diclofenac, Solpadein, Ibuprofen. Medications are used in the form of tablets and ointments. In the most severe cases, anesthetics are injected directly into the tissues of the affected area.

Other non-surgical methods of treatment

The action of medicines is aimed only at relieving pain and inflammation. But patients need to follow certain rules. First of all, it is worth noting to wear narrow shoes. It is recommended to wear flat-soled shoes with a wide toe and special orthopedic insoles. To prevent fingers from contracting and deforming when walking, patients are advised to use special spacers.

Also, it is worth to reduce the load on the feet, to abandon physical activity, which provides for a long standing, walking or running. Recommended periodic courses of foot massage. To remove inflammation and slow the deformation, physiotherapeutic methods are used, including shock wave therapy, acupuncture, electrophoresis with the use of appropriate drugs, magnetotherapy.

Pros and cons of conservative treatment

To begin with, it should be noted that conservative therapy is effective only if the disease is diagnosed at the initial stages. Such treatment has its pros and cons. Medications and physiotherapy allow to avoid surgical intervention and the risks associated with it, including scar tissue, infection, etc. In addition, there is no need for rehabilitation - during the period of treatment a person is not obliged to break the habitual rhythm of life.

As for cons, you need to understand that conservative treatment lasts for months, and sometimes even years, and success can not always be achieved. Medicines used by doctors are not so little, and their long-term use is fraught with the development of side effects.

Neurinoma Morton (feet): surgical treatment

The simplest method of surgical treatment is excision of a neurinoma, which, in fact, is part of the nerve. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. In the projection of the heads between the third and fourth metatarsal bones, a small incision is made (about 2 cm in length). The doctor immobilizes and removes excess tissue, after which the wound is sewn layer by layer.

This is how the neurinoma of Morton is removed. The operation is associated with excision of the nerve part, so after the procedure, patients partially lose sensitivity in the area between the metatarsal bones. Nevertheless, the functionality of the foot does not suffer from this.

There are also less radical procedures - dissection of the ligament between the metatarsal bones. This procedure eliminates nerve compression, allowing you to maintain the sensitivity of your fingers. In the event that the operation did not lead to the desired result, a neurinoma is removed.

Osteotomy of the fourth metatarsal bone is much less frequent. During the procedure, which is carried out with the help of special equipment through small punctures on the skin, the doctor moves the metatarsus head through an artificial fracture.

Advantages and disadvantages of surgical intervention

Surgical excision of neurinoma has its advantages. In particular, there is an opportunity to get rid of the disease quickly. The therapy is successful, relapses are very rarely recorded. The cost of the operation is also not too high.

On the other hand, the success of treatment largely depends on the skills of the surgeon, so it's worth taking a careful look at the doctor's choice. This is an open surgery, so there is always a risk of infection of the tissues. Patients are prescribed a preventive course of antibiotics. Surgical intervention is associated with a long period of rehabilitation. Nevertheless, in the most severe cases this is the only possible way of treatment.

Rehabilitation after surgery

Like any surgical intervention, the removal of neurinoma Morton requires rehabilitation. The patient can go home a few days after the procedure. Nevertheless, during the first few weeks, a constant change of dressings is necessary. The stitches are usually removed 10-12 days after the operation.

Depending on the complexity of the procedure, a complete recovery of mobility takes from 3 weeks to 2 months. Many patients complain of discomfort, which appears during walking after surgery. This is a normal phenomenon, which helps to cope with wearing suitable shoes, regular massages and therapeutic exercises.

Folk methods of treating the disease

Is it possible to get rid of such a disease as a neurinoma of Morton (feet) at home? Treatment with folk remedies is possible. For example, some folk medicine men recommend using wormwood juice. To prepare the medicine you need to break fresh grass of bitter wormwood, crush and grind it to the state of gruel, then attach to the affected area, fixing with a bandage.

Cream of pork fat will help to cope with the pain. To do this, you need to mix 100 g of fat with regular table salt (one tablespoon). Obtained ointment should be rubbed into the skin of the foot, applying a bandage bandage on top.

It should be noted that such remedies are not capable of eliminating the disease. Ointments can only ease soreness and other symptoms, to the appearance of which causes neurinoma Morton. Treatment with folk remedies is possible only after a preliminary consultation of a doctor. Sometimes formulations prepared at home, serve as a good addition to drug therapy.

Projections for patients

It is worthwhile to understand that the predictions for people with a similar diagnosis directly depend on when they were provided with medical assistance. At the initial stages, the inflammatory process and irritation of the nerve endings can be completely eliminated with the help of medications and medical procedures.

The lack of therapy is fraught with dangerous consequences. The area of the lesion only increases, and soreness constantly increases, significantly reducing the quality of human life. In the later stages, the only way to combat the disease is a surgical procedure.

Preventive actions

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely protect yourself from the development of such a disease. Nevertheless, following some recommendations, you can reduce the likelihood of developing neurinoma to a minimum.

It is recommended to give preference to comfortable shoes, preferably with an orthopedic sole. If there is a need to wear shoes with heels, you need to regularly make warm, relaxing foot baths. Do not forget about the massage of the feet, which you can do yourself.

It is important to follow the weight. Extra kilograms have a negative impact on the state of the body and are associated with a mass of risks of development of all kinds of ailments, including gradual deformation of the foot bones. In the presence of flat feet, it is also necessary to undergo appropriate therapy.

If you are at risk, then periodically you need to undergo medical examinations. Neurinoma, as well as any other disease, is much easier to treat with early diagnosis and timely medical care.