Morton’s Neuroma Treatment & Assessment in Birmingham
Burning, shooting or pebble-like pain in the ball of your foot?
Morton’s neuroma can cause pain, tingling or numbness around the ball of the foot and toes, especially when walking, running or wearing tighter footwear.
At The Podiatry Clinic in Harborne, Birmingham, we assess suspected Morton’s neuroma and other causes of forefoot pain so you do not need to know the diagnosis before booking.
Trusted by patients across Birmingham.
Real feedback from patients who have visited The Podiatry Clinic for foot, ankle and lower-limb care.
Pebble-like pain?
Many people describe feeling as though they are walking on a small stone or a fold in their sock.
Tingling or numb toes?
Symptoms may include burning, shooting pain, pins and needles or numbness into one or more toes.
Not sure what it is?
You do not need to self-diagnose. The appointment starts with assessment of your forefoot pain.
Common symptoms of suspected Morton’s neuroma
Symptoms can vary between people, and not every burning or pebble-like pain in the forefoot is caused by Morton’s neuroma.
Choose the assessment that best fits your symptoms
You do not need to decide based on your diagnosis. For many new presentations, the £99 assessment is a good starting point. The £175 advanced assessment may suit persistent, recurrent or more complex symptoms.
Foot & Ankle Pain Assessment
A good starting point for many new patients with forefoot pain or suspected Morton’s neuroma.
- Detailed symptom history
- Clinical foot and ankle examination
- Footwear assessment
- Observational gait assessment
- Initial footwear, activity and offloading advice
Advanced Foot & Ankle Pain Assessment
Recommended for persistent, recurrent or more complex forefoot symptoms, or when you want a more comprehensive assessment from the outset.
- Point-of-care diagnostic ultrasound
- Dynamic pressure assessment
- Detailed gait and functional assessment
- Video walking or running analysis where relevant
- More detailed forefoot-loading review
You do not need to arrive with a confirmed diagnosis or know which treatment you need. Call the clinic and the team can guide you towards the most suitable appointment.
Call 0121 285 5656A painful irritation of a small nerve in the forefoot
Morton’s neuroma involves one of the small nerves that travels towards the toes. Despite the name, it is not a cancerous tumour.
The nerve can become irritated and develop changes in the surrounding tissue, producing pain, burning, tingling, numbness or the feeling of something underneath the foot.
There is not always one single cause
Symptoms may be influenced by pressure around the nerve and the demands being placed through the forefoot.
Footwear
Narrow or pointed footwear can compress the forefoot. Higher heels can increase loading towards the front of the foot.
Walking and activity
Long periods of standing, walking or repetitive sporting activities may increase symptoms in some patients.
Forefoot loading
Pressure distribution underneath the forefoot may be relevant, especially when symptoms occur during weight-bearing activity.
Foot structure and movement
Foot shape and movement may influence load, but a particular foot type does not automatically mean it caused the neuroma.
Sport and exercise
Running and other activities that repeatedly load the forefoot can provoke symptoms in some people.
Previous treatment
Recurring symptoms despite footwear changes may need a wider assessment of load, diagnosis and treatment options.
Could it be something other than Morton’s neuroma?
Yes. Several problems can produce similar pain in the ball of the foot. Clinical assessment helps determine whether your symptoms appear consistent with Morton’s neuroma or whether another cause of forefoot pain needs considering.
We listen to your symptoms
Where you feel pain, how it behaves, which toes are affected and what footwear or activity makes it worse.
We examine the forefoot
Your clinician examines the painful area and performs appropriate clinical tests around joints, soft tissues and nerves.
We assess loading
Footwear, gait, pressure analysis and movement can be reviewed where relevant to understand why symptoms keep returning.
Ultrasound can support diagnosis where appropriate
Ultrasound can help assess the intermetatarsal spaces and provide additional information when investigating suspected Morton’s neuroma and other soft-tissue problems around the forefoot.
A scan should not be considered in isolation. Ultrasound findings are interpreted alongside symptoms, clinical examination, footwear, pain location and functional findings.
Point-of-care diagnostic ultrasound is routinely included within the £175 Advanced Foot & Ankle Pain Assessment.
Book Advanced AssessmentHow Morton’s neuroma may be treated
There is no single treatment that every patient needs. Treatment is selected according to your symptoms, examination findings, activity needs and response to previous care.
Footwear changes
Toe-box width, shoe shape, heel height, forefoot cushioning and fit can all affect compression around the painful area.
Metatarsal pads and padding
Correctly positioned padding can alter pressure around the symptomatic area and may help guide longer-term options.
Custom 3D foot orthoses
Orthoses may be considered when assessment shows a reason to alter forefoot loading more consistently.
Rehabilitation and activity advice
Exercises and activity modification may be used where mobility, strength or loading factors are relevant.
Additional modalities
Where relevant, options such as mobilisation, dry needling, Remy Class IV laser, shockwave or rehabilitation may be discussed.
Injection consultation
Injection therapy can be considered for selected patients after appropriate assessment, discussion of risks and informed consent.
You do not need to choose an injection before being assessed
Injection treatment may be considered when symptoms remain troublesome despite appropriate conservative management. The right option depends on diagnosis, severity, duration, ultrasound and clinical findings, medical history, benefits, risks and alternatives.
From painful forefoot to a personalised plan
Assessment
We establish how your symptoms behave and examine the forefoot.
Understand the likely problem
We determine whether Morton’s neuroma appears likely or whether anything else needs investigating.
Investigate where appropriate
Advanced assessment can include point-of-care ultrasound, pressure assessment, video analysis and Baiobit where useful.
Reduce aggravating load
This may involve footwear changes, activity advice, temporary padding or offloading.
Build the longer-term plan
Your plan may include rehabilitation, custom orthoses or selected additional treatments.
Review persistent symptoms
Further investigation, injection consultation or specialist referral may be discussed if needed.
Health-insurance appointments work differently
Your insurer may restrict which services, investigations or treatments are covered. Please check your policy, excess and authorisation requirements before booking.
Morton’s neuroma questions, answered
Helpful answers before booking an appointment for burning, tingling, numbness or pebble-like pain in the ball of the foot.
Call the clinic and the team can guide you towards the most suitable appointment.
Call 0121 285 5656People commonly describe burning, shooting or tingling pain around the ball of the foot, sometimes extending into the toes. Some patients describe feeling as though they are walking on a pebble or have a fold in their sock.
Not everybody does. Clinical assessment is important first. Ultrasound can provide additional information and is routinely included within the £175 Advanced Foot & Ankle Pain Assessment.
For many new and relatively straightforward presentations, start with the £99 Foot & Ankle Pain Assessment. Consider the £175 Advanced Assessment for persistent, recurrent or more complex symptoms, or when you want point-of-care ultrasound included.
Yes. Because the condition involves an interdigital nerve, altered sensation such as tingling or numbness can occur in the toes supplied by the affected nerve.
Not necessarily. Wider shoes may reduce an important aggravating factor and can form part of conservative management, but persistent symptoms may require a broader assessment and treatment plan.
They can be considered for selected patients where altering forefoot loading is clinically appropriate. We do not automatically prescribe orthotics to everyone with suspected Morton’s neuroma.
Injection treatment may be considered for selected patients after appropriate assessment. There is no single injection automatically appropriate for everybody, and your clinician will discuss options, risks, limitations and alternatives first.
No. Non-surgical management can include footwear modification, offloading, pads, orthoses and other clinically appropriate interventions. Surgical opinion is generally considered only when symptoms remain significant despite appropriate conservative treatment.
Ready to have your forefoot pain assessed?
You do not need to decide whether you definitely have Morton’s neuroma before seeing us. The first step is establishing what is most likely causing your symptoms and what treatment pathway makes sense.