UKH

I have just been told by the chiropractor that my soreness in my foot is Morton's neuroma. It feels like I have a marble on the ball of my foot. I can still run about 10 miles but it gets uncomfortable. I have cut a hole in the insoles of my trainers to stop the stress on the foot. I have been using ice which helps. Sometimes the toe next to my big toe feels a bit numb but I assume that is pressure on that part of the foot. I have four marathons booked between now and the end of July and hope to complete them. However, am I being too optimistic? I have rung my GP: two weeks to wait for a call back and six months to be referred to podiatry; not the fault of the NHS given Covid. I have booked a private chiropractor appointment to get some individual, bespoke insoles to help. Any advice gratefully received and thank you. 

There are loads of exercises and inner soles that will help, but a good sport physio / podiatrist will help.

It a lot more common than you think. Google metatarsalagia inner soles, there are loads of inner soles, stick on pad supports. The problem isn't really your toes and pad, it's more your mid foot not taking any weight. 

Out of curiosity, did you mean chiropodist, rather than chiropractor? Not sure whether chiropractors do insoles routinely, tho I'm happy to be corrected!!

I've had it in both feet, probably caused by having very flat / weak muscles in the foot and over tightening my shoes. Mine improved over a matter of weeks once I had insoles to correct my fallen arches (for walking, not worn for running) and ensured I never wore shoes that were at all tight across the bridge of my foot. I needed literally zero pressure across the top of my foot to avoid pain. May be worth booking a private podiatrist who might suggest alcohol or corticosteroid injections to numb the pain and reduce the swelling, I've never had them but believe they are administered several times over a few weeks /months. Your podiatrist will probably advise you rest your foot. A GP friend of mine told me I could run if I wanted too as it's just pain not a mechanical issue but I guess the more you run the longer it will be before it's better. Good luck, hope it's on the mend soon.

Thanks for your reply. I have been going to a chiropractor and asked them to look at my foot. I had a few 'adjustments' and exercises to do as a result. With thanks.

Ah fair enough, you learn something every day!

Hope you find some relief from it 

Some years ago, I opted to have private cryotherapy to get rid of MN . A super cold probe zaps the tissue. I had a repeat dose 18 months later but no problems in the last seven years or so. Done at the Barn Clinic ? in Sheffield. Not cheap but seems effective.

Apparently the alcohol injections are very painful so most people never complete the treatment course.

I have MN in both feet,  bot badly enough for surgery (thankfully). Custom-made NHS orthotics helped a lot - I wear them when walking in boots or approach shoes and when running. I still get some pain, and it's difficult to sort out the right balance of socks and orthotics (because orthotix take up space so socks can cause over-crowding). As said further up, any tightness across the arch causes pain.

When last MN was discussed on here, someone swore by separating the third and fourth toes. Coincidentally I tried that for the first time today, on a 10-mile walk up and down Dunkery Beacon. I had a comfortable day without the usual bout of pain after a few miles.

Lizzie

https://prestigehealthcare.co.uk/product/berkemann-splatfoot-pressure-pad/

These, plus lots of toe, foot and ankle exercises using tea towels and rubber bands helped mine. Took many months to go from not being able to walk bare foot with real pain, to running normally again. 

I don't think any of my footwear have the inner soles they came with. Most aren't bespoke to me, just inner soles that offer more arch support, many soles shoes come with are just flat foam. 

Not everyone's root cause are the same, so the op should seek out a good sports physio. 

Hope you are having a good time in Somerset. Love that part of the world.. Staying anywhere near Allerford? 

Thank you all for your comments; I have found them really helpful. 

Staying near Dunster, able to get up Dunkery Bunkery without needing the car. A very nice week, thank you. Just off for a final run, after a lovely mirning at Knightshayes, then home tomorrow.

I have Morton's neuroma/ dropped metatarsal heads. I have custom insoles which I use all the time, they were expensive but make a big difference. The specialist physio who measures for the insoles uses a pressure pad and does a detailed gait analysis. I also have really tight calf muscles which means I load the fore foot for too long which exacerbates the problem, so she gave me stretches to improve that.

Worth finding a private specialist foot/running physio or podiatrist, any care I had from the NHS was basic and useless.

If you're in North Wales I recommend Conwy physio clinic.