Signs and Symptoms

Persons suffering from Morton's neuroma often complain of numbness, burning, or throbbing pain localized between two adjacent toes. The symptoms are described as "having a hot poker thrust into their foot" or "electric shocks starting between my toes shooting to the tips". It may also feel like "a bunched up sock under the foot." Movement of toes, weight bearing activities, and tight shoes aggravate the pain. The afflicted person will frequently have the desire to remove their shoe and massage the affected area. Removal of shoegear and rest generally relieve the pain associated with a neuroma. Direct observation of a person with a neuroma may reveal increased space between adjacent toes as compared to the other foot (forming a 'V', where the point of the 'V' points to the origin of pain). In addition, a mass may be felt at the base of the toes.