Mortons Neuroma? What the heck is that?
Mortons Neuroma? What the heck is that?
In 2014, I was running “barefoot” style with Merrell Road Gloves which entails an impact landing on the ball of the foot or mid-foot. I was in McAllen Texas for work and went out for a training run from the hotel while there and did not get more than a couple miles from the hotel when my left foot began to have serious pain. I hobbled back to the hotel and took a couple weeks off from running pending the upcoming 25K event.
I ended up starting the Riverbank Run 25K [2], but didn’t get past the waste water treatment plant a couple miles into the race and the pain STILL came back and I had to drop out of the race.
The next week, as an experiment, I did a short 3 mile run with Joni at about 4mph using my Merrell hiking shoes with a short stride and heal strike stride and I found that I could run with a short stride landing on my heel without too much discomfort. This would require a slight change in running mechanics, but this is not a big issue for me.
So I sadly decided to box up my Merrell Road Gloves and went to Gazelle Sports to shop for a shoe with much more cushion. As soon as I explained my issue and reason for shopping the sales guy said “it sounds like you have a Morton’s Neuroma.” [1] (I will miss my Merrells but I miss running more).
Anyway, I bought a set of Brooks Dyad running shoes which have substantial cushion as well as a wider toe box (which allows my foot to spread out a bit more). I ran the next morning for my old routine of one mile at the gym felt pretty good about it.
I did a bit of research on this Morton’s Neuroma and it does seem like I have those exact symptoms. The solutions seem to be rather all over the map from mechanical/orthotic to different shoes to surgery.
In addition to my usual roller therapy as part of my morning workout, I also picked up a ROLZ ball. It is about two inches in diameter and I can roll localized on the top of my foot as well as the tissue along the side of my leg that Jason targeted during my May visit to his clinic. I think I will also take a tip from the internet research and get some of those toe spacers that women use when painting their toenails. I can place them between my toes and tape them in during sleep to spread out the metatarsals and alleviate any pressure on the nerves in between the bones. This may accelerate healing as well.
I have never had a return of the Morton’s Neuroma since changing shoes and running stride. The nueroma was rather like a repetitive motion injury.
Nine years later, I still run (mostly 5K races) and have stayed with the Brooks Dyad shoes ever since.[3]
[1] https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/morton-s-neuroma-(intermetatarsal-neuroma)
