Morton’s neuroma is a painful condition affecting the ball of the foot, often feeling like a pebble lodged underneath the skin. It is caused by a benign thickening of the tissue surrounding a digital nerve, most commonly located between the third and fourth toes. The timeline for pain resolution is not uniform; it depends entirely on the severity of the nerve damage and the specific treatment chosen.
Why Morton’s Neuroma Requires Intervention
Morton’s neuroma is not temporary nerve irritation that fades with simple rest. The condition involves a structural change in the nerve, characterized by perineural fibrosis—a build-up of fibrous tissue around the nerve sheath. This thickening results from chronic compression and repetitive trauma. Because the underlying issue is a physical enlargement, the neuroma rarely shrinks or resolves spontaneously. Active intervention is necessary to either decompress the nerve, chemically reduce its size, or surgically remove the affected tissue for lasting pain relief.
Non-Surgical Treatment Recovery Periods
Conservative treatments are the initial approach for Morton’s neuroma, focusing on relieving the mechanical pressure on the irritated nerve. The time it takes to see improvement varies depending on the method used.
Implementing shoe modifications and custom orthotics is often the first step, aiming to redistribute pressure away from the forefoot. Immediate relief from pressure may be noticeable, but significant, sustained improvement typically requires consistent use over four to six weeks as the nerve inflammation gradually subsides. For larger neuromas or chronic cases, if substantial improvement is not seen after approximately four months, a more advanced intervention is usually considered.
Physical therapy, incorporating stretching and strengthening exercises, works to improve overall foot mechanics. This approach requires consistency, and measurable results that decrease the mechanical load on the neuroma are usually seen after six to eight weeks of dedicated application.
For more immediate relief of symptoms, corticosteroid injections target the inflammation around the nerve tissue. Patients may experience rapid pain relief within a few days to a week due to the powerful anti-inflammatory effect. However, the duration of relief is variable, lasting from several weeks to a few months, and the total number of steroid injections is often limited to two or three per year to prevent damage to surrounding tissues.
Alcohol sclerosing injections offer another non-surgical option, designed to chemically shrink the neuroma by dehydrating the nerve tissue. This treatment involves a series of injections, typically four to seven sessions, administered two weeks apart. The entire course of treatment can span one to three months before the full effect is achieved and the condition is considered resolved.
Surgical Procedure Recovery Periods
When non-surgical options fail to provide adequate, lasting relief, a surgical procedure called a neurectomy is performed to remove the affected portion of the nerve. This definitive treatment, while highly effective, involves a longer and more structured recovery period.
Initial recovery requires the foot to be protected in a surgical shoe or boot, with limited mobility for the first one to three weeks post-operation. The surgical incision, often located on the top of the foot, typically heals within two weeks, and sutures are removed. Swelling is common immediately following surgery and must be managed with rest and elevation.
Light, low-impact walking usually resumes around three to four weeks after the procedure. Patients can typically transition back into regular, wider footwear between four and six weeks post-surgery, though the foot may still be sensitive. Complete resolution of residual swelling and nerve sensitivity, allowing for a return to strenuous exercise or tight-fitting shoes, generally requires three to six months. Minor sensitivity can persist for up to a year before the foot feels entirely settled.