Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Morton's neuroma is a swollen, inflamed nerve in the foot.
Morton's neuroma causes a "burning"
sharp pain on the bottom of the foot.
Treatments for Morton's neuroma include resting the foot, better-fitting shoes, anti-inflammation medications, ice
packs, and operation.
What is Morton's neuroma?
A neuroma is growth (benign tumor) that arises in nerve cells. A Morton's neuroma is a swollen, inflamed nerve located between the bones at the ball of the foot. The most common location of a Morton's neuroma is in either the second or the third spacing from the base of the big toe.
What causes a Morton's neuroma?
A Morton's neuroma is caused by compression of the nerve of sensation between the ends of the metatarsal bones at the base of the toes.
What are risk factors for developing a Morton's neuroma?
Improper footwear that excessively binds the forefoot can lead to a Morton's neuroma.
What are symptoms of a Morton's
neuroma?
A Morton's neuroma causes a "burning" sharp
pain and numbness on the bottom of the foot in the involved area, and this pain and
numbness can radiate to the nearby toes. The pain is usually increased by walking or when the ball of the foot is squeezed together and decreased with
massaging. It may force a person to stop walking or to limp from the pain.
Reviewed by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP on 9/14/2012
Morton's neuroma is thickening of the tissue around the nerve between the bases of the toes (usually between the third and fourth toes). Foot pain, odd sensations, or numbness over the ball of the foot are the usual symptoms. It is more common in women and can be a result of wearing high heels or tight shoes.
Foot pain may be caused by injuries (sprains, strains, bruises, and fractures), diseases (diabetes, Hansen disease, and gout), viruses, fungi, and bacteria
The foot is an intricate structure of 24 bones that form two crossing arches of the foot. The longitudinal arch runs the length of the foot, and the transverse arch runs the width. The ankle joint is formed b"...
