Morton's neuroma surgery!! - Foot Problems Message Board

audioboxer15 · 10-05-2006, 02:44 PM

Hey, I'm new here.. I'm a senior in high school and on my school's rowing team, and have been experiencing complications with a neuroma in my left foot for about 9 months now. It's been a huge problem because rowing is a sport where you are constantly pushing off with your legs, not to mention we do a lot of running and ergometer training. I had a cortisone shot in February of this year, but my problem came back by the spring and now it's worse than ever.

My doctor said the only thing I can really do now is get surgery. Fall crew season ends in early November, and winter season begins after the new year. If I get the surgery in mid- to late November, should I be ready for weight lifting and erg training by early January?

Also, what are the complications with this surgery? The pain is really getting in the way of my athletic performance, but the last thing I want is to have this surgery in the middle of the year and be forced to sit out all winter and spring season of my senior year because of a fluke in my surgery.

Thanks so much to anyone who can help me.

Titchou · 10-05-2006, 03:09 PM

There is much information that you need. Where are you and what kind of doctor did you see? It needs to be a sports med doc - whether ortho or podiatrist. This is quite often an athletic injury and needs to be treated as such. I had one removed almost 5 years ago. Considering the recovery time, you might want to put it off till after the final season. It will take up to a year for it to COMPLETELY heal. That being said, you'll be able to a lot at 2
months but it may not be what you need to compete.

Next, the cortizone shots will do nothing for this condition other than as a diagnostic tool to determine that you really do have a neuroma. Alcohol injections, 3-4 over a couple of week time span might help. Otherwise, it needs be removed.

DO NOT have a ligament release nor a nerve decompression. Only have it removed. And only by someone who has done a lot of these and who has a good success rate for it. Ask around. If you are in a town with a pro football or basketball team or a 1-A college athletic program, find out who they use for this. And be specific when you call the front office or athletic department. Don't ask who they use for feet - ask who they use for Morton's Neuroma.

In the mean time, you might also try a pad in your shoe. I got one from my doc and it worked for a while. Eventually, I had to have it removed. Rowing doesn;t concern me so much as you can find a way to do that...it's the running that's going to be problematic. You might have to switch to an elliptical machine for a while...something where you don;t "pound" on the area.

Keep us posted and good luck!

Cupcake3 · 10-10-2006, 09:53 AM

I agree with Titchou!!!

DO NOT GET Liagament release surgery. Take it from someone who is still suffering 2 years later. Now I need to have the nerve portion removed...

Keep us posted....

sealover · 10-14-2006, 09:19 PM

I would highly suggest that you don't have another cortisone injection, even if your doctor says it will help your condition. Cortisone has the potential of causing atrophy to soft tissues, meaning that the fat pad in your foot could become thinner, and this is that last thing you want to happen.

Also, I don't believe that a cortisone injection can be used as a tool for diagnosing a neuroma, as Titchou stated. I've done a lot of research into cortisone injections.

If you're going to put off getting neuroma surgery, definitely make sure you wear comfortable shoes (no high heels) with good cushioning for your foot. Try to avoid activities that put a lot of pressure into the ball of your foot...that's not going to be easy with the type of sport you participate in, however.

Titchou · 10-15-2006, 06:53 PM

Dr. Brodkin in TX, Drs Gottfryd and Gould in AL all use cortisone injections as an aid to diagnose neuromas. I got this directly from them...not reading about it.