Removal Morton’s neuroma causing peripheral neuropathy therapy

Welcome @kevmcl25, I'm sorry to hear your Morton's neuroma surgery caused peripheral neuropathy symptoms.
@fourof5zs @ees1 @bonnieh218 and @ggopher may have some suggestions for you. A great site to help you learn more about neuropathy and available treatments is the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy - https://www.foundationforpn.org/living-well/.

Have you been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy?

Yes
Have a neurologist
But they treat it as idiopathic
It all started with the removal of the Morton’s neuromas
Was looking for anything new and helpful

@kevmcl25

I had two Morton Neuromas removed from my right foot in late 2012 and in late 2016 I could hardly walk. Things were happening (family members worse off than me to take care of) and I did not get back to podiatrist until late 2017. I just limped along.

The neuroma stumps were inflamed and MRI showed another small neuroma. The podiatrist gave me an injection, but it did not help. He suggested physical therapy. I had to go out of town to find a good podiatrist.

I started physical therapy in my hometown and the therapist was honest and said she was not very knowledgeable in therapy for the feet. She said she knew someone who is though. It was a therapist who had helped me through knee, back and shoulder pain. He had me walking well within three weeks. I still had pain, but could walk without limping.

His treatment involved massage, torture tools (were his words .. but they looked similar to shoe horns. He used them to stretch the foot muscles), and dry needling. I think the dry needling was the most helpful. It uses needles .. much like acupuncture .. that leads from a TENS unit attach to. To me not painful, but for some it is. I think it is how well trained the therapist is.

He said I might have to return for more therapy. So far when my foot flares I use my home TENS unit and my foot gets relief… no needles. My foot hurts all the time… there is also numbness. My foot will never be like it was before neuromas came about. Now I have arthritis in my toes .. base joints .. to add to it. The base of my big toe is the worst.

Good arch support shoes is a help with foot pain for me. It is about that dreaded time again .. shoe shopping. My favorite style has been discontinued.

I cannot take any of the medications for neuropathy. I get a bit off-balance with the occasional very bad flare ups. .. when numbness increases with the flares and goes up my leg. Home care for me is massage and TENS unit. PT for therapy.

Medications or over the counter rubs/cremes may help you. I do encourage you to find a physical therapist knowledgeable in foot therapy.

Best wishes,
ZeeGee

Thanks for such an extensive reply.
The neuropathy that started in the balls of my feet right after the neuroma removals in 2004 has slowly progressed throughout my feet with much pain and has moved up my leg causing a loss of muscle control. I too thought that I might have a neuroma stump and had an MRI taken that did now show anything. I then went to a special clinic outside Boston called the Center for Morton's Neuroma. It cost (a number of years ago) $1000 to get in the door. The reason I went to this facility was the following phrase on their website; "Even if you’ve had Morton’s neuroma surgery and still have pain, we can treat you so you can get on with your life! (About 30% of our new patients are folks who have had Morton’s neuroma surgery and still have pain.)" I spent 2-3 hours there being examined and brought my MRI and they told me I had full blown neuropathy and they couldn't do anything for me and to get a neurologist. They even gave half my money back!
All the neurologist has done is prescribe gabapentin which does reduce the pain. Before taking gabapentin my feet would swell up after any extend walking or when only wearing street shoes. I now wear light weight hiking boots that can be laced tightly and taking multiple gabapentin pills my feet have not swollen up like they used to.
However, the progressive peripheral neuropathy has now got to the point that walking 50 yards becomes very difficult as the most of the muscles in my leg are not working properly and the few muscles left in my upper thigh and buttocks do all the work and tighten up after walking only a short distance. Ironically even though I can't walk very far I still can ride a bike for hours or get on the elliptical at the gym and go for some distance!
I have tried acupuncture with no results. Also leg massages and foot Reflexology that feels nice for a very short period of time. Even getting a pedicure with a foot and leg massage makes things feel better temporarily. But with the relatively recent advent of walking curtailment I'm getting desperate.

Went to the FPN site and its full of good information. Thanks as I had not stumbled over that site as yet when searching the net about PN.

I have Morton’s Neuroma in my right foot at the bottom of my 3rd and 4th toes. It can be painful. I have purchased new 2E wide shoes( Sketchers). I have metatarsal lifts I can put into the shoes(3M), I bought MagnLite foot pain cream( gives me temporary relief for varying lengths of time). I ice down my inflammation which can come from physical activity like golfing or doing a lot of walking. I can ride a bike with no problem. I can massage that area. Inflames many times while sleeping which interrupts my sleep. I get up and ice it down and pain goes away. I have been to foot doctor. I had the shot which did not relieve the symptoms. Doc told to get wider shoes, socks that were not compression, put ice on the area. I have done all of that. I own half socks as well. Last resort is surgery. I have been reluctant since this pain comes and goes and the cream and ice alleviates the problem. I can go some days with no pain. I’m getting annoyed with the neuroma. Any other natural remedies, I’m interested in hearing? Thanks.

Has anyone been provided an explanation of the linkage between a neuroma and neuropathy? I ask because I started developing neuropathy (first on one foot, then the other, then eventually spreading to my arms) within 48 hours of being treated for what a podiatrist diagnosed as a plantar wart under my right big toe. Interestingly, the splinter like feeling that started this has evolved into classic neuroma symptoms in that same spot right after it was treated with liquid nitrogen, so it feels like there is a small marble inside my big toe....

There was no obvious, external bump suggesting a wart (only a slight splinter like feel when I pressed it) but the podiatrist was confident it was a plantar wart and treated it with three successive blasts of liquid nitrogen. Within 2 days I started feeling similar "splinter" like spots on my right foot, then my left, which over the course of a week turned into burning pain. The podiatrist (perhaps obviously) disclaims any responsibility or role in the neuropathy, but it seems utterly inconceivable to me that I started experiencing these symptoms for the first time in over 50 years within hours of this treatment yet there is no causal link.

I am still a month out from my first neurologist appointment, so I haven't talked to anyone (other than the podiatrist and my primary care doctor) about this, so I have no answers as yet.