Home Functional Hallux Limitus Foot Morton’s neuroma
The foot
Morton’s neuroma
Pain between the toes, like a pebble under the forefoot: Morton’s neuroma arises from the compression of an interdigital nerve. Behind this mechanical compression lies the roll-over of the foot along its outer edge, characteristic of Functional Hallux Limitus.
Neuralgia between the toes
Clinically, Morton’s neuroma corresponds to mechanical pain located preferentially between the 3rd and 4th toes. This pain results from the compression of the interdigital nerve located in the web space, at the base of the toes.
At its origin, a bursitis is frequently found and, in chronic cases, a true neuroma, that is, a fusiform swelling of the nerve in response to the compression.
The decisive role of FHL
The involvement of FHL in the syndrome is linked to the roll-over of the foot along its outer edge. Over time, the tissues atrophy and are no longer able to bear the load: symptoms appear.
Women are more affected than men, and the peak incidence occurs around age 50.
Treatments
The treatments usually offered range from injections to excision of the nerve, by way of foot orthoses and a simple decompression of the nerve. But an FHL tenolysis can be proposed, particularly in early cases, with or without a foot orthosis. This treatment recenters the roll-over of the foot and reduces the mechanical stress on the painful area.
Reference article
An information sheet from the Association Française de Chirurgie du Pied et de la Cheville completes the documentation on Morton’s neuroma.
Article
Morton’s neuroma
Le névrome de Morton ou névralgie inter-métatarsienne, information sheet from the Association Française de Chirurgie du Pied et de la Cheville (AFCP)
Pain between your toes?
Identify the associated FHL
If you feel pain in the forefoot, like a pebble under your toes, the mobility assessment at the Centre du pied can objectively identify a possible FHL and guide the most appropriate treatment.
At a glance
Location
between the 3rd and 4th toes
Mechanism
interdigital nerve compression
Lesion
bursitis, then neuroma
Typical profile
women, around age 50
Foot roll-through
along the outer edge
Underlying cause
Functional Hallux Limitus
Further reading
Related pages
Biomechanics of FHL
The tenodesis effect and the disrupted roll-over of the foot, at the origin of the stresses.