Neuroma Treatment
Effective Relief for Neuroma Pain
Relief from Burning, Tingling, and “Pebble-in-Shoe” Sensation
A neuroma is a painful nerve condition often described as feeling like you’re “walking on a pebble.” It most commonly occurs between the third and fourth toes and involves thickening or irritation of a nerve in the forefoot. At SoCal Foot and Ankle Doctors, we offer both conservative and advanced solutions to eliminate pain and restore comfort — often without surgery.
Our conveniently located offices in Santa Monica and the Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers specialize in accurate diagnosis, in-office imaging, and patient-specific treatment planning.
What Is a Neuroma?
Also called Morton’s neuroma, this condition involves a benign enlargement or irritation of the plantar nerve, most often between the 3rd and 4th toes. Less commonly, it can occur between the 2nd and 3rd toes.
Symptoms of Neuroma
- Burning pain in the ball of the foot
- Tingling or numbness in the toes
- Sharp or radiating pain while walking
- Feeling of a “lump,” “wrinkle in the sock,” or “pebble underfoot”
- Pain worsens with tight shoes, high heels, or standing
- Temporary relief when removing shoes and rubbing the area
What Causes a Neuroma?
- Repetitive stress from walking, running, or certain sports
- High heels or narrow shoes that compress the forefoot
- Flat feet or abnormal foot mechanics
- Hammertoes or bunions causing nerve impingement
- Scar tissue or trauma in the forefoot
- Chronic inflammation of adjacent structures
How We Diagnose Neuroma
Our podiatrists use:
- Physical examination and palpation
- Mulder’s click test (squeezing forefoot to reproduce symptoms)
- Diagnostic ultrasound (performed in-office)
- MRI (only in complex or recurrent cases)
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
???? Custom Orthotics
Redesign foot pressure to relieve nerve irritation and improve biomechanics.
???? Padding & Footwear Guidance
Avoid narrow shoes. We help you find supportive, wide shoes with proper arch support.
???? Oral & Topical Anti-Inflammatories
Reduce inflammation and ease nerve pain.
???? Ultrasound-Guided Cortisone Injections
Pinpointed injection to shrink inflammation around the nerve.
???? Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)
Non-invasive sound waves promote healing and reduce nerve irritation. Great for chronic neuroma pain unresponsive to other methods.
Advanced Neuroma Solutions
If conservative care fails, we offer:
???? Alcohol Sclerosing Injections
Series of injections that chemically desensitize or destroy the nerve.
???? Radiofrequency Ablation
Minimally invasive technique using heat to ablate the painful nerve signal.
???? Surgical Excision (Neurectomy)
Reserved for resistant cases. Outpatient procedure with generally excellent results.
What to Expect
- Most patients can resume normal activities quickly with minimal downtime
- 80–90% of patients improve without needing surgery
- Treatment plans are tailored to lifestyle, activity level, and severity
- We focus on pain relief and long-term prevention
What Our Patients Say
SoCal Foot and Ankle Doctors strive to be the best we can and are grateful for the opportunities we are given to help people heal and get back to doing the things that they love.
Our Docters
Our Board Certified Podiatrists
Socal Foot and Ankle doctors are committed to delivering the most exceptional treatments.
Board Certified Foot & Ankle Specialist
Office Time
Location: Santa Monica
Mon – Thur: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Board Certified Foot & Ankle Specialist
Office Time
Location: Santa Monica
Mon – Thur: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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NON-INVASIVE ADVANCED TREATMENT
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