Morton's Neuroma Surgery nerve relief

A Morton's neuroma is a benign thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves that runs between your toes — most often the nerve between the third and fourth toes, and sometimes between the second and third. As that nerve gets squeezed and irritated over time, it can cause burning pain, tingling, or numbness in the ball of the foot, often described as walking on a pebble or a sock that's bunched up.

Morton's neuroma surgery is the step we consider when the symptoms keep coming back despite a fair trial of conservative care — wider shoes, metatarsal pads or custom orthotics, activity changes, and image-guided cortisone injections. The goal of surgery is straightforward: take the pressure off the nerve, or remove the irritated segment, so you can walk and stand without that sharp, electric pain.

Surgery is not the first move for most people, and it isn't right for every neuroma. Smaller neuromas and early symptoms often calm down without an operation. We only recommend surgery after we've confirmed the diagnosis, tried the simpler options, and talked through what the procedure can and can't do for your specific foot.

Morton's neuroma surgery is usually an outpatient procedure — you go home the same day. It's done under local anesthesia with sedation, or a regional ankle block, so you're comfortable but don't need full general anesthesia in most cases. There are two main approaches, and your surgeon will recommend the one that fits your foot and your symptoms.

Neurectomy (removing the nerve segment)

• A small incision is made, most often on the top of the foot between the affected toes, which avoids a wound on the sole you have to walk on.
• The surgeon finds the thickened nerve and divides the deep transverse intermetatarsal ligament to reach it.
• The irritated portion of the nerve — the neuroma — is removed, and the cut end is positioned away from the weight-bearing area to lower the chance of a tender spot forming later.

Decompression (releasing the nerve)

• Instead of removing the nerve, the surgeon releases the tight ligament pressing on it, giving the nerve more room.
• Because the nerve is preserved, this approach avoids the permanent numbness that comes with removing it — but it isn't suitable for every neuroma.

A plantar (bottom-of-foot) incision is sometimes used for direct access or for recurrent cases, though it heals more slowly because the scar sits on a weight-bearing surface. After surgery, the incision is closed and you're placed in a stiff-soled surgical shoe.

At LAOSS, our foot & ankle specialists combine advanced surgical expertise with a patient-first approach. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to reconstruction, fracture care, and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. Trusted across Los Angeles, our team is dedicated to restoring mobility, relieving pain, and helping you return to the activities you love.

The most important thing to understand about a neurectomy is that removing the nerve means permanent numbness along the facing sides of the two affected toes. This is expected — it's the trade-off for relieving the pain, not a complication. Most patients adjust to it quickly and find it far easier to live with than the original burning, but it's something we want you to know before you decide.

As with any nerve surgery, there's a small chance the cut end of the nerve can form a tender recurrent (stump) neuroma over time, which occasionally needs a second procedure. Other general surgical considerations include infection, delayed wound healing, temporary swelling, and stiffness — all of which we screen for and manage closely.

At LAOSS, we treat the decision to operate as a conversation, not a default. Our board-certified foot & ankle specialists confirm the diagnosis with a focused exam and on-site imaging, make sure conservative options have had a fair chance, and then walk you through which technique fits your foot and what recovery realistically looks like — at any of our eight Los Angeles-area offices.