Title: Morton’s Neuroma vs. Metatarsalgia | Heel That Pain
Headings: Morton’s Neuroma vs. Metatarsalgia
Morton’s Neuroma vs. Metatarsalgia
Common Causes and Symptoms of Metatarsalgia
Common Causes and Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s Neuroma Vs. Metatarsalgia
Treating Pain in the Ball of the Foot

Content: While this mass of tissue and the word “Neuroma’ can sometimes bring a tumor to mind, the mass is not a true tumor, but rather a benign fibroma. Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma include the following: Tingling, numbness, and pain in the ball of foot
A sore, tender area between the third and fourth toes on the bottom of the foot
A slight or pronounced mass of tissue between the third and fourth toes at the ball of the foot
The feeling that you are standing on a small pebble, or that some foreign object is beneath your skin at the ball of your foot
Pain that improves when not bearing weight on the foot
Morton’s Neuroma Vs. Metatarsalgia
While the differences between Morton’s Neuroma and Metatarsalgia can be subtle–especially when the pain is significant and seems to radiate across the entire ball of the foot–you and your doctor will be able to distinguish between them with the following cues: The pain from Morton’s Neuroma will be located between the third and fourth toes, on the ball of the foot. In contrast, the pain from Metatarsalgia will generally be felt across the entire ball of the foot, where the toes meet the foot. Morton’s Neuroma often presents as numbness and tingling before becoming worse and developing into pain, while Metatarsalgia more often begins as a dull pain that develops into sharper pain
In Morton’s Neuroma, you may be able to feel a pronounced mass between the third and fourth toes
Treating Pain in the Ball of the Foot
Whether you’re experiencing Metatarsalgia or Morton’s Neuroma, it’s important to work with your physician to determine the root cause before you begin a course of treatment, since both of these conditions have numerous root causes. Determining the cause while also addressing acute pain and symptoms will help you find both immediate and lasting healing and relief. Your doctor will look and your health history, lifestyle, and habits to determine the root cause of the pain in the ball of your foot. He or she will also examine your feet and may recommend x-rays to rule out other possible complications or conditions.