by Dr. Tom Lembo
The majority of American's will experience foot pain at some point in their lives. Problems in the feet can have a substantial impact on their quality of life. From restricted walking, working, exercising or playing with children, there are many major downfalls of having foot problems.
An ever-increasing issue in the feet is Morton's neuroma. But what is Morton's and why does it start? How can it be treated?
Neuromas are created by the thickening of nerve tissues. This occurs when said set of nerves experience extreme compression and nerve irritation. This compression cause the nerves to swell and even enlarge.
The major issue of these nerves thickening is that it can lead to permanent nerve damage if the necessary treatment isn't administered in a timely manner. A neuroma can occur anywhere in one's body.
There are a variety of types of a foot neuromas.
The most common type is Morton's neuroma. These are normally found between the third or fourth toes. Other neuromas can also begin to grow in other parts of the foot.
Possibly due to an increased use of shoes with a heel, women are more at risk of developing the nerve issues than men.
Potential improper foot mechanics come into play when evaluating the issue. Flat feet or high arches can contribute because they create instability around the toe joint. (The video below shows a second interspace intermetatarsal neuroma. A Morton's neuroma is a third interspace intermetatarsal neuroma, or an enlargement of the nerve adjacent to the one depicted here.)
Symptoms of Morton's Neuroma usually consist of pain, tingling, numbness and burning sensations. They are most commonly felt between the toes, however, people who suffer from it have stated that these symptoms sometimes occur in the ball of the foot.
Swelling is a normal symptom of the neuroma as well. The swelling is usually the worst between the toes. The feeling of Morton's neuroma is similar to that of having a stone in one's shoe, or a bunched up sock under the toes when wearing shoes.
Shoes with a narrow toe box create especially bad symptoms. They can get worse if said shoes are laced tightly as well. It increases stress on the nerves as the toes are trapped.
Much like having a stone in your shoe, it doesn't affect you if you're sitting (albeit a little uncomfortable). However, the pain will increase substantially with walking. Symptoms usually become unbearable when walking up or down stairs.
Plantar digital nerves in the foot are what supply the sensory signals for the forefoot and toes. The carriers of the sensory signals are what we call digital nerves. These nerves are the terminal for which medial and plantar nerves communicate.
Because these nerves need a clear and open terminal, issues are created when compression in the terminals are created. This occurs when the toes are pressed together on a regular basis and closes the pathway for the nerves.
That's when the pain begins. The plantar nerves become trapped and can no longer send signals efficiently.
After thorough clinical evaluation, a podiatrist can tell you what customized plan of treatment will be the best for your case of Morton's neuroma. If you are in significant pain, the sooner you see a doctor the sooner you can start your path to recovery.
Furthermore, the sooner you get seen the less chance you'll have of being forced to have an operation. Non-surgical intervention is definitely the preferred choice, as a surgery can keep you off of your feet for weeks. Avoid high heels and other slim-fitting shoes for a while.
Find a pair of shoes that fit well and allow a lot of room for your toes. Find shoes that have very thick, cushy soles that will take the pressure off the bone structure of your foot.
While new shoes and anti-inflammatory medication can be helpful, supporting the shape of your foot with an orthotic shoe insert is extremely important to ultimately eliminating the compression of the nerve.
For something that affects so many people, Morton's neuroma isn't talked about often enough. Morton's neuroma can be serious enough to make the simple act of exercising tough for anyone - regardless of age and fitness.
For many, the answer is orthotic shoe inserts, sometimes custom-made by a podiatrist. These cost hundreds of dollars, and can often end up limiting the types of shoes you can wear.
However, Morton's neuroma can also be addressed with a pair of over-the-counter orthotic shoe inserts. Not only do they average a tenth of the cost, but they are available in many different shapes and sizes, so you don't have to get rid of what's in your closet.
It's also important to understand cushioning alone may not be the answer! While you would think a cushioned shoe insert is what would be needed, a more supportive orthotic insert that supports the arch and stabilizes the foot is actually what's needed to relieve Morton's neuroma pain!
It sounds a little too good to be true, but once you understand how to treat Morton's neuroma, and how a good orthotic helps, you'll start to see why the solution doesn't have to break the bank.
#1- Samurai Insoles Ninjas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why are Samurai Insoles our top pick for 2026 forMorton's neuroma pain?
✔️ Great Reviews: "They work", "Amazing", "A Miracle", "A must have"; this is just some of the tremendous feedback Samurai Insoles Ninjas are getting from customers withMorton's neuroma pain.
✔️ Design: Samurai Insoles Ninjas are one of the few products on the market that are an ACTUAL ORTHOTIC that is not super rigid. This gives your feet the support and shock absorption they need to relieveMorton's neuroma pain while STILL being comfortable!
They also can be worn in nearly ANY shoe with a removable insole, giving you the flexibility of using them in many types of shoes!
And the best part? Because they aren't an insole made of foam and fabric, they last SO LONG! There isn't anything to wear out, just put them under the factory insoles of a new pair of shoes and you're good to go.
✔️ Price: At $39.99 these are an absolute steal! People routinely pay over $500 for custom orthotics forMorton's neuroma. For less than 1/10 the price, these can be nearly as good.
✔️ Amazing Return Policy/Warranty: Samurai Insoles Ninjas have a 60 day return policy. You can literally wear them for 59 days, decide they don't work for you, and send them back for a full refund. Ninjas also have a ONE YEAR WARRANTY! No other product we reviewed even comes CLOSE to this type of guarantee.
✔️ Made in the USA: Samurai Insoles are made in an orthotic lab in the USA. The fact that an American-made orthotic can be purchased for under $40 is incredible.
If you've been on the internet in the last year, you haven't sneezed without seeing a Protalus ad. They are comfy and can be very beneficial for flat feet. Protalus' hefty price tag remains their biggest negative.
✔️ Design:Protalus "kind of" has an orthotic merged with an insole. Protalus took a different approach by combining a thick piece of plastic on the bottom of the insole, instead of inside. This can do the job in some circumstances, but it also makes them thicker than Samurai Insoles, reducing the choices of shoes they'll fit in well.
❌Price: Here's the problem with Protalus; they're so expensive! At the time of writing this the current retail is $64.95. Oof. For that kind of money you'd better REALLY love them. It also reduces the chances you'd buy a whole bunch of them to put in all of your shoes.
✔️90 Warranty: Protalus products have a 90 day warranty. It's not one year like the Samurai Insoles Ninjas, but better than nothing...
❌Made in the USA: Protalus insoles are NOT made in the USA unfortunately. For the price we had hoped they were.
Superfeet have been around a LONG time. They got their start being sold in retail sporting goods stores, and have transitioned to selling online in recent years, but this has presented the company with some challenges.
✔️ Design: If you've checked out the Protalus design, just know that the Superfeet did it first. They were one of the first to incorporate an orthotic plastic layer on the outside of the insole. Once again, this does the job, but it also makes them thicker than the Samurai, reducing the choices of shoes they'll fit well in.
✔️ Price: Superfeet are borderline in the pricey range, current retail at the time of writing this article is $54.95
✔️ 60 Day Warranty: Superfeet green insoles come with a 60 day warranty, significantly less than Samurai Insoles Ninjas or Protalus products.
❌ Made in the USA: Superfeet are not made in the USA unfortunately. Once again, for this price we had hoped they would be.
✔️ Design: Not a full-length insole, but still designed to be placed on top of your shoe's factory insoles, which may make it difficult for some people to adjust to the feel. Once again, Dr. Scholl's Custom Fit combines a thick piece of plastic to the bottom of the insole, instead of inside the insole itself.
❌ Price: Dr. Scholl's Custom fit Orthotic Inserts currently are our second most expensive selection. At the time of this article they have a retail price of approximately $60
✔️ 90 Day Warranty: Dr. Scholls Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts have a 90 day warranty.
❌ Made in the USA: Dr. Scholl's "Custom fit" Orthotic Inserts are not made in the USA unfortunately.
❌ Design: Regrettably, there is not much to be said. Dr. Scholl’s Pain Relief Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis consist of a very thin insole with equally thin piece of plastic attached to the bottom. It is uncertain how much weight they can support before losing their shape, but it appears that their capacity is limited.
✔️ Price: Well, at least they're affordable at $15! You may just get what you pay for however.
✔️ 90 Day Warranty: Dr. Scholl’s Plantar Fasciitis Orthotics have a 90 day warranty.
❌ Made in the USA: Dr. Scholl's Pain Relief Orthotic Inserts are not made in the USA unfortunately.
Whichever you choose to fight your Morton's neuroma pain, choose now!
The longer you allow Morton's neuroma pain to linger, the harder it is to get rid of, and the longer it will take!
Best,
Dr. Tom Lembo
We, Samurai Wellness, LLC, are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking toAmazon.com and affiliated sites. Samurai Insoles are branded products made by our company, Samurai Wellness, LLC, and we truly believe that our products are the best on the market! This article is a promotion of the Samurai Insoles branded products that we sell. It is important to know that our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.