As the author of Fixing Your Feet, I received emails on a regular basis. Most present a foot care or footwear problem and ask for help. One today caught my attention. Russ asked, “I have been running for about 2 ½ years and for about 1 ½ years have been putting up with this pain located just below the 2nd and 3rd toes on the balls of both feet. I just got x-rays and an MRI. The MD said it was Morton’s Neuroma and the first step is alcohol injections. What do you think and what do you recommend?”
The beauty of today’s world is the Internet. In my book Fixing Your Feet I have a section on Morton’s Neuroma so I know the most common recommendations: shoes with a wide forefoot, metatarsal pads, and varying lacing techniques. Cortisone injections are often tried. Surgery is sometimes an option.
A Google search on “Morton’s Neuroma treatments” lists a number of websites that verify what I have written. Nowhere can I find reference to alcohol injections. It may be that the MD meant a medication like Cortisone. It may be I am unaware of a different or a new treatment option. The point is, the Internet can provide additional information that can help Russ, and any one of us, become better informed.
In Russ’ case, I recommended he get a second opinion. Plus that he use Google, Dogpile, Alexa, or Altavista, all great search engines, to read about treatment options. Being informed and educated about foot care is important.
In a second email, Russ indicated the MD mentioned “sclerosing therapy.” Going back to Google, and searching on those keywords, gives additional information for an informed decision. Whether you are reading my book or another book on foot care, if you have foot care issues or foot pain, its worth investigating your treatment options. If I had Russ’ Morton’s Neuroma, I might make the choice to get the injections. But only after I made a series of investigative searches—and got a second opinion.
