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BALL OF FOOT PAIN SPECIALISTS • 4 CHICAGO-AREA LOCATIONS

Morton’s Neuroma Treatment in Chicago, IL

Burning, tingling, or numbness in the ball of your foot? Our experienced podiatrists offer a full spectrum of Morton’s neuroma treatments — from custom orthotics and injection therapy to minimally invasive surgery — at 4 Chicagoland locations.

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80%
Resolve Without Surgery
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In-Office Ultrasound
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Chicagoland Locations

Morton’s neuroma treatment Chicago — ball of foot nerve pain diagram

What Is Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma is a thickening of the tissue surrounding the digital nerve that runs between the metatarsal heads in the ball of the foot — most commonly between the 3rd and 4th toes. Despite the name, it is not a true tumor. It’s a benign fibrous enlargement of the nerve caused by chronic compression and irritation.

As the nerve swells, it becomes trapped between the metatarsal bones with each step, producing the characteristic burning pain, numbness, and “pebble-in-shoe” sensation. Without treatment, the neuroma can enlarge progressively, making conservative management less effective over time.

Women are 8–10 times more likely to develop Morton’s neuroma than men, largely due to narrow, high-heeled footwear. However, runners, court-sport athletes, and anyone with bunions, hammertoes, or flat feet are also at elevated risk due to altered forefoot biomechanics.

Don’t wait for the pain to become constant. Early intervention gives conservative treatments the best chance of success and may help you avoid surgery entirely.

How Do You Know It’s a Neuroma?

Morton’s neuroma produces a distinctive pattern of symptoms in the forefoot. If any of these sound familiar, a diagnostic ultrasound can confirm whether a neuroma is present.

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Burning Pain

Sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot, typically between the 3rd and 4th toes. Often described as “walking on a hot marble.” Worsens during push-off phase of walking and in tight footwear.

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Tingling & Numbness

Pins-and-needles sensation or numbness radiating into the adjacent toes. Some patients report an electric-shock-like sensation that strikes without warning, especially when wearing narrow shoes.

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Pebble-in-Shoe Feeling

A persistent sensation of standing on a small stone, marble, or a bunched-up sock — even with no foreign object present. This is caused by the enlarged nerve pressing against the metatarsal heads.

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Toe Spreading

The affected toes may splay apart (daylight sign) as the neuroma pushes the metatarsal heads apart. This subtle visual clue helps your podiatrist identify the involved interspace during examination.

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Activity-Related Flares

Pain intensifies with walking, running, or standing for long periods — particularly on hard surfaces. Many patients instinctively adjust their gait to avoid pushing off through the ball of the foot.

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Relief When Barefoot

Symptoms often improve when shoes are removed and the forefoot can spread naturally. Massaging the ball of the foot or flexing the toes typically provides temporary relief — a hallmark diagnostic clue.

Morton’s Neuroma Treatment Options

We follow a staged treatment approach, starting with the least invasive options. About 80% of our neuroma patients improve without surgery.

Stage 1 — Conservative

Footwear Modification & Custom Orthotics

The first line of treatment targets the root mechanical cause — forefoot compression. We prescribe wider, lower-heeled shoes and design custom orthotics with a metatarsal pad positioned just behind the neuroma to spread the metatarsal heads and take pressure off the nerve. Effective for small neuromas (<5mm) caught early.

Learn about custom orthotics →

Stage 2 — Injection therapy

Corticosteroid & Alcohol Sclerotherapy Injections

When orthotics alone aren’t enough, ultrasound-guided injections target the neuroma directly. Corticosteroid injections reduce acute inflammation (limit 3/year), while alcohol sclerotherapy uses a dilute ethanol solution to chemically shrink the neuroma over 3–7 sessions with 60–89% success rate.

Stage 3 — Advanced non-surgical

Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) & PRP

For neuromas that respond partially to injections, we offer shockwave therapy to reduce nerve inflammation and PRP therapy to promote tissue healing — both non-surgical, in-office treatments with no downtime. ESWT: 3–5 sessions. PRP: autologous growth factors to reduce nerve inflammation.

Learn about shockwave therapy →

Stage 4 — Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery (Cryoneuroablation)

Cryosurgery uses extreme cold (-50°C to -70°C) delivered through a small probe to destroy the thickened nerve tissue without cutting or removing it. The nerve’s outer structure remains intact, preventing stump neuroma formation. 85% success rate. Recovery in approximately 3 days. Performed in-office under local anesthesia.

Stage 5 — Radiofrequency

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency ablation uses controlled thermal energy delivered through a needle-thin probe to selectively deactivate the nerve fibers transmitting pain signals. Performed under ultrasound guidance, RFA targets the neuroma with precision. 70–80% success rate. Minimal downtime. Avoids permanent numbness associated with nerve removal.

Stage 6 — Surgical last resort

Neuroma Decompression or Neurectomy

When all conservative and minimally invasive options have been exhausted, surgical intervention provides a definitive solution. We perform neuroma decompression or neurectomy through a small dorsal incision. Walk in a surgical shoe the same day. Regular shoes in 2–3 weeks. Full activity in 4–6 weeks. >85% patient satisfaction.

Our Neuroma Treatment Advantage

Neuroma diagnosis requires precision. Treatment requires a podiatrist who can offer every option — not just the ones they specialize in.

  • In-office diagnostic ultrasound — diagnose and size your neuroma on the spot, no separate imaging appointment
  • Every neuroma injection performed under real-time ultrasound guidance for greater accuracy
  • Full treatment spectrum from orthotics and sclerotherapy to shockwave therapy and MIS surgery under one roof
  • Residency-trained specialists with advanced training in both conservative and minimally invasive surgical management
  • 6-stage treatment ladder ensures you receive the least invasive effective treatment first
80%
Avoid Surgery
85%
Cryosurgery Success
3 day
Cryo Recovery
4
Chicago Locations

Our Locations

Four convenient Chicagoland offices for Morton’s neuroma treatment. Diagnostic ultrasound, injection therapy, and surgical consultations available at all locations.

Michigan Avenue — Chicago

30 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1220, Chicago, IL 60602

(312) 701-0770

Mon–Fri 8am–5pm

Book at this location →

Elmhurst, IL

277 N York St, Elmhurst, IL 60126

(312) 701-0770

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

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Flossmoor, IL

19801 Governors Hwy #150, Flossmoor, IL 60422

(708) 799-2900

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

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Tinley Park, IL

6703 W 159th St Suite 107, Tinley Park, IL 60477

(708) 799-2900

Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

Book at this location →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Morton’s neuroma treatment at Michigan Avenue Podiatry.

Morton’s neuroma typically feels like you’re standing on a pebble or a fold in your sock. You may experience sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot, often radiating into the 3rd and 4th toes. Numbness, tingling, or an electric-shock sensation between the toes is common. Symptoms are usually worse in tight or narrow shoes and improve when you remove your shoes and massage the area. Some patients also report a clicking sensation (Mulder’s click) when walking.

Yes. Many Morton’s neuromas respond well to non-surgical treatment, especially when diagnosed early. Conservative options include switching to wider shoes with a low heel, custom orthotics with a metatarsal pad to offload the nerve, corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation, alcohol sclerotherapy injections to shrink the neuroma, and shockwave therapy (ESWT) to promote nerve healing. About 70–80% of patients improve with conservative care alone. Surgery is reserved for neuromas that don’t respond after 3–6 months of consistent non-surgical treatment.

Alcohol sclerotherapy is a non-surgical injection treatment that uses a dilute alcohol solution (typically 4% ethanol with local anesthetic) to chemically reduce the size of the neuroma. The alcohol causes controlled degeneration of the thickened nerve tissue. A series of 3–7 injections is given at 1–2 week intervals under ultrasound guidance. Studies report 60–89% patient satisfaction rates. It is a good option for patients who want to avoid surgery or have not responded to corticosteroid injections.

Recovery depends on which treatment stage is used. Cryosurgery (cryoneuroablation) has the fastest recovery — most patients return to normal activities within 3 days and are fully recovered in 1–2 weeks. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) recovery is similarly quick, with most patients resuming normal activities within a few days. For minimally invasive neuroma decompression or neurectomy (our last-resort surgical option), most patients can bear weight in a surgical shoe on the day of surgery, return to regular shoes in 2–3 weeks, and resume full activity in 4–6 weeks.

Morton’s neuroma develops when repeated compression and irritation of the intermetatarsal nerve causes it to thicken and form a benign growth of fibrous tissue. Common causes include wearing tight, narrow, or high-heeled shoes that squeeze the metatarsal bones together; foot deformities like bunions, hammertoes, or flat feet that alter biomechanics; high-impact activities like running or court sports; and occupations requiring prolonged standing. Women are 8–10 times more likely to develop neuromas, largely due to shoe styles.

Diagnosis begins with a physical exam where your podiatrist performs Mulder’s test — squeezing the forefoot to reproduce the pain and elicit an audible or palpable click between the metatarsal heads. We use diagnostic ultrasound in-office to visualize the neuroma, confirm its size and exact location, and rule out other causes of forefoot pain such as metatarsalgia, stress fractures, or bursitis. MRI may be ordered for complex cases. Accurate imaging is critical for guiding injection placement and surgical planning.

Cryosurgery (also called cryoneuroablation) is a minimally invasive in-office procedure that uses extreme cold (-50°C to -70°C) delivered through a small probe to destroy the thickened nerve tissue causing Morton’s neuroma pain. Unlike neurectomy, cryosurgery preserves the nerve’s outer structure (epineurium and perineurium), which significantly reduces the risk of stump neuroma formation — the most common complication of traditional nerve removal. Clinical studies report an 85% success rate. Recovery is approximately 3 days, with most patients returning to normal activities within 1–2 weeks.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses controlled thermal energy delivered through a needle-thin probe to selectively deactivate the nerve fibers transmitting pain signals from the neuroma. Performed in-office under local anesthesia with ultrasound guidance for precise targeting, RFA offers a 70–80% success rate for pain reduction. Most patients resume normal activities within a few days. RFA avoids the permanent numbness associated with nerve removal and can be repeated if symptoms recur.

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Ready to Treat Your Morton’s Neuroma?

Don’t let ball-of-foot pain control your life. Book a consultation for in-office ultrasound diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan — from orthotics and injections to minimally invasive surgery.

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(312) 701-0770  |  [email protected]

Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammad Usman, D.P.M. — Podiatric Physician & Foot & Ankle Surgeon. Featured in Forbes, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Bustle, and Medscape.



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