Pain at the base of the third and second toe

by Samantha
(Tennessee)

I am having pain at the base of the third and second toe on both my left and right foot. It started on both feet back in December and I had cortizone injections that helped the pain greatly. The doctor thought I was suffering from Morton's, and I also got orthodics. In April, my 2nd toe on the left foot began to hurt and she thought I had a stress fracture. That wasn't the case confirmed by an MRI. Swelling, inflammation, etc. above the third metatarsal due to stress injury or something. I have orthodics but haven't gotten to wear them yet. Now both feet are killing me. I can take my index finger and put it in between my 2nd and 3rd toe and the pain is horrible. I almost feel like passing out. The corns on the tips of my toes on my left foot are terrible lately. I don't know what to do. My feet are killing me. I have went up a size in shoes, and I am trying to do all I know to do. Nothing seems to work.

Hi Samantha,
You do not mention your age, but certainly going up one shoe size is going to create problems for you if you are still wearing your old shoes. Two things here. The fact that you are getting corns on the tips of your toes is suggestive of wearing shoes that are too short and tight. If this is the case then those same shoes are going to worsen your neuroma pain. No matter what your doctor does for you, it will be negated by your old shoes.
Start wearing properly fitted conservative shoes (for now), see if there is some reduction in pain. Then let your podiatrist treat your symptoms. Proper shoes and good foot care should improve your situation.
One last note, sometimes neuromas to do not respond to treatment and in that case you may have to consider having them surgically removed.
Marc Mitnick DPM