Morton's Neuroma Specialist

Darin Alan Bocian, DPM, FACFAS Our Services Morton's Neuroma

Darin Alan Bocian, DPM, FACFAS

Podiatrist located in Tucson, AZ

You’re likely familiar with the feeling of having a pebble in your shoe or your sock becoming bunched up. Imagine if you had that feeling all the time, and you’re close to understanding Morton’s neuroma, a condition affecting the tissue in your feet. At his practice in Tucson, Arizona, board-certified podiatrist Darin A. Bocian, DPM, provides relief from Morton’s neuroma using conservative, nonsurgical approaches. Schedule an appointment online or over the phone.

Morton's Neuroma

What is Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s Neuroma is a thickening of the tissue surrounding the nerves that lead to your toes, in response to irritation, injury, or pressure. It usually affects the area between your third and fourth toes and also causes symptoms in the ball of your foot.

Morton’s Neuroma results in a feeling similar to having a small rock stuck in your shoe, or your sock becoming bunched up. With that in mind, you may imagine a lump or protrusion to account for this sensation. Surprisingly, Morton’s neuroma doesn’t have any visible signs.

In addition to the standing on a rock feeling, Morton’s Neuroma symptoms include:

  • Tingling or numbness in the affected toes
  • A burning sensation in the ball of your foot that may radiate to your toes

In its early stages, the pain of Morton’s Neuroma gets worse when you walk and wear shoes but goes away at night when you’re at rest. Without intervention, these symptoms get progressively worse and may persist for days or even weeks. The neuroma may get larger and eventually cause permanent nerve changes.

What causes Morton’s Neuroma?

There are several possible causes of Morton’s Neuroma. Any activity or habit that results in excess pressure, irritation, or injury to the nerves between your toes can cause it. Usually, you develop the condition when you wear ill-fitting shoes.

You may also develop Morton’s Neuroma from physical activity. Sports like running and tennis put considerable stress on your feet. There may also be an issue of equipment, as in activities like rock climbing that call for wearing tight shoes.

Some people have a foot structure that leaves them more vulnerable to developing Morton’s Neuroma. If you have flat feet or high arches, you may develop the condition even if you don’t overuse your feet or wear ill-fitting shoes.

Schedule an appointment to see Dr. Bocian if you have foot pain or discomfort that lasts for more than a few days.

How to treat: High Intensity Laser Treatment

Our proprietary High Intensity Laser Treatment (HILT) offers an advanced, noninvasive regenerative therapy specifically designed for patients suffering from Morton's neuroma who have not found relief with traditional conservative care and wish to avoid surgery.  

HILT utilizes high- intensity, short- duration bursts of energy to create photoacoustic pressure waves that simulate soft tissue remodeling, healing, and repair. By employing short- duration pulses with low duty cycles, it effectively generates these acoustic waves to promote long- term tissue regeneration. It is the only nonivastive treatment for Morton's neuroma with clinical evidence published in peer- reviewed journals. 

Key benefits of the treatment include:

  • Nonsurgical Alternative: Return to pain- free activities without surgery, immobilization, or downtime.
  • Convenient Sessions: The treatment consists of a series of 20-30 minute sessions, and patients can remain active throughout the course.
  • Long- Term Results: Patients typically continue to see improvement for 6- 12 months following their final session, with positive long-term outcomes.  
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