Morton's Neuroma Physiotherapy in Johor
Morton's neuroma is not a tumour - the word is misleading.
It's a thickening of the connective tissue around an interdigital nerve, most commonly between the third and fourth toes, that produces shooting, burning pain and numbness in the toes.
Patients almost universally describe it as "walking with a pebble in my shoe".
Taking the shoe off and rubbing the forefoot gives brief relief, which is a classic clue.
Why it happens
The interdigital nerve runs between the metatarsal bones and is squeezed whenever the forefoot is compressed.
Narrow-toed shoes are the biggest single driver.
Tight dress shoes worn for long hours, high heels, cleated boots, and - in our 2024–2025 caseload - heavily-worn pickleball court shoes with too-narrow toeboxes all make our top-five list.
Flat-footed mechanics or long second metatarsals raise the baseline risk.
Rehab outline
Wide-toebox footwear comes first - without that change, no amount of hands-on work holds.
A metatarsal dome pad placed proximal to the painful space spreads the bones and lifts the nerve off the ground.
Soft-tissue release around the deep transverse metatarsal ligament and nerve-glide drills (gentle toe spread plus dorsiflexion) reduce adherence.
Intrinsic foot strengthening rebuilds the transverse arch so the bones don't collapse onto the nerve again.
When we refer on
If pain is persistent despite 8–12 weeks of good conservative work, an ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection can help.
Surgical excision is last resort and leaves a permanent numb patch - worth avoiding if rehab plus footwear change can achieve function.
Cost and Johor context
RM120-250 per session. Typical course: 5–8 sessions over 8–12 weeks. Our most common presentations: office workers commuting JB–Singapore in dress shoes, pickleball 40+ players on narrow court shoes, and nurses on long HSA/KPJ shifts.
How PhysioJohor matches you
WhatsApp us: where between the toes, whether taking shoes off relieves it, how long you've had it, and what you wear most of the day.