Finally... had the right foot cut! It has been a bit over a year and I have tried all the "conservative" approaches to the problem: i.e injections directly into the foot (3 times), custom made foot orthotics, staying off it as much as possible, not running, biking etc... nothing worked for me.
So, I was diagnosis with: Morton's neuroma which is: an enlarged nerve that usually occurs in the third interspace, which is between the third and fourth toes. Above the nerve is a structure called the deep transverse metatarsal ligament. This ligament is very strong, holds the metatarsal bones together, and creates the ceiling of the nerve compartment. With each step, the ground pushes up on the enlarged nerve and the deep transverse metatarsal ligament pushes down. This causes compression in a confined space - and let me tell you... a LOT OF PAIN.
Conservative treatment does not work for most patients (as it did not work for me) and surgery usually is necessary. Two surgical procedures are available. The dorsal approach involves making an incision on the top of the foot - this is the one I did, less invasive and quicker recovery time they say. This approach permits the patient to walk soon after surgery because the stitches are not on the weight-bearing side of the foot. The podiatrist maneuvers the instruments carefully through many structures and cuts the deep transverse metatarsal ligament, which typically causes most of the nerve compression. This procedure can lead to instability in the forefoot that may require attention in the future.
Surgical Complications
The surgical area contains very small blood vessels, nerves, and muscles and complications can occur. Once the neuroma is removed, the empty space may fill with blood, resulting in a painful hematoma. There is a risk for infection, necessitating careful monitoring by the podiatrist and patient. If the incision site becomes warm or red within a day or two after surgery, or if the patient runs a fever, the surgeon must be contacted immediately.
Recurrence is another possibility. The stump of nerve remaining after resection can begin to grow again. If this occurs, the nerve grows in width and length, creating a burning pain that can be treated by injection or further surgery.
Felt I had a good doctor at the Mayo Clinic here in Phoenix, so we shall see....