Stagger,

On the subject of neuromas, I had a really bad case on one of my feet. My foot swelled to twice its size and I was unable to walk. At the time, my insurance was an HMO, and they required three rounds of cortison injections prior to approving surgery. I did all three rounds, and they didn't calm the inflamation at all. This ended up in surgery to remove two large neuromas in the second and third innerspace. I got great relief for four years.

Out of the blue, I started getting severe pain in my shin, toward the outside edge. I went back to the podiatrist who xrayed and did an exam. Palpation of the foot revealed that the neuromas grew back. I wasn't told this was a possiblity and was quite shocked. I was also confused because the pain presented differently. My GP recommended that I see an ortho this time so off I went. Another surgery where he removed two large(huge) stump neuromas. He left me in a surgical boot since he also had to fix two hammer toes that I developed as a result of the neuromas, for three months. Then to therapy...didn't help to free up my toes since the scar tissue was undoing the tendon releases. So, another surgery to remove scar tissue and he decided(while I was out) to redo the toes.

Bottom line, my foot is so screwed up it isn't funny. My neuromas have grown back, as stump neuromas again, and my bones are out of wack, so when I walk, I carry most of my weight on one/two bones. I've seen two different doctors about it, and they advised further surgery would make my foot worse.

So, I've always had foot problems which didn't make the PN symptoms so obvious to me on this one foot.

Sorry this is so long, but you expressed an interest in neuromas and I thought my story was appropriate to share.