I developed Morton's Neuroma many years ago. It
started with riding Tevis one year in work boots and English irons. My
foot was numb for two months afterwards. Eventually it became painful, as
you said. It felt like someone had placed a constricting ring of fire
around my toe...as I remember, it was the second from the smallest toe on my
left foot. Eventually, I couldn't ride at all without horrible pain.
I finally gave in and had the neuroma surgically excised, but it was
three years later before my foot was pain free. Now I never have
any trouble with it. Using EZ Ride stirrups made a huge difference,
and for me, Ariat Performers, which have hard soles rather than soft
ones.
Surgery may be your only solution, but don't expect to
be pain free immediately afterwards.
I did the Lone Star
AERC ride (LD) last weekend near Bandera, TX. At about 20
miles of mostly trotting my left foot was just excruciatingly
painful. It's in the ball of my foot and it hurts and stings and
burns. I am using some wide endurance stirrups with pads and
ride in Ariat Terrains. My husband said "Morton's Neuroma, honey" and
I said "no way", but I did some internet research and the
symptoms for that are identical to what I am experiencing. It's from
repetitive pressure to the ball of the foot and something that runners
get.
I have a friend who does have this diagnosis
(from a doctor and not just her hubby) and has been through about a year
of intense pain, surgery, and even worse, and is still riding. Up to
this point, I really didn't realize that what I've been feeling is what she's
been dealing with.
She said she might start riding in caged stirrups
and running shoes. For both of
us....giving up riding isn't going to happen!
I hope to move up to 50's eventually if I can
with this problem. I know that should be everyone's goal, right, to move
up to 50's?? :-)
For those of you that have this and deal with it,
what do you do? What kind of riding shoes/boots and stirrups do you
use?
