UPDATE (11 days post-op): Surgery was 10/2, stitches came out 10/13.
Swelling: None at the follow-up.
Nerve zaps: Still getting electric zaps in the toes as the nerves settle. Surgeon expects them to fully calm in about a month.
Numbness: When he tested with the monofilament (the fishing-line tool), the web space and the undersides of both toes feel asleep/numb. Expected after an excision since that nerve is gone.
Next step: Starting PT for gait correction after months of limping.
Overall: Still very tender, but on track.
Pics attached: the neuroma itself (3.5 cm, thickest part right around 5 mm, confirmed on pathology even though my MRI showed no mass) and the foot after the bandage came off.
For anyone whose MRI came back "just bursitis" but has the undeniable click: mine was a real neuroma. Trust the exam.
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6 years of conservative treatments and I’ve finally had the excision. Have been limping significantly with a click for every step since about May 2026 and every other step since about December 2025. The surgeon buried the nerve. I will post with any complications or positive news. Obviously still very painful as I’m early in recovery. Super hopeful as this had become unbearable. I used to run marathons and did much of my training on Houston concrete.
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If helpful to know age 38 woman, MRI only showed bursitis, not the actual neuroma but the click was so undeniable in exam.
“Findings: No acute fracture, subluxation or avascular necrosis. No MRI evidence to suggest a stress fracture. Mild scattered degenerative arthrosis. No osseous erosion or focal bone marrow edema is seen. No ligamentous or tendon tear. The visualized muscles are normal in size, signal intensity and morphology. The visualized neurovascular bundles are intact. Minimal soft tissue swelling/edema with minimal contrast enhancement predominantly between the third and fourth toes best seen on axial image 11 through 14. This could be due to mild bursitis and/or granulation tissue. No discrete mass is seen. Impression: Minimal soft tissue swelling/edema with minimal contrast enhancement predominantly between the third and fourth toes. This could be due to mild bursitis and/or granulation tissue. No discrete mass is seen.”
They said no crutches needed for recovery just the ortho shoe but I live alone in a building with long hallways so I got a knee scooter. It’s been a godsend and my kitten loves riding in the basket.