Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to say thanks for reading and hopping on this blog.  I really hope it has been of some encouragement for you or someone you know that might be dealing with Morton's Neuroma.  It's such a pain, but I believe many people can get the solution they need by following some of the advice I have listed throughout this blog, whether from my own experiences or the professionals named or products/procedures listed.  I'm MN free, and I think tons of people out there can be restored without surgery.

Anyway, as we enter into Christmas and a New Year, I just wanted to wish you all an amazing time during your celebrations with friends, family, churches, companies, schools, etc.  Hopefully none of you end up with the Jelly of the Month Club memberships, but if you do, make the most of it!  

Bless you all,

Shane

Since I get emails on this topic...

Hey Friends,
So, I was noticing that I tend to get certain questions more often about what I actually wear, as in wearing right now.  So, this is a way for me to post it for everyone that might venture to this page, as well as a shameless amazon plug.  *If anyone happens to find better pricing than amazon, I'm all ears.

OK, so just to recap, if needed, the Morton's Neuroma that I HAD in my left foot is 100% healed and gone!  I can honestly say that all the MN woes I had for months are gone.  It's quite amazing what the sclerosing did and what a difference it makes to have my foot back again.  I've been working out at pretty high intensity with weight training, and I have been running on concrete with my VFFs.  Which, btw, anyone that is trying to get $ from Vibram FiveFingers, I hope you reconsider.  I've publicly opted to not accept any payment from them for the lawsuit.  The company makes a great product, but like anything else with your body and fitness, you have to ease into something new.

Anyway, back to the topic - here is a little widget (below and to the left) that shows the EXACT shoes I am currently working in, working out in, and wearing casually.  It's "winter" now in Arizona, so I'm wearing the Vivobarefoot boots a bit more, but technically all of these are casual.  I haven't had to wear anything super formal in quite some time, but from what I can tell, Vivo does have options with the shiny leather if someone needs to go that route.

For those in the U.S, have a very Happy Thanksgiving!  


Onward,
Shane

Feedback from you!

Hi everyone,
All is well on this end with the PAST Morton's Neuroma...but I wanted to check in with all of you, my readers from various countries, to see how things were going.  I get emails and Google Hangout blips from time to time, but I would love to hear a few things from YOU:

• Are you currently struggling with a painful MN?
• What have you investigated so far, in terms of correction?
• Are any of you using any of the shoes I have listed?
• Have any of you done the sclerosing, and if so, how is that going?
• How did you find this blog?
• Has this blog been of any help?
• Or any other info you want to share.

As I mentioned, my neuroma is completely gone.  I have been able to run and lift in my VFF (my favorite shoe for Arizona) frequently.  It is such a blessing to be able to say that and share that success.  Hopefully you are able to share in it as well.

God speed,

Shane

Working out! An update.

Well, as many of you might have figured out on your own, my updates are becoming less frequent due to the healing of the Morton's Neuroma I had!  So, with it being healed comes all of the things I was able to do before - working out, any outdoor activities with my friends or family, and simply enjoying the "normal" things.  So, I thank God that those troubling times of the MN are behind me.  But I am still hoping and praying that people find this blog, because I think this type of combination that I used allows the person to take a smarter approach to recovery without surgery, BUT this method also allows the person to come into a proper understanding of what he/she should be putting on their feet.

So, back to the update of working out: for a while now, I have been able to fully function for physical activity.  Lifting, running, etc.  I will admit, at first I had a bit of "I better ease into this" attitude, because I had been farting around with that MN for so long it had almost become a habit to be concerned with the "what if's" of if it gets strained or inflamed again.  But I am happy to say it hasn't.  I have been wearing my VFF, Altra, and Vivobarefoot shoes, and barefoot when I can, and things have gone beautifully.  And I will still wear my correct toes every now and then, but the frequency is decreasing now that the supportive tissues are strong and positioned properly.

Anyway, I hope this info can be shared by you to others that need it, because, again, the whole reason I started this was that I had a feeling, from all of the info I was reading online before, that people were not able to really overcome the MN they were suffering with, and it is beyond frustrating.  Especially when podiatrists might be trying to slam you right into orthotics and then putting you right into crappy shoes again.  Good podiatry means hearing your concerns, looking at the evidence and history of your feet, watching you walk, looking at the shoes you wear, and trying to work backwards for a real restoration of the foot, instead of just trying to mask the symptom or the pain, which would only be temporary.  You will know you are are at the right podiatrist office if they take the time with you and aren't trying to push you into buying something right away.

So, that's an update for anyone interested, as well as some info that might help you if you're working with a podiatrist.  

Bless you all,

Shane

Vivobarefoot Evo Lite

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share an update - I recently found an awesome deal on amazon and was able to snag these bad boys for about $60!  Retail is normally $130.  

As you know, my foot is doing awesome, and these Vivobarefoot Evo Lites are great for a couple reasons:

1. I can wear my Correct Toes in them (I still wear them because I believe it still helps my foot anatomy.  It took years to get jacked up, and it will probably take a year to get back to a true natural state).
2. They look great.  It's good to have footwear like this because it is also a great conversation starter if you want an ice breaker to help people realize they might be wearing expensive garbage for shoes.
3. They are zero-drop and they have wide toe boxes.  Very natural layout and design.  Big score there.

So, as you can imagine, if you happen to be in the market for good shoes, I still suggest the Altra brand, as well as Lems, but these Evo Lites are really sharp and they might be a great match for some of you.  You can read the reviews on amazon to determine your sizing.  I normally wear a U.S 12.5 or 13, and I ordered these in the 47, which is also what I wear for my Vibram Five Fingers.

Be well!

More progress

So, I figured I would get another update on here for everyone.  Since my last post I have moved from Kansas to Arizona.  As you can imagine, that put quite a strain on my foot.  However, I am pleased to tell you that it held up beautifully.  In fact, I think it actually helped the process along in terms of properly strengthening the tendons in my left foot.  Here's why - as I mentioned before, I still wear my Correct Toes, and I was even wearing them while moving heavy items.  By allowing proper toe splay, I believe the foot position experienced more natural movement and contraction of muscle tissue.

Anyhow, long story short, I still stand by the approach I took toward restoring my Morton's Neuroma.

Be blessed! 

Listen to your toes - a lightbulb moment

So, I was just taking look at my toes yesterday, June 19, 2014, now that my foot is getting back to proper anatomy and feeling way better, and I realized that the callouses I had on each pinky toe, on the bottoms, are gone.  You see, I had these callous shapes of an upside down triangle, I guess that would be the easiest way to imagine it/describe it, on each pinky toe.  As far back as I can remember, I had those things and I never thought anything of it!  So, from a symptom side of things, my toes were "telling" me that my footwear was too tight in the toe box!  I'm so ticked I did not think to pause and ponder that back then.  It was an opportunity for what could have been a great Aha! moment.  But it might still help one of you readers.

So, for those of you that are familiar with the general symptoms, please check the toes of your kids, because I know for sure had the callouses when I was in high school playing football, as well as during college football.  Not to mention, I had the callouses even in the off season when I wasn't in cleats, which means I haven't been in correctly fitting shoes, athletic or otherwise, for more than 18 years.  So, long story short - I think the callous check should be added to the medical symptoms board for Morton's Neuroma.

Happy Healing!

I believe I have this thing beat!

Well, it's with great pleasure that I can say that I have this thing beat!  

Shane 1, Morton's Neuroma 0

It's been close to 6 months since I really understood what the problem was with my foot, so I am hesitant to say it's 100% healed, but if it's not 100% it is definitely 99%!  I'll explain why it might be 99% in a minute

Again, always check with your doctor on anything you engage with for your health or body, but I want to at least list for everyone what I did to restore the neuroma.  I cannot guarantee this will work for everyone, because the simple truth remains that there are too many variables involved in healing and the path you take - age, your podiatrist's actions, your healing biology, stage of the nerve, your footwear, whether you address the root cause, etc.

But that said, here is what I did which worked for me, in order:

1. I got out of crappy conventional shoes and started wearing something that is anatomically correct.  Even brand names can be crappy for certain people.  Do the shoe liner test!  Get to zero-drop.  Allow the toes to spread.
2. I ordered and started wearing Correct Toes.  I wore them at every moment I could, and I still wear them when I am not wearing my Vibram Five Fingers.
3. I got the dehydrated alcohol injections, also known as sclerosing.  I received 3 injections about 10 days apart.
4. After each injection, I would wear my Teva sandals, to make sure I did not get an infection (kept the injection site clean).  I made sure I was not doing anything strenuous to the foot or toes.  I used a metatarsal pad every day, which allowed the metatarsals to stay spread and keep space between the bones.
5. I made sure I stayed up on Vitamin B complexes, which studies show are critical for nerve health.  I also started taking some enzymes.  

As I mentioned above, the reason I say 99% is that I think I have minor scar tissue from the injection itself, which is what I believe I feel in the joint; it's definitely not the neuroma.  And knowing my body, that tissue/sensation will probably go away within the month.   

That's about it.  Feel free to write with any questions, but I really think these steps could really revolutionize the NM population that is dealing with it.  In my humble opinion, I believe you can beat it!

Cheers!
Shane   

11 Days after Injection #3

As expected, my progress after the 3rd injection has gotten me to a point where I feel it's improved about 90% from the worst level of pain prior to the injections.  

As I have been getting the injections, I am following a regimen that I kind of created in which I am NOT putting my feet into any conventional shoes; I have been wearing my Vibram Five Fingers or Teva sandals close to 95% of the time at work or when I go out.  I have also stopped doing any working out for the time being, simply because I do not want to stress any areas of the metatarsals just yet, beyond normal walking or daily activity.  

One thing I have taken record of with the injections is that the pain associated with the injection stays about the same for 4 days post injection, and then starts to have a daily improvement.  Also, since I have been wearing my VFF more than any other footwear during the past 10 days, I am noticing that my foot muscles are getting sore.  I take this as a good thing, from a bio-mechanics perspective, because that means the muscles are developing to more appropriately handle proper foot strike, gait, and toe splay contractions during walking.  

From my time researching all of this, I am convinced that most people suffering from MN are not tackling the issue from the root cause side as well as the healing methodology side (I believe sclerosing / alcohol injections are the best option so far).  Both must be addressed if you ask me.

I'm not sure I will be getting the 4th injection, but if I do, I will certainly post about it.  Again, my end goal is to create a platform online in which people will hopefully find this info, make their own informed decision as they see fit, and get healed.  So, if you know of anyone with this problem, please share the blog.  It could end up saving someone a lot of pain and a lot of money, and in some cases a lot of regret.

Cheers!

Injection #3: Done!

I just left my podiatrist's office after my third dehydrated alcohol injection for my Morton's Neuroma.  He tries to keep the maximum number for any patient at 3.  Which, by the way, if you are in the Kansas City/Overland Park area and need what I consider a good podiatrist that will take time with you, Dr. Jacob Goldstein in Gardner is someone I would recommend.  Granted, I don't know his position on everything, but I think he tries to do his best with people.

Anyway, before I went in for this injection, for the last couple of days I have been at approximately 60% decrease in Neuroma sensitivity and pain, overall, which is HUGE in my book.  Especially since so many people claim to have long, drawn out timelines, most of which have very little success, eventually leading them to surgery...which seems to have a low satisfaction rate by patients.  And in some cases, they have recurring nerve problems due to "stumps" and other soft tissue dilemmas.

Either way, as I said from the beginning, I will beat this thing, and I hope to help other people that need a real way to stop the root cause immediately and get the nerve and foot anatomy back to a position where lifestyle does not take a backseat!       

Continued Progress

I'm glad to say that, so far after injection #2, my nerve is feeling about 30 to 40% better.  I'm experiencing less sensitivity than I had been about a week ago which is a win in my book, atleast for now.  I'm looking forward to my next injection on Tuesday due to the overall progress to date.

With that said, I believe that the alcohol injection is only part of the reason for the progress. I firmly believe that the footwear modifications I have made, in addition to being barefoot and wearing my Correct Toes as much as possible, have helped create a synergistic environment for the overall situation with the nerve.  Funny enough, I actually took a look at my wife's feet and bought Correct Toes for her, because she was not aware of her footwearproblems and how her feet were in great need of readjustment, so to speak.

Anyway, good news on all fronts, and I believe the war is just about won...without going into anything drastic, like surgical removal. 

Second injection

So, I just had alcohol injection #2.  It's been a total of ten days since the first injection.  Overall, the decrease of pain in my Morton's Neuroma has been about 10 to 15 percent.  For the past month I have avoided working out, and running, to avoid any further scar tissue from gathering on the nerve.  I continue to wear my Teva sandals because they offer a very wide toe box, and they are open toe, which allows me to wear my Correct Toes during the day.   This thing will be beat without surgery!

Blog Dedication & Disclaimer

Dear Visitors,
This blog is dedicated to people that have, or believe they have, a Morton's Neuroma.  It is also dedicated to keeping up to date with current victories and effective treatment plans for any types of symptom reversal.  As someone that currently has a MN in my left foot, my end goal is really for people to have a hub where there are more posts related to beating MN vs posts where people are complaining about it.  Make no mistake, MN is a pain in the foot, but also a huge pain in the butt.  And during my research, when I first started looking for help, most of what I came across online was blog sites related that just had thread after thread of complaining, but hardly any worth while posts or feeds about actually reversing the neuroma.  That's where this site comes in.  

And, I ask that you share this blog with your friends and family, regardless of age nor activity level.  As you'll read in the other pages, foot ailments and symptoms should really be avoidedat the root level - the footwear!  
   One thing I also want to point out is that I am a conservative/natural type of guy.  I am not sold on going straight to surgery or medication or orthotics right away.  I believe too many folks are getting pushed into the podiatrist factory line of "Oh, well, let's get an x-ray, and over to your right you will find some orthopedic shoes that we'll probably suggest for your orthotics."  I simply don't believe that is the best route for long term correction and restoration of the nerve.  

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and anything posted within this website is merely a breakdown of my own experience with my own MN, as well as information or products that I feel are worthy of sharing that I have discovered through hours of research since I started having pain and symptoms in early 2014.  As always, consult your physician before attempting to put into practice anything you read online, even if "it" has worked for someone else.  Especially since Morton's Neuroma symptoms can vary or be misdiagnosed on occasion.

Cheers! And here's to beating this thing with non-invasive, conservative and natural methods...