Morton’s neuroma happens when fibrous tissue covers a plantar digital nerve, causing nerve thickening. Surrounding tissues compress the nerve leading to pain and a sensation of having a “pebble” under your foot. It may result from wearing high heels or narrow-toed shoes, repetitive loading of the foot (runners) and some intrinsic foot anatomical abnormalities.
Some of the Morton’s neuromas are not associated with pain, however, when painful, a Morton neuroma may cause gait impairment and limitations on the activities you can tolerate. Treatment options may be conservative (change shoes, steroid injections, metatarsal pads) or surgical.
There may be another alternative – a recent literature article (Bocian, DA, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine), April 11, 2026) presents a case of successful treatment of a Morton’s Neuroma with High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT).
Many of you are familiar with Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) – we have seen countless gadgets that use red light to treat hair loss, chronic pain and myriad other ailments. High Level Laser Therapy is different – it is provided by a Class IV laser with a higher peak power and deeper penetration into skin structures (gets to tendons, joints and deep muscles), making it ideal for fast pain relief involving deeper structures.
The Bocian article presents a 34 year old female with a symptomatic Morton’s neuroma (documented by MRI) which had not improved with conservative measures.
She received 20 sessions of Nd:YAG 1064 applied locally over the course of 6 months.
She had complete resolution of her symptoms, and a follow-up MRI documented the full resolution of the 8mm neuroma.
FROM Bocian, DA et.al., Complete resolution of Morton’s neuroma following Nd:YAG 1064 nm Laser Treatment: a Case Report, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, April 11, 2026.
