Private Morton’s neuroma surgery, by a consultant foot & ankle surgeon.
A proper neurectomy or nerve decompression by a BOFAS-registered surgeon - with the non-surgical options honestly considered first, and a proper theatre and anaesthetic when surgery is the right step.
Indicative pricing
What private Morton’s neuroma surgery costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across UK private providers.
In short
£2,800–£4,500, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neurectomy (dorsal, day-case) | £2,800–£4,500 | 20–40 min | Same visit |
| Endoscopic ligament decompression | £3,200–£4,800 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Alcohol / dextrose sclerosant injection series | £450–£850 per injection | 10 min | Same visit |
| Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection | £350–£650 | 15 min | Same visit |
| Diagnostic ultrasound of the forefoot | £280–£450 | 20 min | Same visit |
| Consultation only | £200–£400 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which surgeon does the case, by the anaesthetic chosen, and by whether both a first-visit imaging or an injection is added on the day.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right operation, the right time.
Morton’s neuroma is one of the easier forefoot problems to diagnose and one of the easier ones to over-operate on. We line the non-surgical steps up first, and only recommend surgery when they have honestly been tried.
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Not sure it is a neuroma?
An ultrasound-guided assessment tells you what is actually going on before anyone reaches for a scalpel.
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Injections wearing off?
A sclerosant series or a switch of technique may still delay or avoid a neurectomy.
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Ready to have it done?
A BOFAS-registered surgeon, a proper theatre, twenty to forty minutes, home the same day.
When it helps
When Morton’s neuroma surgery is the right step.
The presentations we see most, plus the one red flag that means something else is going on.
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Burning forefoot pain
A hot, burning pain between the third and fourth toes - sometimes the second and third - that flares in tight or heeled shoes.
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Walking on a pebble
That classic sense of a fold in the sock or a small stone under the ball of the foot that will not shift.
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Tingling or numbness into the toes
Pins-and-needles or reduced sensation radiating into the adjacent toes, worse the longer you are on your feet.
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Positive Mulder’s click
A palpable, sometimes audible click when the forefoot is squeezed - the classic examination sign your clinician will look for.
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Failed conservative treatment
Three to six months of wide shoes, metatarsal pads, orthotics and at least one steroid injection with only partial or short-lived relief.
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Ultrasound- or MRI-confirmed neuroma
Imaging has confirmed a well-defined perineural fibrosis in the webspace, and the symptoms match the site.
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Sport or work you cannot avoid
A runner, a nurse, a teacher, a chef - a job or sport that keeps you on the forefoot and will not tolerate months more of trial and error.
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Red flag: night pain or numb foot
Rest pain that wakes you, a cold or dusky foot, or numbness spreading beyond the webspace is not a neuroma - same-day medical review.
Procedure options
Neurectomy is not the only option.
What each option on the table actually involves - and which fits which problem.
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Dorsal neurectomy (open)
The most common UK operation. A small dorsal incision, the interdigital nerve identified and excised above and below the neuroma. Permanent numbness in the webspace, well tolerated by most.
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Plantar neurectomy
The nerve is approached from the sole of the foot. Better exposure for revision cases, but a longer no-weight-bearing recovery on the incision.
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Nerve decompression (neurolysis)
The deep transverse metatarsal ligament is divided to relieve pressure on the nerve, keeping it intact. Preserves sensation but pain relief is less complete.
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Endoscopic ligament decompression
A minimally invasive keyhole release of the transverse metatarsal ligament - smaller incision, quicker return to shoes, offered in select UK units.
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Alcohol / dextrose sclerosant series
A course of ultrasound-guided injections that chemically shrinks the neuroma. NICE-endorsed as an alternative to surgery for the right patient.
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Radiofrequency ablation
An emerging office-based technique that heat-ablates the nerve. Evidence is still building - offered in a small number of UK centres.
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Ultrasound-guided steroid injection
A single accurate injection settles 60 to 80 per cent of neuromas at least short-term - often worth trying before any operation.
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Consultation only
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Morton’s neuroma surgery gives 80 to 90 per cent of patients good or excellent pain relief. The things worth planning are footwear, the return to sport, and the two honest risks - stump neuroma and a missed second webspace.
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Full weight-bearing from day one
You walk out of theatre in a stiff-soled post-op sandal. Heel-weight only at first, forefoot weight builds up over two to three weeks.
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Permanent numbness in the webspace
A neurectomy removes the nerve - a patch of numbness between the affected toes is expected and permanent. Most patients say they do not notice it.
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Swelling for four to eight weeks
Forefoot swelling that eases through the day is normal. Elevate when you sit, and expect your shoes to feel tight for a month or two.
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Back to work in days to weeks
Sedentary work at five to ten days, jobs on your feet at three to four weeks, driving at one to two weeks once you can brake sharply.
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Regular shoes at four to six weeks
Wide, soft trainers first. Narrow or heeled shoes wait until swelling has fully settled.
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Gym at four to six, sport at six to twelve
Upper body and stationary cycling early, running and impact sport built back gradually from six weeks.
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Stump neuroma is the honest risk
The cut end of the nerve can occasionally regrow into a painful stump - five to fifteen per cent over five years, and the commonest reason for revision surgery.
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Recurrent pain from the next webspace
Occasionally a second, smaller neuroma next door becomes the pain generator once the first is gone. Imaging before surgery reduces the chance of missing it.
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Red flags
Fever, spreading redness, calf swelling or pain, or numbness beyond the webspace are not normal - call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever technique was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and webspace treated
Which webspace was operated on - usually the third, sometimes the second - and the imaging and clinical findings that justified surgery.
- 02 Technique
Anaesthetic and surgical technique
Whether it was done under LA with sedation or GA, the approach used (dorsal, plantar or endoscopic), and whether the nerve was excised or the ligament released.
- 03 Findings
Neuroma size and any second lesion
The size of the excised nerve segment, whether a second webspace was inspected, and the histology sent to pathology to confirm perineural fibrosis.
- 04 Impression
Weight-bearing, shoes, review timing
Read this first: the weight-bearing plan, when you can drive and return to normal shoes, and whether a follow-up is booked.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for Morton’s neuroma surgery varies by insurer - usually funded when conservative treatment has been documented and imaging supports the diagnosis.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about Morton’s neuroma surgery.
Quick answers on pain, cost, numbness, alternatives, and how much time off work you actually need.
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What is a Morton’s neuroma, exactly?
It is not a true tumour - it is a thickening of perineural fibrosis around one of the interdigital nerves in the forefoot, most often between the third and fourth toes. The trapped nerve causes burning pain, tingling and the classic sense of walking on a pebble.
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Do I really need surgery?
Often not. Three to six months of wide shoes, a metatarsal pad, an orthotic and one or two ultrasound-guided steroid injections settle a large proportion of neuromas. Alcohol or dextrose sclerosant injections are a NICE-endorsed step before surgery. We only recommend an operation once those have been tried honestly.
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What does the operation actually involve?
Most UK surgeons use a dorsal approach. A three to four centimetre incision between the metatarsal heads, the interdigital nerve identified, a segment of nerve including the neuroma excised - or the transverse metatarsal ligament divided to decompress the nerve if it is being preserved. Twenty to forty minutes, day-case, LA with sedation is usual.
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Will I have permanent numbness?
Yes, in the webspace and the facing sides of the two toes on either side of the excised nerve. It is expected, permanent, and the vast majority of patients say they do not notice it once the pain has gone.
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How much does private Morton’s neuroma surgery cost in the UK?
Neurectomy is typically £2,800 to £4,500 as a day-case, endoscopic decompression £3,200 to £4,800. Steroid injections are £350 to £650, and an alcohol sclerosant series £450 to £850 per injection.
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How soon can I walk and drive after surgery?
You walk out of theatre in a post-op sandal, weight through the heel. Regular shoes at four to six weeks. Driving is usually one to two weeks - once you can brake sharply without discomfort and are off strong painkillers.
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What is a stump neuroma, and how common is it?
The cut end of the excised nerve can occasionally regrow into a painful bulb - a stump neuroma. It affects roughly five to fifteen per cent of patients over five years and is the commonest reason for revision surgery. Careful technique and burying the nerve stump reduce the risk.
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When should I see a GP or A&E urgently after surgery?
Fever, spreading redness or discharge from the wound, calf swelling or pain, sudden breathlessness, or numbness spreading well beyond the operated webspace are all reasons to seek same-day medical help.
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