Stump Neuroma | Pain After Morton’s Neuroma Surgery

If you had Morton’s neuroma surgery and the pain came back — or never fully went away — you may be dealing with a stump neuroma. This is one of the most frustrating and underdiagnosed conditions in foot care, affecting patients who undergo neurectomy (nerve removal surgery).

When a nerve is surgically cut, the proximal end doesn’t simply scar over. It tries to regenerate. That regenerating tip can form a painful ball of disorganized nerve tissue — a stump neuroma. The result is often pain that is worse than the original Morton’s neuroma, located slightly further back in the foot toward the arch, and much harder to treat if not properly identified.

These two conditions are frequently confused but require different treatment approaches.

Stump Neuroma forms when the cut nerve end tries to regrow after neurectomy. It is located more proximally — closer to the arch — than the original neuroma, and develops months to years after surgery.

Recurrent Neuroma occurs when the original nerve was incompletely removed during surgery. It is located at or near the original surgery site and typically appears weeks to months after the procedure.

Correctly identifying which condition you have is the critical first step — and it requires evaluation by a nerve specialist.

• Burning, electric, or shooting pain in the forefoot
• Pain located more proximally than the original surgery site
• Symptoms triggered by walking, standing, or pressure on the ball of the foot
• A positive Tinel’s sign — tapping the nerve end reproduces the pain
• Sometimes a palpable, tender nodule deeper in the foot
• Pain that may be more severe than the original neuroma

Diagnostic nerve block: A targeted injection at the suspected nerve stump. If pain resolves completely, this confirms the nerve is the source — and is the most reliable diagnostic tool available.

Tinel’s sign: Tapping along the nerve pathway reproduces the burning or electric pain characteristic of nerve involvement.

MRI or diagnostic ultrasound: Can sometimes visualize the nerve stump and surrounding scar tissue to guide treatment planning.

Detailed surgical history: Understanding exactly what was done in the prior surgery — and precisely when symptoms changed — is essential for accurate diagnosis.

Conservative approaches (first-line):

• Targeted corticosteroid or nerve block injections to reduce inflammation and pain
• Desensitization therapy to recalibrate nerve sensitivity
• Offloading and footwear modification to reduce mechanical pressure
• Regenerative biologic support including Wharton’s Jelly or placental tissue injections at the nerve stump

Surgical revision (when conservative care fails):

• Revision neurectomy with deeper implantation of the nerve end into intrinsic muscle or bone — reducing tension and preventing painful regrowth
• Biologic augmentation at time of surgery to create an optimal healing environment and minimize scar tissue formation
• Nerve decompression if scar tissue entrapment is a contributing factor

Most general podiatrists who perform neurectomies do not specialize in managing what happens when surgery fails. Stump neuromas are complex revision cases requiring experience with nerve anatomy, post-surgical scarring, and biologic treatment techniques.

Dr. Peter Bregman focuses specifically on nerve-related foot conditions — including complex revision cases following failed neuroma surgery. If you have been told your pain is unexplained, or that nothing more can be done, a specialist evaluation may offer answers and a path forward.

If you’ve had Morton’s neuroma surgery and your pain has returned or worsened, you may benefit from a specialist evaluation to determine whether a stump neuroma is responsible — and what can be done about it.

In some cases, biologic nerve repair using agents such as PRP or Wharton’s Jelly may play a supportive role in reducing nerve inflammation in the perineural environment — particularly in revision cases where additional surgery is not the right next step. Learn more on the Biologic Nerve Repair page.

Many patients with stump neuromas travel from out of state or internationally for revision evaluation. See our guide on traveling to Las Vegas for neuroma treatment — including consultation logistics and post-op recovery planning.