Are Burning Feet being misdiagnosed, or do you have a Morton’s Toe?
Many people have been told that the reason for their burning feet is often due to a condition known as Peripheral Neuropathies, or if they have Diabetsis a condition known as Diabetic Neuropathies. Both of these conditions are due to changes in the nerves in the feet and legs. However, many times the real reason for the burning is due to having a Morton’s Toe, Long Second Toe, and not the more serious neuropathies.
The problem is the average physician has not been trained about the Morton’s Toe and how it can cause burning feet. Most of them just assume that their patient’s burning feet is due to serious the neuropathies and not the very common and easily treatable Morton’s Toe. Even though the Morton’s Toe is a well-established medical condition that has been around about 80 years, it has just been forgotten by modern day medicine. The bad thing is that the modern doctor is not even trained to think about.
I am not telling you that your physician is wrong when it come to Peripheral or today Diabetic Neuropathies. What I am saying is that if you have been treated for several months for it, either with or without drugs, (such as Lyrica, Neurontin, or Cymbalta) and you are not getting any better, it is time to start thinking that the reason for your burning feet is your feet, and not a complicated neurological problem like peripheral or diabetic neuropathies.
I absolutely feel that in many cases (when these drugs do not work) these patients are being misdiagnosed and are taking these drugs unnecessarily. Often many of these people do not have neuropathies, (either peripheral or diabetic) but just have a Morton’s Toe (Long Second Toe), which can also cause burning feet. But, Morton’s Toe can easily be treated for $2-3.00. without any drugs.
Flat Feet, Fallen Arches, and the Long Second Toe, Morton’s Toe
We have all heard of flat feet or fallen arches. The question is why do we get flat feet or fallen arches to start with. Now in the new book Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot, we get an answer to that question.
The why, is a medical condition known as a Morton’s Toe, Long Second Toe first written about by Dr. Dudley Morton in an article of 1928, and his books of 1935, 1939 and 1952. He had no doubt that Fallen Arches, Flat Feet, Weak Ankles and Tired Feet all were caused by an unstable bone in the foot. He said there was a loss of stability at the arch when you had this unstable bone. This was known as hypermobility of the first metatarsal bone. This loss of stability will then cause the arch to fall, tilt or collapse inwardly because it has less support than normal in keeping the arch up.
Once this collapsing starts toward the inside part of the foot, then a chain reaction begins to take place that can cause many problems of your foot, heel and ankle. The muscles of the ankle will attempt to fight off this unnatural inward titling or collapsing of the arch. However, if the abnormal forces put upon the muscles at the ankle and at the arch are too great, then these muscles will become strained and exhausted. They will then start to hurt in their attempt to prevent the arch from collapsing and to maintain the balance of the feet.
This unsuccessful battle of trying to prevent the arch from collapsing by the muscles of the ankle is also a common cause of tired feet and weak ankles. Chronic ankle sprains can also be caused by this acquired instability at the ankle joint due to its battle of trying to prevent the arch from collapsing. This straining or exhausting of the muscles can also cause spasms at night. The good news is that these problems can be easily treated with a toe pad or a shoe insert. In reality, true “fallen arches” are a rare thing. In spite of the fact that the term is now used to refer to several foot problems, in actuality it means a total breakdown and substantial deformity of the foot. This severe condition is, in fact, a truly uncommon occurrence in our time.
Still #1 on Amazon.com
As of 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, March 21, 2010 Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot, is still #1 on Amazon.Com under books about podiatry. This is amazing to me because
1. there are about 100 books on this list, and
2. next week is one year that the book has been published.
I am really happy to see that the Morton’s Toe is becoming more and more popular with time
Thanks everybody for your support !
Dr. Burton S. Schuler,
MORTON’S SYNDROME, MORTON’S TOE, MORTON’S FOOT,
DR. THOMAS G. MORTON, DR. DUDLEY J. MORTON & DUDLEY MORTON , MORTON’S TOE, MORTON’S FOOT, MORTON’S NEUROMA,
Once or twice a year I am asked to reexplain this.
I now will attempt to sort this out.
MORTON’S TOE:
Morton’s Toe or Long Second Toe is an abnormal shortening of the 1st metatarsal bone, as compared to the 2nd metatarsal bone. It is the major component of Morton’s Syndrome, (see below).
MORTON’S FOOT:
This has become a catchall phase meaning different things to different people in regard to foot problems. In fact Morton’s Foot has no exact meaning. If you Goggle, “Morton’s Foot” you will get several different definitions that range from describing a Morton’s Toe, to describing a Morton’s Neuroma
For our purposes Morton’s Toe, and Morton’s Foot Are to Be Considered the Same Thing; an Abnormal Shortening of the first Metatarsal Bone, as Compared to the 2nd Metatarsal Bone.
Morton’s Syndrome: is a hereditary syndrome, described by Dr. Dudley Joy Morton that is made up of three distinct findings
1. a short first metatarsal bone, is the major part of the Morton’s Syndrome
2. abnormal movement of the two small bones ( sesamoids) behind the head of the 1st metatarsal bone and
3. abnormal enlargement or thickening of the second metatarsal bone due to 1st metatarsal bone being short. By Aadaption@ the body makes the second stronger by making it thicker/larger than normal in order to do the job of the defective first metatarsal bone.
Some writers use the term “A Dudley Morton Foot Type” when they are really describing Morton’s Syndrome. Dr. Janet Travell always used the term A Dudley Morton Foot Type” when she was referring to the Morton’s Syndrome.
THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY MORTONS
There are two other chaps named Morton who tend to get confused with our Dr. Dudley J. Morton. First, there was Dr. Thomas George Morton, who also had a famous foot problem named after him, called the Morton’s Neuroma. Second, there is another Dudley Morton who was a famous naval hero of WW II. Let me tell you something about these other Mortons.
DR. THOMAS GEORGE MORTON, AND THE MORTON’S NEUROMA
It seems that ever since I started to write this book I have spent a lot of time telling people that Dr. Dudley Joy Morton had nothing to do with the foot condition known as Morton’s Neuroma. As of now, many people have heard of Morton’s Neuroma, but few of Morton’s Toe.
DR. THOMAS GEORGE MORTON in the latter part of the 19th century was a professor of clinical and operative surgery at the Philadelphia Clinic for Graduates. In 1886, he performed an operation to remove an appendix. The big news here was that the patient lived, that was something in 1886.
In 1896 he wrote a paper describing a painful cramping condition of the nerves of the forefoot and toes; where the plantar nerves are being compressed, entrapped and or impinged[ii]. The most common symptoms are throbbing, aching and radiating pain, going to the 3rd – 5th toes. According to Thomas G. Morton it appeared more in middle-aged females. It is highly unlikely that Dr. Dudley ever met Dr. Thomas, because Thomas died in 1903, when Dudley was just starting medical school.
THE OTHER DUDLEY MORTON
Cmdr. Dudley Morton, was one of the greatest submarine captain of WW II. He graduated the U.S. Naval Academy in 1930. During the war, he commanded one of the U.S. Navy=s most famous submarines, the USS Wahoo. Through one 18-month period, (1942-43) the crew aboard the U.S.S. Wahoo under Morton destroyed and sank about 20 Japanese ships. No other U.S. submarine did as much damage during that time. For the course of the whole war, Dudley Morton was one of the top three most successful submarine captains. The Navy was so happy about the Wahoo and Morton=s success that it allowed a movie to be made called “Destination Tokyo,” with Cary Grant playing Dudley Morton. It is one thing to have a Toe, a Foot, and a Syndrome named after you; but to have Cary Grant start in a film portraying you is something totally else. In late 1943 Morton and the Wahoo departed on patrol and where lost at sea. Again, another amazing Dudley Morton.
Dr. Ponset, Father of Clubfoot Treatment
This posting has nothing to do with the Morton’s Toe or Long Second Toe. A really important doctor died several months ago and I forgot to write about him
Dr. Ignacio V. Ponseti was an orthopedist who lived to be 95. He died in October 2009 He realized in the 1940’s that the most common surgery for clubfoot actually did more harm than good, by leaving the child with stiff limp ankles after it. Instead he developed a regimen of plaster casts, braces and manipulations to treat club foot by slowly and gradually straightening and rotating each twisted foot toward its normal position. The method was applied in stages. After each treatment, he would immobilize a child’s leg with a toe-to-groin plaster cast. A week later, he would remove the cast and shape the malleable foot a bit more, and then replace the cast. The treatment would last three to five weeks.
It is shame but like Dr. Morton, Dr. Ponseti work was not appreciated for about 50 years after it was presented. Medicine has a funny way of attacking those who develop anything new. It was not until the 1990’s that Dr. Ponset got the respect he desires. In the end his method has been endorsed by the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was a great man
How a Morton’s Toe, Long Second Toe causes March Fracture or Stress Fracture
I see many March Fractures. They are also known as Stress Fractures. Many times they are misdiagnosed . They are an unplanned breaking (fracture) of the 2nd-5th metatarsal bone, most commonly the second metatarsal bone. I firmly feel they are caused by the Morton‘s Toe, Long Second Toe most of the time. In the military, they get their name from marching. In the private world, they are called stress fractures because they are caused by the stress applied to the ball of the foot due to the Long Second Toe in abnormal feet. Day-in and day-out abnormal stress is applied to these feetwhen you walk, run, dance or golf. In both the March fracture and the stress fracture, it is very common that there are no signs on x-rays of the break of the metatarsal bone for several weeks. So it is common that the foot must be re-x-rayed to observe the fracture. Again the Long Second Toe, Morton’s Toe is the cause of this in many cases.
WHY IS THE LONG SECOND TOE OR MORTON’S TOE IMPORTANT TO YOU
Dr. Dudley J. Morton was considered to be this country leading authority on the human foot, in the 1920’s thru 1950’s. He stated that a problem with one bone in your foot, Morton’s Toe, Long Second Toe, was the major reason for most foot problems. This included the Stress Fracture or March Fracture. He taught at the Yale and Columbia Medical Schools. The Morton’s Toe can be treated for about $2-3.00.
International Radio Interview about Morton’s Toe, and Long Second Toe
I had a wonderful interview on Israel National Radio this morning about the Morton’s Toe and the Long Second Toe. As soon as the interview was over Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot, went right back to #1 on Amazon.com for books about podiatry. Here is the link if you want to hear the radio show.
Nice Weekend Here
It has finally warmed up here in P.C.
I hope you all had a nice weekend
Israel National Radio, will spot light Morton’s Toe (Long Second Toe)
This Sunday March 14, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. EST , Israel National Radio will interview Dr. Burton S. Schuler, of Panama City Florida, about his new book Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot, the story of the Morton’s Toe Long Second Toe . The interview will take place on the Tamar Yonah Show . The show airs live Sundays 3 p.m. Israel time/ 8 a.m. US eastern, Mondays and Tuesdays 7 a.m. Israel time / 12 midnight US eastern and available on podcast on Israel National Radio.
Tamar moved to Israel from Southern California and after serving in the Israeli army began a prolific career in radio.
What Is a Morton’s Toe?
In the 1920’s thru 1950’s Dr. Dudley J. Morton who taught at the Yale and Columbia Medical Schools, and who was considered to be this country leading authority on the human foot, stated that a problem with one bone in your foot, (Morton’s Toe) was the major reason for most foot problems. Building on his work Dr. Janet Travell, White House physician to President John F. Kennedy, and President Lyndon B. Johnson, and who was also Professor Emeritus of Medicine at George Washington University wrote that Morton’s Toe could also cause pain all over your body. She taught that a Morton’s Toe could cause back, hip, knee, and leg, foot, and ankles problems. It has also been shown that a Morton’s Toe can also cause fibromyalgia, arthritis; sleep disturbances (RLS), temporomandibular joint pain, and numerous other problems through out the body. The good news is that the average person can easily treat all of these problems caused by a Morton’s Toe with a simple two-dollar pad.
Why is Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts in the Foot, important?
“This book gives new information about why millions of people suffer everyday with aches and pains, and offers new hope to these people for getting rid of the problems that they believed they would have to live with forever. It literally can be the “medical missing link”.
Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts in The Foot was published on April 1 2009, and has been #1 on Amazon Best Sellers list for medical\allied health professions\podiatry for some time.
The book is published by the La Luz Press, Inc, and is distributed national by the Cardinal Publishing Group of Indianapolis, In. It has foreign book distributors’ in Germany, U.K., Netherlands, Canada, South Africa, and India. It will be translated into Greek in late 2010
About the Author
Dr. Burton S. Schuler is a leading authority on the Morton’s Toe , Long Second Toe and it associated problems. He is in private practice at the Ambulatory Foot Clinic-Podiatric Pain Management Center, of Panama City Fl. He graduated from the N. Y. College of Podiatric Medicine in 1975 at the age of twenty-four. In 1982, he published his first book, The Agony of De-Feet: A Podiatrist Guide to Foot Care. During his third of a century career, he has written for Collier’s Encyclopedia and various podiatric journals and publications; has been interviewed by The New York Times, First in Women, and other publications. Dr. Schuler has appeared on dozens of radio and television programs both here and aboard. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management, and the National Board of Podiatric Examiners. Dr. Schuler is certified as a wound specialist thru the American Academy of Wound Management. He is available for interviews about the Morton’s Toe and its related problems at (850-763-3333).
On July 10, 2009, the highly respected Midwest Book Review stated about
Why You Really Hurt: It All Starts In The Foot
“A solid read that should be considered to anyone who wants
to figure out the origin of their pain”
