From long-distance runner to barely walking – MN surgery next. Any tips for recovery? 🙏
Hello!
Thank you so much to this community for all the information - it has been so useful!!😊🙌
I (26F) am getting MN neurectomy on May 1st and would love to hear any tips for recovery and shoes to wear after a few weeks? (would love to eventually wear something more stylish than Altras haha). Eventually I would love to get running again but of course will take things slow and be patient - any tips?
If it’s useful for others I would be happy to share my recovery over the next few months :)
🏃🏻♀️ Background:
• Long distance runner for 10 years (ages 14-24)
• April 2024: I got bad shin splints, stopped running & started physio (had verryyy tight calves)
• June 2024: Fractured my 5th metatarsal by rolling my foot, apparently everything healed fine.
• February 2025-now: MN (on the same foot as the fracture, between 3rd and 4th) got worse and worse until I couldn’t even walk 5 minutes…. I was really struggling mentally & physically. Didn’t manage to get a correct diagnosis until January 2026.
🦶 Over the last year I have tried custom insoles, Altras and cortisone shot prior to opting for surgery. Altras provided the most relief out of all of those options but I hate the way they look and I still have pain walking (running isn’t even an option anymore). I decided to just go for surgery to get rid of it for good hopefully (although I have read the stump neuroma horror stories 😭)
PS - Planning to go back to work (laptop from home) after 10 days.