Before agreeing to surgery for Morton's neuroma, a reader in Mount Prospect is right to ask when it is truly called for.
For most people, it is not
The documented answer leans against surgery. Most people do not need it for a Morton's neuroma.
What the source says
Cleveland Clinic, under a heading about Morton's neuroma surgery, states: "Most people don’t need surgery to treat a Morton’s neuroma." You can read the rest in the clinic's page on Morton's neuroma causes, symptoms and treatment.
That sentence describes most people, so it leaves room for a minority. It also means that a recommendation for surgery should arrive with a reason specific to your foot.
What to ask before agreeing to an operation
Ask what has been tried so far and what else is on the table. One example from the research is a retrospective cohort study of ultrasound-guided steroid injections in the management of Morton's neuroma. Ask whether that kind of option has come up for you. AAOS OrthoInfo's Morton's neuroma page is another place to compare what you were told.
Then ask the surgeon to say plainly what finding would make surgery the better choice for you.
How the claim reads against the evidence
If surgery is presented as the expected next step, the evidence reads the other way. Surgery is the exception, and the person recommending it can explain why your case is one.