Sclerosing Alcohol Injections For Mortons Neuroma - Foot Problems Message Board

Dancinboots · 09-23-2006, 06:38 AM

Hi

After trying everything from padding, icing, antiinfamatory, $400 Footmax Orthotics, and also cortisone shots for mortons neuroma (all of which have done very little) my Doctor suggested that I try the Sclerosing injections which are supposed to have an 80% success rate and they are supposed to deaden the nerve.

My Dr. is not in favor of the surgery to remove the neuroma. I will be having between 4-6 injections spaced
1-2 weeks apart. I had my first one a week ago, and it wasn't bad as far as a shot goes. ( Of course my foot was numb from the medication)

My question is... have any of you had the scelorising injections, and did they work for you and also, how many did it take before you started getting relief? The weird part about my neuroma is that what I am experiencing is not pain that I read about, but a tingling feeling in the ball of foot and it also feels like I have a sock bunched up in the shoe or like I'm walking on pebbles when I walk.

Thanks For Your Input...Sharon

Titchou · 09-23-2006, 07:32 AM

Well, from what I learned when I had one and did the research, you should not have had the cortisone ones. If they are done, it should be one only for diagnostic purposes. The alcohol injections, if done properly, should require only 2 or 3 to kill the nerve ending. I had mine removed. It was a fairly simple procedure and I was walking that day. Back at work the next and never had any problems. That was almost 5 years ago. Whyis your surgeon not in favor of removal? Sounds like he's not confident in his abilities.

lostmary · 09-23-2006, 07:46 AM

Sharon,
I also had neuromas. I did the alcohol, steroids,and had quite a few surgeries. If your doc want to cut the ligments between the toes, don't do it. it really doesn't work. the only reason i had so many surgeries is because i developed several infections that wouldn't go away. ,Most people do not have this many problems. But the main surgery is pretty simple.

Dancinboots · 09-23-2006, 09:19 AM

My Dr. is very confident in his abilities with over 30 years in the practice. The main reason he is not in favor of the surgery is because a stump neuroma usually grows back and causes more problems. Most Drs. like to use the least invasive procedures befor jumping into surgery, which in some cases is a quick way of them making a few easy bucks.

The scelrosing injections are much less invasive with a high success rate. I would rather do anything than to have my foot sliced open. If you go to [removed] you will get a lot of good information directly from another competent Dr. (Dr. Jeff Oster) He is another one not in favor of surgery. Dr. Jeff also said that cortisone shots and scelorising injections are used for two totally different purposes and having scelorising injections a few months later would not be a problem.

I am wanting a response from anyone who has had the scelorising injections and their experience with them.

Lostmary...How did the scelorising injections work for you? I had heard the same thing as you about not cutting the ligament between the toes.

Thanks... Sharon

Titchou · 09-23-2006, 10:04 AM

The alcohol injectons can work. I did not say they didn't...only the cortisone. However, if they don't work, the only recourse after that is the surgery. Stump neuromas should not develop if the neurectomy is properly performed. I've read a great deal about that and they are certain things they should apply to cut nerve to prevent this (I forget exactly but it does contain alcohol to some degree). My surgeon did that. This is often a sports related injury that runners tend to get. Avoiding the cortisone injections is important for them as atrophy of the fad pad is a very serious issue for them.
Since I'm a jogger, I was very interested in avoiding any side effects that might limit my ability to get back to running. We have a world reknowned sports med clinic here in Birmingham and I used their foot doctor. A lot of my information came from him (Dr. John Gould) and a podiatrist that I know in Texas (Dr. Robert Brodkin).

Also, my mother had the neurectomy in the 1980's and never had any issues with it and she died this year. I also know several others who have had this and all have been successful to date.