Yes, Shelley, I did gain weight after the cortisone shots.  (I gained about 10 pounds in the last few months, and I don't know if it is all from the shots or partly because of being less active.  Now that I've switched over to the alcohol shots, I've been successfully working at losing the weight again.)  My dr told me that he could only give 3 because they can cause weight gain and higher blood pressure.  He said that there aren't any side effects to the alcohol (just the bruising and swelling).  By the way, I'm totally jealous that you can take a 5 mile walk!     Actually, that is great.  Since the onset of my pain, I just can't do a lot of anything on my feet.  My dr knows how important golf is to me, and is trying to help me get through golf season.  I'm a female, and the guys at work let me play on their league, so I'm a little stubborn and won't take a cart (9 holes), but within an hour after playing, I can hardly walk.  Before the cortisone shots, though, I was hopping on one foot after each shot, so they have helped a lot.

Oh, and I read another one of your posts.... with my first alcohol shot, I had the feeling like my toes and the side of my foot were asleep.  This lasted for about a day or so.  My dr told me that since it went away, it was probably from the shot itself.  But he did say that if something like that happens again, he wants to know.  He said that there is another nerve that goes across the foot to the side (small toe side).  It kind of connects/branches from the nerve that we are trying to kill.  We have to be careful not to damage this other nerve, too.  So keep an eye on any additional pain and numbness and make sure that make sure that your dr is aware of anything like that.

W O W !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fqalM4EjVE[/URL" target="_blank">
http://www.tampacryosurgery.com/[/URL" target="_blank">

forget alcohol injections I'm doing cryosurgery!

This is his reply to me

Answer Hi Jeff,

I have not found Alcohol injections to be a good choice at the low concentrations that most Podiatrists use. When using stronger alcohol, there can be serious tissue irritation and sometimes ulcers or abscess may occur. If the alcohol does kill the nerve, you may develop a stump neuroma which is far more painful and complicated than the original neuroma.

I no longer use the Alcohol because of these issues.

Cryosurgery, has a higher success rate with less complications than surgical removal of the nerve. It can be repeated without problems. There is also no incidence of stump neuroma formation.

If you do have the cryosurgery, I would be sure that the Dr. uses a nerve stimulator to locate the nerve. This will increase the success rate.

If you are interested in coming to Tampa you can call my office @ 813-875-0555.

I will caution you that there are no guarantees that you will get relief. So you have to be willing to take that chance. Also, some people may need the procedure repeated down the line. Cryosurgery is an excellent alternative to the traditional surgery, however, it has success and failure like anything else. The nice thing is that there are rarely complications and rarely does anyone get worse. You can't say that with other treatments.

Here's another reponse I got from another cryosurgent:

you pose a good question and I will tyr and provide an honest answer. many people who may read this may say sure he does cryosurgery so he is biased that way. Bottom line. There are no recent studies out there that state that alcohol injections are better than anything else. There has been some controversy the last week on our own podiatry websites that the 4% concentration is not strong enough to cause a chemical neurolysis. Many insurance companies will not pay for multiple alcohol injections as with the 4% concentration many suggest 5-8 injections consistantly 7-10 days apart.
There are currently 110 cryostar trained surgeons around the US with over 5000 procedures performed to date. Success rates with one treament run 80-90%. many patients get partial relief after one however the made need a second 2 months after the first.
There are usually no sutures, crutches, surgical shoes used with this procedure and most patients can shower the next day.
Do you due diligence and investigate both methods and collect the facts and make whatever choice you fell is right for you. I have tried to be truthfull and have stated the facts as I know them to be. Dr. Goldstein

With all due respect to my friend Dr. Nordyke, cryo works better in my hands than the alcohol injections. This basically boils down to ask 10 different opinions and get 10 different answers. In order for the alcohol to be effective at the 4% concentration normally used, 5-8 injections 7-10 days apart is necessary. The alcohol can be uncomfortable and burn as it also causes some local neuritis. Cryo does not always work with one treatment. i have repeated 17% of over 500 i have performed. Some other these patients have had failed open surgery. it boils down to whatever you want to do. it's your foot, not ours. Either method has pros and cons and nomethod or procedure gives 100% success otherwise we would all be doing it!

The jury is still out for me personally as to which is better a top or bottom(webspace) approach. I have done the majority from the top. i reserved the webspace approach for stump neuromas which are always difficult to treat. The problem with the webspace approach for me is i seem ti hit a tiny vessel that bleeds so my bandage is much bigger and the webspace incision is more subject to infection or maceration.
Dr. John DeBello and his group from NYC told me they have almost 100% success rate coming through the interspace. It just does not always work in my hands. I believe you need to treat proximal behind the met heads as well as distally in the sulcus. Overall my success rate with neuromas is about 82%. I was always looking for a new angle or spin on things but now that I am retired I will have to let my fellow cryosurgeons carry the torch

http://www.cryotechllc.com/[/URL" target="_blank">

This site can locate the nearest cryosurgeon. I was also told to make sure they ask if they use a nerve stimulator because it increases the chance of success.

I was told by that tampa clinic that the pricing ranges from $600-1000
I'm gonna have to dish that out since I'm from Canada and not covered
Oh well.. I'd pay even more if it means I get to avoid surgery

Hi all, I am new to this board.  I found it while trying to find info on Morton's neuromas.   I have two in my right foot, in both the second and third webspaces.

I noticed this thread finally turned to cryosurgery. I had it performed on both neuromas on April 4th by a podiatrist in Tampa. It did not work. I have the same amount of pain as before. Now, to be fair, the pod did warn me that some people need two, or even three, treatments before they find relief, and some people never get relief at all and have to go to surgery.

I have done the cortisone injections before the cryo and got no relief from those either. The problem is that my neuromas are about three years old (that I am aware of) and when they've been growing for that long, conservative treatment usually doesn't work.

So now I'm wondering if I should try the cryo again, or just go for the surgery. Surgery has about an 80% success rate (failure I guess means stump neuromas form) so that doesn't thrill me. But either does paying for more cryo and not having that work either.

Since cryo is rather new for this condition, I haven't read any success stories about it. Anyone here have one to share? I'd be much more willing to try it a second and maybe a third time if I knew there was hope.

I used to be an avid speed walker and now can barely walk my dog around the block. And forget any type of high heeled shoes, or any shoes that enclose my forefoot except my new Saucony running shoes. They have an extra wide toebox which is tolerable, but I still feeling the tingling when I walk.

Anyway, sorry to ramble, but really, if anybody here has had successful cryo, please post about it!

Jennifer

quote:

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Originally posted by IRS:

So, I've made it almost all the way through the Couch to 5K program twice now and I've had to quit one time due to laziness (I love the holidays! Or the weight-gaining time as I like to call it) and the second time due to my foot condition. I've been diagnosed with Morton's Neuroma and my podiatrist injected the neuroma and that made things better for a while (I also got pads and inserts for my shoes). However, since early January I have been trying to run again and my left foot is KILLING ME. I'm even starting to have trouble walking longer distances.

Is surgery my only option here? I really would love to find another way out of this.

And the big question - will the Neuroma go away if I treat it properly or will it always exist until I have surgery (which I do not want)?

Going for my 3rd alcohol injection tomorrow.  Right now my 2nd and 3rd toes are somewhat numb and my foot is still a bit swollen....

Please do, Tim.  My first cortisone injection was in the bottom of my foot.  It did absolutely nothing for me.  It will be interesting to see if the injections closer together make a difference.