I wish you luck in finding relief. I did find it an interesting question, so I poked around a bit. Not a lot out there?! This is from the NIH's publication website and it didn't look good for it helping on the down line, but gave immediate relief? Only 29% success rate for long term management, following patients for five years. It's a few years old, so things may have changed. That said, it sounds like you're right to find a second opinion, and to have cancelled. At any rate, your thinking is well founded.

____________________

Foot Ankle Int. 2013 Aug;34(8):1064-7. doi: 10.1177/1071100713489555. Epub 2013 May 13.

Alcohol injection for Morton's neuroma: a five-year follow-up.

Gurdezi S1, White T, Ramesh P.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although
many treatment modalities are available for Morton's neuroma (MN),
studies looking at the long-term effectiveness of most forms of
treatment are scarce. The injection of MN with alcohol has gained
popularity over the past 10 years with widespread media coverage. Many
surgeons have anecdotally questioned the long-term effectiveness of this
treatment. We reviewed a cohort of patients at an average 5-year
follow-up to assess the medium-term results of alcohol injection.

METHODS:

We
used the modified Johnson score and visual analogue scales to assess 45
of the original cohort of patients with an average follow-up of 61
months (range, 33-73 months). Any complications from the procedure were
also noted.

RESULTS:

Our
results indicated that by 5 years, 16 of 45 patients had undergone
surgical treatment and a further 13 patients had return of symptoms.
Only 29% (13/45) remained symptom free. The visual analog scale and
modified Johnson scores showed statistically significant deterioration
in patients' symptoms at 5 years following alcohol injection.

CONCLUSION:

Injection
with alcohol sclerosant for MN has been marketed as a definitive
management option comparable to surgical excision. Our investigation
illustrated that although short-term results are encouraging, alcohol
injection does not offer permanent resolution of symptoms for most
patients and can be associated with considerable morbidity. Our
investigation provides the only long-term data for alcohol injection
treatment of MN.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Level II, prospective case series.

KEYWORDS:

Morton’s neuroma; alcohol injection; interdigital neuroma; neuroma; sclerosant injection

Thank you, Robb, I saw that same thing!! And it's a reputable source. I also found lots of anecdotal evidence, where doctors told their patients to run the other direction if they are told to try sclerosing. Now, I know that horror stories end up online more frequently than success stories, but it still gives me pause!

Hounds, I'm glad you had successful surgery and are free of pain. I am making an appointment with a local foot and ankle surgeon to get a second opinion. I hope I can avoid surgery, but if not, I hope to have equally good results!

I had it five years ago when my arthritis was at it's worst. I did the natural route with extreme diet changes and over the years all my joint problems went away. I was at a point where I couldn't stand without shoes ever - it felt like cement peas were throughout my feet. Not sure if you are interested in this route. If so, I can post more details. I haven't had surgery so if that works...great.

I have never heard of it before.....but I hope you get good results.

I have a lot of crazy foot pains that come and go. I am sorry for you.

Like Hounds, I had dealt with this condition for years and finally had surgery. After the first surgery it reoccured so I had to undergo another. This surgeon cautioned me that I needed to wear life-long orthotics to prevent recurrence so I got custom-fitted ones. No issues since.

Also, as the other 2, have had the surgery on both feet, 1 foot had it twice...The surgery was piece of cake and very little pain afterwards...I had no instructions other that, if walking a lot, wear a good shoe...Most of the time, I'm in my bare feet and love it......Highly recommend the surgery......

Cookie, I would love to hear about your diet changes that helped so much! Thank you! I would like to avoid surgery if at all possible, but if it becomes inevitable, I'm glad to hear there are success stories.

For a couple of weeks, the best I could, I eliminated corn, gluten, dairy, nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant), soy, pork, beef, sugar, caffeine, alcohol. I think that's it. I still keep out cow dairy, gluten, soy, pork, tomatoes and limit potatoes. I also have arthritis and if I could have had a procedure done to eliminate one thing - I probably would have. It was too widespread so I did this and it worked wonders. I can even do a high impact workout such as hiit in bare feet now. I also take 3 vitamin d, fish oil and a probiotic a day. It takes a few weeks before you notice a difference in the feet but overall it only a few days to notice an overall improvement in the arthritis. Good luck in whatever you choose.

I don't know anything abut MN, but I would read between the lines of the above study. Anybody can use statistics to say anything. The study does say that almost 30% of people had no recurrence. And that is significant. It also says "Many surgeons have anecdotally questioned the effectiveness of the treatment". Duh, it cuts into their livelihood. I have read many, many studies and unless it is a randomized, clinical controlled trial it is junk science.

Just yesterday the instructor at my gym mentioned that she had plantar fasciitis and Morton's Neuroma. She recently had orthotics made and achieved some relief from the neuroma by taping 2 toes together. However there was significant discussion from the other members as to whether the sclerosing treatments were beneficial. One physician in our group didn't think the procedure had been proven effective.

Sleeper, I totally agree with you regarding the statistics. I talked with my sister about it - she is a clinical researcher so she helped me wade through the detail. Even so, I have read enough other anecdotal evidence elsewhere online that causes me to at least get a second opinion before I proceed. So sclerosing is not off the table entirely, but it is while I do my due diligence.

Maire, interesting it came up 2 times yesterday! Thanks for sharing what you learned.

I agree with sleeper even though I'm the one who posted the study. There is a possibility it could work. They certainly say there was relief upfront too. I didn't lean heavily on that because it's not very very promising to help for the long term. This is another instance of, "I wish I had a magic wand for you".

Bluebell, good for you for doing your due diligence. I hope you find a cure for your foot pain.

This might sound simplistic, but have you tried metatarsal pads in your shoes? I've been doing this and it took care of the problem. Apologies if this was already mentioned--I didn't get to read all the responses as it's time for work.

Hey, no stone unturned, right sjerin? Thank you for the suggestion. That was actually the first thing I tried. The pads will [hopefully] keep the neuroma from growing, but they don't cure the problem. They helped my neuroma feel better, but they really hurt my feet overall. The doctor had recommended I get custom orthotics if they helped, but when I told him they caused additional problems for me, he said we shouldn't go that route after all. I was just reading yesterday that an estimated 10% of the population can't wear orthotics - they just don't agree with the feet. I may still try Superfeet or something similar. I appreciate the thought!

Just from experience- if you get orthotics, get semi-flexible and not rigid. Putting hard plastic below your foot is a recipe for disaster.

If you get custom-made, they will shape it until they are comfortable. You do have to initially wear them incrementally to build up a tolerance. However, mine were prescribed post-surgery because they didn't help resolve the problem.

Mimi, many years ago I bought some hard orthos that I wear in my running shoes. I bought them at a trade show. The man demonstrated how, when you hold your arms out straight in front of you, without them, he can easily push your arms down. With the orthos, he can't budge your arms. Your body is in the proper position. I haven't worn them in a while, but I have been lately. My latest runners don't have as much support as I'd like, and these help a lot.

Oh, we call sports shoes, running shoes or runners. I don't actually run. :-)

Hard orthotics are rigid and can't be shaped or softened. They can be shaved down, but the foot needs to flex.

Jasdip, I have no earthly idea what that trick has to do with foot problems! And it is a trick.

My FIL got jacked out of a few bucks and bought some stupid bracelet after getting scammed like that at a mall.

I think they keep the spine aligned. All I know is that hubby can push my arms down when I don't wear them, and when I put them in my shoes, he can't. I have a lot more strength in my body with them in. They were formed to my feet.

I've worn orthotics for years and never underwent that "test". And I know that my spine is not aligned whether I'm wearing them or not.

Orthotics an help with alignment up the chain, but just so people know, the arm strength demonstration is a slick trick to sell merch.

I'm glad you feel more aligned wearing orthotics.