Pain in the ball of the foot that feels like burning, tingling, numbness or feels like a pebble in the shoe or a wrinkle in the sock may be caused by a condition known as Morton’s neuroma.
There are two common injection treatments for Morton’s neuroma. The cortisone injection and the alcohol sclerosing injection. They both are used to treat neuromas but they work in very different ways.
A cortisone injection is an anti-inflammatory medication that is injected near the irritated nerve. The goal is to decrease inflammation and reduce pain surrounding the neuroma. Cortisone injections are often considered the first injectable treatment option because they can provide relatively immediate relief and may calm down an inflamed nerve.
Many patients improve after one injection, while others may require a short series of injections spaced several weeks apart.
Alcohol sclerosing injections work differently. The alcohol solution is designed to shrink or deactivate the painful nerve tissue causing the symptoms. Alcohol sclerosing therapy usually requires a longer treatment series. Many patients receive approximately 6 to 7 injections, typically spaced over several weeks. The alcohol injections work gradually, therefore improvement is often progressive rather than immediate.
Every patient responds differently and the results all can depend on the severity of the symptoms, size of the neuroma, duration of the pain, activity level and shoe gear.
If you are experiencing persistent burning pain in the ball of your foot from a Morton’s neuroma and conservative treatments have not provided relief, it may be time to consult with a podiatrist. A thorough evaluation can help determine whether you may be a candidate for injection therapies, such as cortisone or alcohol sclerosing injections, which are often used to reduce inflammation and alleviate nerve pain.
I am Dr. Joseph A. Cione, board certified foot surgeon with Advanced Footcare, proudly serving patients in Woodbury, Baldwin and Manhasset.
