Sclerosing Injections for Neuroma: What You Need to Know

If you’re suffering from the pain of a neuroma—a painful enlarged nerve in your foot—you may be seeking treatment options. And, if you wish to get rid of the nerve pain without surgery, treatment with sclerosing agents for foot neuromas could be your best option. Here’s what you need to know about this injectable treatment option, now available at our Spring and Tomball podiatry practices.

What are sclerosing injections for neuroma?

Sclerosis agents are substances such as dehydrated alcohol that can soften tissue that has hardened. When it comes to using sclerosing agents for a Morton’s neuroma, that involves injecting a sclerosing agent into your enlarged nerve. Afterward, the nerve will shrink and die, resolving your pain without the need for surgery.

How many alcohol injections do you need for a neuroma?

To completely resolve a neuroma, you will likely need between three and seven injections of sclerosing agents. We will typically deliver these injections every two weeks because this interval allows time for the medication to work, and allows our doctors to see how your body reacts to each treatment before deciding if you need another injection.

What to expect during treatment

Before injecting a sclerosing agent for neuroma relief, we will use a local anesthetic on the target treatment area. That will prevent you from experiencing any burning sensations the injected alcohol may cause.

Right after your procedure, you’ll go home to rest and elevate your foot. Your anesthesia should wear off within 24 hours. After that anesthesia wears off, you may experience mild, temporary pain. But that’s actually a good sign, since it lets us know that treatment is working.

You should stay off your feet for the first few hours after your procedure—ideally 12—but after that, you can get back to doing any activity that doesn’t hurt too much. If you do experience post-procedure pain, rest and ice, or over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications) can help.

In the days and weeks following your procedure, you may also experience some numbness in the toes adjacent to the neuroma, but sensation should improve and numbness should resolve between six and twelve months following the completion of your treatment. More importantly, your pain should resolve completely in that time, with almost no chance of it returning.

What is the success rate of alcohol injections for Morton’s neuroma?

Using sclerosing agents to treat neuromas delivers complete relief for approximately 70% of patients. Virtually all of our patients will experience pain reduction with this treatment option, but some may need to seek further intervention to completely eliminate their pain. Fortunately,  you can safely engage in other treatment options following these injections, so if you are in the small group of patients who doesn’t experience complete relief, you will have other available options.

What is the best injection for Morton’s neuroma?

When it comes to relieving your neuroma pain, you have multiple options. And when you come see our doctors in Tomball and Spring, TX, we will review which treatment will best you’re your needs. We will likely sclerosing injections for your neuroma after trying more conservative treatments such as custom orthotics to relieve pressure on your nerve.  While sclerosing injections may not be the best treatment option for every patient, it delivers high success rates when it comes to pain relief. Plus, it comes with minimal complications or counter-indications. So you can contact our team to learn more about neuroma treatment and find your perfect pathway to relief.