Question
QUESTION: I am a 45yo active female and I have been treated here in NY for 2 years for a large neuroma seen on MRI. I had a series of alcohol injections which worked temporarily 1 year ago. I am currently at the 7th injection for the second time and have had severe pain overnight a few times a week since this series began. I looked it up....I think it is neuritis and although the symptoms are better during the day (marginally) the nights are murder. Any thoughts?
Also, cryosurgery seemed pretty foreign to the Dr I am currently seeing...do you know of anyone trained extensively in the NY/LI area? I think I must move on to the next step soon. (Do you ever have pts travel to you from out-of-town in this circumstance?)

ANSWER: Hi Dorothy,

The problem with these injections for Morton's neuroma is that they can be very irritating to the surrounding tissue.  This is especially true if the alcohol solution is not placed close to the nerve or if too much solution is used.  I would avoid further injections as you may already have significant damage to the area.

You will likely need time for the tissue to calm.  You have also irritated the nerve but not actually killed it.  This may cause worsening pain.  Time and ice will hopefully relieve your pain.

Crysourgery is the latest cutting edge technology for treatment of neuroma.  It is not perfect and not always successful, however it has a much higher success rate compared to alcohol and other traditional treatments and you can avoid a painful condition known as a stump neuroma.

There are Drs in the NY area, however, I cannot vouch for their abilities.  You would need to get some references from other patients or Drs in your area.

I do see patients from many other areas.  You must understand that there is no guarantee that the procedure will help you and you may require more than one treatment. With that being said, results have been excellent.  So with realistic expectations, I do see patients from other areas.

See my website:

www.tampacryosurgery.com

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com


DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: How long would you recommend I wait for after the last injection to pursuing the cryosurgery? How would someone from out of state arrange cryosurgery with you? (How many visits/how long would it take to complete diagnosis, treatment and aftercare?)

Answer
Hi Dorothy,

You may want to wait several weeks for the tissue damage around the neuroma to start the healing process.  The process for cryosurgery would be that you would come in for an initial exam and diagnostic injection.  The cryosurgery can be performed the next day.

There is minimal aftercare and some patients will go home after the cryosurgery.  However, you may require another cryosurgery and we will typically wait 6 weeks to 2 months for the next procedure.  There are exceptions.  Again please remember that cryosurgery is not always a success so you must come with the idea that there are no guarantees.

Hope that helps.
Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com


DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.