Question
Hi Dr. Katz~  I have been fighting a neuroma in my right foot for about 8 years.  I've done around 8 Cortizone injections, had accupunture and Chinese herbs, had custom orthotics twice-the hard ones and the full soft ones. Finally in Dec '05, I decided to have the surgery to remove the neuroma.  What a mistake!  I can't beat myself up over this decision, so I will just tell you what I've gone through.  The pain was so severe-the foot was bruised past the ankle, lots of shooting pains and electrical shocks.  Skin peeled off of 2 toes and was very raw and the nails fell off. Nails to this day are very sensitive. Pains were shooting into my legs and the foot starting buzzing in Jan '07.  This has been a very hard last 8 months for me. Lots of weird sensations and pain even in my "good foot".  I've been on Lyrica and Cybalta.  Buzzing has now ceased and "good foot" feels pretty good.  But the pain in the right foot is still worse than before surgery. The main pain for me seems to be on the ball of my foot, but closer to the arch than the toes. Pain does not go into the arch though. Foot is super sensitive and just doesn't feel like a normal foot.  I concentrate on EVERY step I take and buy only the most cushiony shoes I can find-I'm getting to where I'm needing more and more cushion-it's hard to find 1"+ of cushion in shoes.  Forgot heels or flats-don't wear anything that doesn't have a thick sole of cush. And I never go barefoot-that kills me. MRI after surgery showed no recurring neuroma.  Mine was between 2nd and 3rd toes. Are you able to do the Cryo on patients who have already had the surgery?  Where would you inject? Could you inject where the nerve was cut to soothe the severed nerve?  I'm really needing to find relief-I'm only 35.  Also, I had to have hernia repair and have now developed a severe pain at that site.  Dr. thinks it may be a neuroma or an entwined nerve.  Would Cryo work for this as well?  What are the side effects of Cryo?  Will the spot go numb?  Thank you so much for any info you can give me.  
Jill

Answer
Hi Jill,

I often perform Cryosurgery after failed neuroma surgery.   Many people that have neuroma surgery end up with worse pain.  You will not necessarily see a neuroma on MRI and you may have a stump neuroma which is worse than the original.  

I would need to examine you to determine the pain source.  I can numb an area for temporary relief if necessary.

Cryosurgery can help with any sensory nerve pain.

Crysourgery rarely has side-effects and you may have a small area of numbness for several months.

I believe there is relief available for you.

Sincerely,


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


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