And from Tracey:
I have a few questions regarding my painful neuroma. I began treating with
my Podiatrist approx. 9 months ago. He began with medications (Bextra)
then oral steroids along with shots. Four
months into treatments he advised that
having my bunion removed with
help with placement of my foot which may alleviate
pain.
I am going to start this answer by making a big assumption:
that you do in fact have a neuroma. If you do, I personally do not use
anti-inflammatory medications or oral steroids for a neuroma pain. When you
squeeze the nerve in a neuroma the pain is very sharp - almost like getting
stabbed with the tip of an ice pick. I do not think that any pain medicine can
solve this type of pain. I will inject them with cortisone in an attempt to
shrink the neuroma and provide what is all too often only temporary pain relief.
I would never suggest that having a bunion repaired would help a neuroma unless
it was a highly unusual one involving the first interspace (between the first
and second toes). I have never heard anyone suggest that a bunionectomy will
help a neuroma. Very curious.
It has
been over two months since my bunionectomy (Left foot) which went very
well. I went back to work sooner than expected and and doing quite well
with it.
The problem is that the pain to the other area Neuroma has
not subsided. In fact
now that I am back on my foot regularly because I am recovered from bunionectomy the neuroma pain
is getting worse everyday.
That would have been my guess.
My Doctor keeps injecting it and switched me to Celebrex and
yet another round
of Steroids. He is convinced that most neuromas can
be cured without surgery.
I am wondering if I should see a different
doc. My current doctor came highly recommended buy I am tired of the pain,
along with the shots I have been continuing to get. Alcohol along with others.
He's tried them all.
Well, you cannot say you did not get conservative treatment.
Personally I would have done the neuroma surgery at the same time as the bunion
so there would only need to be one recovery. I am not sure why your doctor is
shying away from the neuroma surgery. If cortisone injections (3), alcohol
injections and oral anti-inflammatory medications have failed then you have
little to risk.
How long should I continue with treatment options? I prefer
to have surgery and
get it over with so I can get on with my life. I
am also wondering since the ball of my foot is killing me and it clicks when I
wiggle my toes with my hand, but the most nagging pain I am experiencing is
under my SECOND toe not so much the
third and fourth. Could it be
possible one neuroma is causing all this pain, tingling or could I have more
than one neuroma??
Well, now you bring up the concept of metatarsalgia under the 2nd
metatarsal head or at the 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint. This is the ever famous
so-called predislocation syndrome that I talk about elsewhere on the web site.
If you have this condition, and not a neuroma, then I understand your doctor's
reluctance to do surgery. [See how difficult it is ot answer questions without
seeing the foot.] Neuroma surgery is quick, easy and successful. Surgery for
metatarsalgia is not highly successful and sometimes not all that easy. Ask your
doctor which you have: metatarsalgia of the 2nd MPJ or a neuroma. Neuromas hurt
with compression of the forefoot (such as with shoes) and not walking barefooted
on a hard floor surface. Metatarsalgia is worst barefoot on a hard surface and
less painful in a shoe, especially a padded shoe.
Good luck!
Tracey
Chesterfield, Michigan
