Alcohol injections can help foot pain

LONDON, June 12 (UPI) -- Alcohol injections have a high success rate and are well tolerated by patients with Morton's neuroma, a common cause of foot pain, says a British study.

Morton's neuroma is a growth of nerve tissue that occurs in a nerve in the foot, often between the third and fourth toes, that usually causes a sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital and Kingston Hospital National Health Service Trust, consisted of 101 patients with Morton's neuroma. There was a technical success rate of 100 percent, and in 94 percent of the patients, partial or total symptom improvement was reported, with 84 percent becoming totally pain free, according to the study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

"Surprisingly, most patients maintain innervation to the toes despite the alcohol ablation," lead author Dr. David Connell, said in a statement.

"This means that they don't have the permanent numbness and loss of sensation that accompanies resection of the nerve at surgery."