Shots of Alcohol do numb the pain!
Sclerosing (sometimes called alcohol surgery) can be a wonderful alternative to surgical excision. Alcohol hampers the nerve's ability to transmit painful impulses. Alcohol injections affect the nerve by causing a "short circuit", desensitizing the painful area with mild numbness.
Sclerosing therapy can be done in the office and often produces the same level of relief without the risks associated with surgery. More importantly, there are no restrictions on activity after the injections, as there would be with surgery. Patients can expect good results, as success rates are between 70-80%. In rare cases where the therapy was not successful, surgery is still an option.
Neuroma sclerosis requires a series of weekly injections. After 3 injections, pre-treatment symptoms are reevaluated. If no improvement is noted, the series will be discontinued. However, if some improvement is noted, then the series will be completed, up to a total of 7 injections.