Going under the knife....

[Feelin Frisky]

Surgery. I have "tarsal tunnel syndrome" and "Morton's Neuroma" in my left foot. It's so bad they're gonna have to cut me. I don't know how long I'll be hobled. I worry about not being able to drive my car because I need my left foot for the clutch. Anyone have these problems or know anyone who has had such foot surgery? It bothers me so much I want to paint a target on my foot and shoot it. I pray the surgery will end this.

[ShatteredReality]

Just a brief search on that condition makes me have a great deal of pity for you! I have Carpal Tunnel in both wrists, which is basically the same condition, but up not down. In my experience, pain further down is worse - because elevation can help alleviate some symptoms and it's more difficult to keep lower extremeties elevated for any amt of time. I had the surgery two years ago on my right wrist. It didn't work. I was in pain after the surgery for at least a month, and the incision site is still sensitive. I wake up every morning with numbness and pain. It helped - I won't lie - the pain isn't as bad and it isn't as often (apart from waking up every morning). But it was such that I have not gone in and had the left wrist done. I am considering having them redo the right one...see if maybe my "severe" case was just too severe for that surgery and needed a repeat...but I am leaving the left for now.

 

What I read up on your surgery though was a bit more promising, less people complaining that it didn't work more people saying it was worth it 1000 times over. The healing process is going to suck. (I don't sugar coat things - sorry - if that's what you're looking for). But the end result will be worth it. It sounds like it's approx 7wks in crutches or some sort of walking assistance, followed by physical therapy...all in all taking about a year. Like I said, though, from what I read it seems most people are incredibly glad they made the choice to do it. For the first 7wks I bet you spend lots of time on the net and catching up on movies!

 

Again - I am not great at sugar coating or anything like that...but hopefully you get the main point - that it will be worth it in the end!

[Feelin Frisky]

Just a brief search on that condition makes me have a great deal of pity for you! I have Carpal Tunnel in both wrists, which is basically the same condition, but up not down. In my experience, pain further down is worse - because elevation can help alleviate some symptoms and it's more difficult to keep lower extremeties elevated for any amt of time. I had the surgery two years ago on my right wrist. It didn't work. I was in pain after the surgery for at least a month, and the incision site is still sensitive. I wake up every morning with numbness and pain. It helped - I won't lie - the pain isn't as bad and it isn't as often (apart from waking up every morning). But it was such that I have not gone in and had the left wrist done. I am considering having them redo the right one...see if maybe my "severe" case was just too severe for that surgery and needed a repeat...but I am leaving the left for now.

 

What I read up on your surgery though was a bit more promising, less people complaining that it didn't work more people saying it was worth it 1000 times over. The healing process is going to suck. (I don't sugar coat things - sorry - if that's what you're looking for). But the end result will be worth it. It sounds like it's approx 7wks in crutches or some sort of walking assistance, followed by physical therapy...all in all taking about a year. Like I said, though, from what I read it seems most people are incredibly glad they made the choice to do it. For the first 7wks I bet you spend lots of time on the net and catching up on movies!

 

Again - I am not great at sugar coating or anything like that...but hopefully you get the main point - that it will be worth it in the end!

 

 

Thanks for your response. I have carpal tunnel in both hands too. I had the left one operated on 4 years ago and, like your experience, it was not successful enough for me to go cutting the other one. I think I injured my hands working out at the gym and putting so much stress on them with weights. The right hand which hasn't yet been cut is not all that bad. I just have to be careful how I hold things so that I don't bend the wrist too much. I chose to do my left hand because a) it was worse and b) I play guitar and use that hand to finger all the notes and chords at an angle which causes me to wince sometimes. I'm shocked that the surgery wasn't all the way successful because I had a famous hand surgeon do it. It is however tolerable and I've learned to ignore the low-level pain there.

 

I hope my foot produces better results.

[laRubiaBonita]

sorry, no experience with foot surgeries here either.... but i chimed in to empathize. i have plantar fasciitus in one foot and i have this wierd pain in my other leg/ foot (it radiates and i am not sure where it is originating) and i just broke my toe this past summer.... i am not in as much pain as you- but i definitely can relate.

 

is your MN in the toe bead/ ball of the foot area?

 

where all will the be cutting?

[Feelin Frisky]

...is your MN in the toe bead/ ball of the foot area?

 

where all will the be cutting?

 

No, it's between the other toes toward the outside of the foot and going back from there on the instep and corresponding bottom. I'm not sure yet exactly what will be done in surgery. I spent some time searching the net for info last night and found some good illustrations of what they do. It looks pretty hairy. But they can take my foot apart and put it together again if they have to to get this right. Thanks for your post.

[denise_xo]

No good advice to offer either, just best of luck to you I hope it all goes well and you get the outcome you want.

[ShatteredReality]

I spoke briefly with a friend about this issue. She is a massage therapist and she says massage therapy can aide greatly in the healing process, but also with the carpal tunnel situations we both suffer from as well as prevention of further injury to your foot or to your other foot. She says often times the nerve that is being irritated or pinched can swell and make the problem worse, so massaging the shoulder or toward the hip will take care of issues further down on either extremity. You might want to look into going to someone who knows about that stuff - a really good massage therapist...during your recovery. It could help you heal faster. Also - for the incision site. My sister in law swears acidic water helps heal the site. You know - when you use reverse osmosis to get alkaline water vs acidic water - well the acidic water is supposedly really good for your hair and skin etc, as well as healing wounds? Then you drink the alkaline water which is better for you internally. I am no extremist or naturalist, however I mentioned the issue to those two folks and that's the advice they had to lend. I also tend to believe modern medicine would be improved by adopting some of the natural methods and using a little of both. Either way - good luck with the surgery!

[Art_Critic]

You might want to paint a big X or NO on your groin area just in case they don't remember it was your foot that gets cut open and think you are there for a vasectomy.

 

I'm sure you will have to have some PT after the surgery and hopefully it will go without a hitch and maybe they can gear your PT towards being able to drive a clutch..

They also may have a boot that you can wear or strap on that can help you with your driving.

 

Good Luck...

[Yer_Blues]

I'm having knee surgery tomorrow, so I wish you luck with your recovery. It really sucks having an injury below the waist

[Feelin Frisky]

Thanks, my friends. Having another tough day waiting.

[Gold Pile]

Sorry to hear of your ordeal, I hope the operation goes well and the recovery is fast

[folieadeux]

Hope everything goes well.