[worknonjoy]

I have had heel pain in my right foot for about four years. I had broken my foot on the right side about six years ago, not sure if that contributed to the heel pain I have a lump that is about 1" round from the mid heel to the inner side. It is hard. It hurts to walk and it hurts in the evening especially. I have pain really up into my calf.

I went to my doctor and he did an ultrasound and said it was an extremely large plantar fasciitis I also have a small spur. I have gotten medically ordered shoe inserts, worn splints and had cortisone shots. Nothing helps. I am considering surgery.

I looked up plantar fasciitis and I don't find the lump mentioned with that. I also don't have the pain in the morning. Could I possibly have something else? My podiatrist wants to do the endoscopic surgery for plantar fasciitis Do they take the lump out? He said it is not good to take the spur out.

I'm concerned because I'm not sure it's plantar fasciitis, I think the spur and the lump are what causes the problem and if they are not taken out, will I get relief? I don't have the highest arches and I am worried about my arches falling from the surgery.

Anyone have any input?

Thanks so much!
Judy S

[UroDoc]

if you are concerned get a second opinion, good luck

[angelslove]

Hi Judy S.
You sound a great deal like me! Think twice before you have surgery & I'll tell you why.

I fell & had a chip fracture in my right ankle about 4 years ago. About a year or so after the fracture, I began having pain in my right heel & phoned my orthopedist to see perhaps if that chip of bone might be lodged in my heel and that was causing the pain. I went in to the doctor's office, had an x-ray made, & a heel spur was visible on x-rays. He gave me an injection & said that should help. It did for about a year. Within a few months after the year, I began having pain once again in that heel, went in & received 2nd injection. Orthopedist said that oftentimes the injections will not be as effective if the pain persists. That eased pain for about 8 months. Soon the pain recurred, received 3rd injection which only last a couple of months.

Doctor said I might want to consider surgery where he would go in, shave off the spur. He said the surgery only lasted maybe 30 minutes, but recovery time was quite lengthy. Well, in Dec. of 06 I had the surgery. Months rolled by, and in August of 07, had a post-surgical injection once again.

The injections help after about 2 weeks, but then the pain comes back & it tends to be worse. This is October 07, I'm still wearing the boot I was fitted with a month after surgery & I can hardly stand up right now. That plantar fascia can get inflammed & the injections are supposed to help but mine hasn't.

Right now my heel feels like I'm standing on a peach pit & it is so sore it's terribly painful. I didn't have a lump. It sounds like if your doctor goes in, he's still going to leave the spur. I might have misunderstood that, I don't know. Spurs don't always cause pain at least that's what I've been told. I've done so much research on this, it's pitiful. But like I said, think twice before you have surgery. In two months, I will be a year post-op & it hurts more now than before I elected to have operation. I hope this helps a little bit. Take care.

[worknonjoy]

Thanks angelslove for the post. You have expressed the reason why I am putting off my surgery. I am very concerned I will be worse off. The problem is that I cannot walk for any length of time right now, so I would love to do something that would help.

[angelslove]

Thanks angelslove for the post. You have expressed the reason why I am putting off my surgery. I am very concerned I will be worse off. The problem is that I cannot walk for any length of time right now, so I would love to do something that would help.
I know exactly what you're talking about because I've had the surgery and I still can't walk for any period of time. I haven't been without the boot for ever a three-hour span since Dec. of '06. I haven't been to the grocery store since right before the surgery. My husband has been going for us.

I phoned my orthopedist yesterday and they're getting me an appointment with an orthopedic fellow in Atlanta, Ga. It is now affecting my back & other leg. So be sure to do your research & talk to your doctor & ask any question you can think of before you decide. I wish you nothing but good luck whatever you decide to do. Post again so I'll be sure to keep in touch!