Tarsal Tunnel

[livingwith]

Hi, I used to be a very active person until i developed this syndrome. I worked as a nurse for 24 years. the last couple of years i worked alot of overtime due to the shortages . my feet were really sore for the last year and then one day they started to get even more painful .the final straw was when I was at work and my feet went numb up to my ankles. I knew something was wrong. I still tryed to work sitting in a secretary chair and rolling around in it giving out medications to 25 residents. ...Read the full article

[onepugluvr]

Hello my fellow RN colleauge...
I also have beeh a Registered Nurse for many years, and have now had to deal with bilateral tarsal tunnell syndrome for now going on 15 months plus...
my symptoms started when I was pregnant with my son, by the time he was born in march of 2008, I could not feel any of my toes or soles of my feet... talk about being depressed, there I was with a beautiful healthy son and could not see the joy through all of my emotional and physical pain
what has helped me is cymbalta and lyrica... I take lyrica 150 twice daily, cymbalta 60 once daily.... I sleep with my feet outside of the sheet, as I can't stand anything on my feet..
I am now considering changing from cymbalta to pristique for my worsening depression, no one understands what it is like to deal with TTS, unless you actually have to deal with it

keep me posted
K

[victumtts]

hello fellow R.N. ,
Yes it is a terrible thing and its true that noone can understand whats going on because it is on the inside yet we feel it on the outside too. I also sleep without covers on my feet as well as a fan blowing on them. I use bean bag for my feet when they get burning hot that is a cold bean bag and a hot water bottle when they get ice cold which can last all day and usually precedes a bad bout of numbness and pain up to my ankle. My life is totally changed as it has for you . I am 50 with a 13 year old but you still sound young as you have just had a child. Even though I am 50 though I was extremely active. I worked 12 hour shifts and alot of 16 hour shifts to cover for nurses that phoned in sick in the evening . If I didnt stay there would be noone to give out meds but now I wish I had said no. My income has dropped to 30% which is better than some people who have nothing but it has changed things for the worst. My 13 year old has started smoking and has been caught shoplifting twice. It may just be a teen thing but my illness has definitly put a strain on the family. I spend a lot of time on the couch or in bed . I have good periods where I seem to be able to walk a bit more and then I have terrible periods where I can hardly stand the pain. I am in a good period right now and actually went on a river run yesterday . It was so good to get out of the house. My feet had been so painful the previous weeks that I couldnt evan make supper. At the end of this month I have to go to a physio appt for 2 days to assess my abilities. Long term disability wants to cut me off if they can so in a way I hope my feet get worse during that period otherwise they will think I can go back to work. I would love nothing more than to go back to my job but only if my feet are well again. The surgeon wont do the other foot if this one dosent get better. Even though the right one was the worse one. Have you had any surgery ? You didnt mention if you did . thanks for responding to my letter . Keep in touch and tell me how you manage with your little one. All the day to day stuff. I am very interested in hearing more . Take care for now and keep in touch. Teresa

[onepugluvr]

Teresa,
I am so, so, sorry to hear all the pain that you have been going through, as I know how difficult it is.
I have not had any surgery, and I doubt that I will... I am not wondering now if my condition will be permanent... It is very hard for me to say that as I have not come to a period of acceptance with this unseen & terrible condition. WheN I look back to my signs and symptoms, I now know that I have been misdiagnosed.. Perhaps if my podiatrist (with well over 25 years experience) had reccommended orthotics, or told me not to work, I would not have this syndrome....
I will be going to see another podiatrist here soon, I just have to ob tain my med records from my former podiatrist. For now, I still take cymbalta, pristique (unsure if i will continue on this med) and most importantly my Lyrica... I could not deal with day to day dealings without lyrica.
Unfortunately, my greatest fear in living with this conditon, is that my son (who is now 16 months) is walking and exploring like crazy.... Living in a very warm state does not help the situation as my shoe selection is now up to 3 pair of shoes, 2 clogs and 1 pair of sandals with lots of arch support.
I have sporadic feeling in my toes, and when I walk barefoot (which i never do) it is though I am walking on a thick pad ~ a most uncomfortable feeling ~.
since i have decreased on my cymbalta, (30 mg po qd) i have noticed the increase in tingling and "hot ice" feeling in my feet.. I may have to stay on the cymbalta and deal with life as it is.
sorry to ramble, I am not sure if anwsered all your questions...
I would love to actually "speak" with you if you are interested.... or we can chat through email

take care & let me know how you are doing :)
Kim

[victumtts]

Hi Kim, We could certainly speak with each other probably thtough email as I live in Canada in British Columbia , city of Vernon. I have been experimenting this month taking Stress B vitamins and whether it is coincidental or not as six months since surgery and the surgeion said it could take up to six months to see any results because of the compression of the nerve. He did say it was tight and it needed to be loosed . Anyways since a couple of weeks ago I have been having less pain since taking the b vits and I even went for a walk . One day I literally had no pain. of course my feet hummed for the whole next day after my walk but in general they seem to be better?. I have hardly taken any lyrica this week , only spradically and last night though I did need 75 mg. This morning my feeet are hurting more so I never really know because I am always waiting for the acute bout that occurs everytime I start walking. Hey though if the vit b helps a little then its worth it. I am going to buy a really good one when I get paid this month as I bought a cheaper one to try it out .I really do hope its getting better from the surgery of course. Do you live down South? My email address is [moderator note: e-mail address has been removed] or phone number is [moderator note: phone number has been removed] I dont think I have long distance to the states .Ill find out . Anyways gotta run ( well I mean hobble ) a s my brother is coming from Vancouver so I like to get the house nice and clean . Usually once I clean the house I am grounded for 2 or more days so I will let you know but so far I have had a couple of great weeks. Thanks for your most recent posting and i look forward to checking my email. Its good to have support from people who understand. I feel bad for you that your child is so young .How old are you? My daughter thankfully is 13 but it has presented its own problems . Of course she is in the selfish stage so she has little sympathy for my condition and helps on a scale of 1 to 10, 2. I should demand more from her but sometimes its not worth the fight. I have a wheelchair and a low table that I bought from staples that is adjustable so I cut vveggies and stuff in my wheelchair when I have my bad bouts and I have adjusted lots of thing sin my apt to make life easier. I love to cook and its the one thing that I wont five up so I make my own bagels and bread and all home made stuff so I have found a way to do this.Anyways now I am rambling . Take care Kim and well talk soon. Teresa