Tarsal Tunnel

[jess3974]

Hi, I am 33 years old and have been suffering with ankle pain for the last 5 months. When I was approx. 16 years old I fractured my ankle which ultimately lead to chronic tendonitis When I was 20 I had a complete tendon and ligament reconstruction. Everything had been good for 13 years. Well, I started to experience pain again in August. I made an appt with the orthopedic surgeon that did my surgery and he ordered an MRI The test result was mild tendonitis He gave me 2 cortisone shots and a new prescription orthodic for my shoes. This did nothing but made the pain worse. I sought a second opinion and the second surgeon seemed like he listened. He put me in a cam boot and crutches for 4 weeks. After the 4 weeks I went back to him and explained that the pain was getting worse. Basically he told me that it was in my head. He prescribed Neorotin, which I took every night for a couple months with absolutely no change. I had heard about a doctor in our area that was supposed to be the best. After having basically to beg and pull in every favor I could I got an appt. I was in his office approx 30 minutes. He told me that I did not have tendonitis and that he believed I had Tarsal Tunnel syndrome He performed the Tinels test and it took me out of the chair. He recommended I go have an EMG but has already explained the surgery to me and as far as I was concerned this was my diagnosis. Well, I went for the EMG today. The dr who performed the test told me I only have a slight compression if any and he would almost consider it normal. I am in tears at this point. I have had no pain meds that work and am on my feet all day long. I do not sleep at night from the pain and I can barely drive my car because the pain is so bad. I feel like they think this is really in my head. I know it is not though. I went 13 years with no pain. I have this red, dry ugly mark directly over my tibial nerve area that was not there before and my heel feels like I have a nail being driven through it every time I take a step. I have pain, tingling and numbness in my toes after standing for an hour and my foot swells every day. Does anyone have any advice for me? I am going crazy!!

[vertigokitten]

OMG Jess. Where do you live dear?

[jess3974]

I live in upstate New York right outside of Albany. I saw the Dr yesterday and he basically told me he has no idea what is wrong. He wants to give a lidacaine injection to see if that works. But is very skeptical of doing surgery at this point. When I asked what I am supposed to do about the pain, he said deal with it. I have never been so mad in my life at the medical community. They make you sit in a waiting room for an hour and a half before the Dr sees you, then tells you to deal with it but you still have to pay that co-pay.

[vertigokitten]

I know how pissed you are. When I had my nerve release surgery Aug. 07, my surgeon said once he open up my foot he thought maybe I did not have tarsal tunnel till my vein popped out and it was huge because of the compression. Since my surgery I have been having all kinds of problems even thougth the surgery went well. Now my right foot is terrible and he said he will not touch it with a 10 foot pole. I do not know what to do. My life is almost nonexistent because of the pain.
Believe me, you are not going crazy.