[HoneyBea]

Fall of 2005 I started coming home from work with the bottom of my left foot hurting, it burned and it felt as if I was walking on a small marble, that evening it was so bad that I could not put my bare foot down on the floor, but by morning it was better. I am a nurse by trade and we work 12 hour shifts, on my days off my foot would not usually hurt too bad but on the days I did work I was in substantial pain by the time I ended my shift. I have a history of sciatica that travels into that foot so at first I thought that the sciatica was getting worse, this began a two year struggle with going in for Steroid injections that weren't making me any better, after three of them, I was referred to a spinal surgeon who promptly decided to put me through two more injection into a different nerve to see what, if any relief I would get, I got no relief, just more pain. he then decided to do two more tests on me before he would do surgery which at first upset me because I was sick of having tests and no results, but the first test was an EMG and when that one was over the doc had made a new discovery. While my back is bad I had a totally different problems also effecting my foot, I had Tarsal Tunnel pretty bad as he put it. I was referred to a different surgeon who upon seeing me told me that things were actually worse than I had imagined, that one part of the nerve was totally dead, no longer functioning and the other part was severely damaged, surgery is my only recourse and even with surgery all he will guarantee me is that I won't get any worse, but the probability of getting better is unlikely.
I will have the surgery, but I am unsure what to expect, he tells me that I will have to walk on crutches for two weeks, I can't walk on crutches, the last time I tried, I fell, so now he tells me I will have to either use a specialized walker, or a wheelchair. I live alone, no family in the state and the only friends I have here are from work, I have always taken care of myself, but I just don't know what to expect. Surgery is scheduled for February 28th.

[drr]

I found out about my tarsel tunnel after having it for 3 years and they thought it was from sciatica too.
I had the surgery on Jan 16, I am wearing a large boot not a cast and you can walk with it, the first 4-5 days are painful but they give you pills to help pain, I used crutches the first few days, I had trouble with crutches before but you can walk on boot so the crutches just help take pressure off foot while you walk you are not having to walk on crutches like you usually would. After 10 days I went back the doctor checked my incision it was fine, I was then allowed to take boot off to shower and sleep. Yes it is very sore without boot but each day it gets better. I go back this week to get stitches out, hopefully they will let me stop wearing boot and start physical therapy. I know the surgery is really scary but it really isn't that bad, mine is on right foot so I can't drive now and that is driving me nuts but pain wise it really isn't that bad I still take like 1 pain pill a day but it is because I am up walking around on it. I will write again after my stitches are out to let you know if the boot is off and I am on my way to recovery! The pain I lived with everyday was stopping me from doing things I wanted to do, the pain from the surgery is not as bad as that burning pain was. I did have some numbness and pins and needles the first 10 days after surgery but that has gone away and my foot feels pretty normal except the soreness from being cut.
Don't be to scared the relief from that awful burning pain is worth the surgery pain, at least that pain ends as you heal
drr

[UndercovrAngel]

Honey Bea,

First let me tell you how sorry I am that you have this medical condition and that it has progressed to this point. I hope that the surgery will provide the relief that you are seeking. Who will be going to the hospital with you when you have the surgery ?? They are going to insist that you have a designated driver to take you home, or they won't release you.

As for what to expect, each surgeon does his after care differently. I was placed in a hard cast for 9 days after surgery and then was given the walking boot. While your stitches are in, you will have to find a way to wrap your foot to keep it dry while showering.

As for your inability to use crutches, I have seen the the little walkers that you are talking about. I wish that I had known about them before my surgery. I would have opted for that rather than crutches. The walker has a platform that you place your leg on (the calf part with the foot dangling off the end). There are handlebars that allow you to steer the walker as well as a brake that helps you to stop. It folds compactly and will fit easily behind your front seat.

You can read my story here under the tarsal tunnel forum with the heading of "Tarsal Tunnel and RSD/CRPS". I suggest that you talk to the surgeon about starting physical therapy as soon as you can sfter surgery to keep yourself from loosing range of motion in your ankle as I have. I did three days of PT before the Dr pulled me from it as it did more harm than good.

I also suggest that ahead of time, you prepre or buy meals that can be frozen and warmed quickly in a microwave. It will make meal preperation so much easier. Also, make sure that you do all of your laundry beforehand. Especially your bedding. It will feel great to climb into a clean bed after the surgery. And most of all, of you want to have the surgery be somewhat successful, make sure that you follow the Dr's orders to a tee. It will make your recovery so much faster. I pushed myself to fast to soon as I was supposed to return to work within 5 weeks. It turned into 12 weeks and I used up all of my FMLA andhad no choice but to return still in pain. I\t was one week later that I finaly saw pain management and was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS. This is something that I will have to live with the rest fo my life as there is no cure for it.

So my best advice to you is to do as you are told, take it easy and allow your foot the time to heal properly.

Angel ^j^

[drr]

It is Feb 14 I just left dr office without my boot, my foot is very sore but I will start physical therapy next week. undercover angel was right about preparing ahead and I definately will not push myself to hard. I did follow dr orders and kept foot elevated and used an ice pack, luckily I had no complications. The first 7-10 days I did not change bandages but after going to dr I had to change gauze pads every day, so stock up on 4"X4" pads and adhesive tape and an ace wrap. Also I used a kitchen size trash bag to cover my boot so I could shower I taped it to my leg with adhesive tape. I also used one of those stools made for shower it helped because you feel tired easy first week. You probably should rent a wheelchair for first week or two, getting around is hard make it as easy on yourself as possible.
Good luck with your surgery I will be thinking of you I will be off work for next 3-4 weeks so write if you have questions
drr

[HoneyBea]

Tomorrow is surgery, I am trying to get as much stuff done beforehand as possible, but it just seems neverending. The doctor is assuming that I will go back to work in four weeks, but I am just not so sure myself, I work 12 hour shifts that are nonrelenting and I just dread going back there and being in so much pain, has anyone else had the surgery and is now back at work?

[drr]

I had my surgery Jan 16 and I am now doing physical therapy 3 times a week, I am still using motrin and pain pills. I could not be on my feet for 12 hours yet. I am not back at work because I drive a school bus and it is my right foot that got operated on. You may be able to stand on foot in a month if you wore the boot but I doubt it. Is there any way to work shorter hours for awhile? My foot is improving now but I cannot imagine being on it 12 hours, if I took pain pills maybe I could but I would say the time will be longer than a month to be able to go to work, make sure and tell your dr you are on your feet nonstop for 12 hours so he gives you plenty of pain pills. Good luck with your surgery, don't get scared if you feel really bad the first week it is normal and you do improve, I felt the worse the day after my surgery. I plan on going back to work in about 2-3 more weeks and I plan on easing into it by going in half a day the first week so I can tell if I am ready to make it through the day without a pain pill. Make sure to keep foot elavated and iced a lot. I will be thinking of you, let me know how you do.
drr

[UndercovrAngel]

Honey Bea,

I am sorry that I wasn't able to respond to your post on the 27th. I hope that your surgery goes well today and that you find relief from the pain that you have been in all this time. I hope that you will keep us updated on how you are doing as you go through the healing process. We are here for you if you have any more questions that you need answers to. All I can tell you at this time, is make sure that while you heal, move your foot and ankle as much as you can even though it may be hard with the cast and boots at times. The more that you move it, the less likely you will have to undergo therapy to gain back your range of motion.

Angel ^j^

[HoneyBea]

Thank you Angel, I had my surgery today, all went well with the surgery itself, but the doctor did come afterwards and tell us that the nerves are so badly damaged and once again, all he can promise is that it won't get any worse, right now it is just 'wait and see' as to whether it gets better. We quickly realized that the walker nor crutches are going to work for me and on the way home, we stopped and got a wheelchair, I am getting around ok it it, tonight will be the big problem, but we will just take it as it comes.

[drr]

Honeybea
Glad to know you had your surgery, keep me updated on your recovery. Try to think positive, I had pretty much pain first week and weird nerve numbness in whole foot for a while but it is going away now, I am in physical therapy but recovery is slow it still hurts to move my foot and to be on it longer than 1.5 hours. But it is improving my surgery was on right foot so I can't return to work until it is better I drive for a living so I am hoping it keeps improving. I have until April 15 before my FMLA time runs out. I hope you have some help during your recovery time.
drr

[help]

I too am newly diagnosed and scared, they want to operate and after reading this site, I am not so sure I want that, if it's going to be worse than now. Does anyone have anything good to say about having the surgery??? Help