Surgery: Worth It?

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Welcome back. :)

You're probably wondering by now: "So, surgery...was it worth it?"

My answer to that question is yes - at least for me. Did I see amazing results right away? No. Did I feel better right away? No. My experience was quite the opposite, actually. Things got worse before they got better.

But wait a minute - before you get discouraged, let me explain - and remind you, again, that everyone's experience will be different.

My doctor told me that it would be at least 6-8 few weeks before I noticed any results. Until then, I would feel about the same as I did before surgery, which is exactly what happened. Unexpectedly, though, I went through a brief reduction in pain for a month or two before the pain came right back, as sharp and persistent as it was before the surgery.

So: I felt the same, then felt better...and then went back to square one with my pain level.

(Reminder: my surgery took place the second week of November in 2017. I would say that the little relief I felt was around January of this year, before the pain came back full force between March and May.)

I'm sure that I don't have to explain to you how infuriating this was. If you've been through the same thing, you already know how I felt. Even if you haven't had surgery, you know the pain and frustration of PF all too well.

By this point, I had been through so much - physical therapy, cortisone injections, custom orthotic inserts, numerous doctors, and, of course, surgery, among other things. I didn't know what it was going to take to ever get any relief - if I ever would - from PF. Apparently, as I would soon find out, my doctor didn't either.

I decided it was time to see my doctor again in May. The following month I would be vacationing in St. Lucia, and had planned a few excursions which would require some walking. I didn't expect any miracles to happen before then, but wondered if there was anything else I could possibly try to get a little relief.

If you've never seen your doctor at a loss of words, I hope you never do. It is truly disheartening. I don't put any blame on my doctor whatsoever; he is an intelligent professional with lots of experience. Unfortunately, I just happened to be one of the worst cases he (and my 3 other podiatrists) had ever worked with, and when I went to see him in May, he admitted that there wasn't much left to try.

We discussed 4 possible options:

1. Using a TENS machine. (TENS stands for "transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.") I'd never used a Tens machine until my aunt, who suffered with PF pain for a long time, told me about it. For whatever reason, no doctor had ever recommended it to me, which is why it's so important to do research on your own. A TENS machine uses light electric currents to stimulate damaged nerves - in this case, the plantar fascia. (I will discuss this more in a future post.)
2. Contacting a pain management specialist, which I never followed through with. To me, a pain management specialist meant the prescription of pain medications, and that was not something I wanted to deal with. Don't misunderstand me - if a pain management specialist is something you'd like to try, or has worked for you, that's great. I'm sure they can be a lot of help to people suffering from PF. Personally, it just wasn't something I was comfortable seeking out. 
3. Cork heel lifts. When my doctor suggested these, my first reaction was, what?! But I'm already wearing custom orthotic inserts - you want me to wear these too?! It sounds counterintuitive. Adding a heel lift to your already sore foot seems like a terrible idea. Isn't your heel under enough stress with PF? Well, yes, but as I explained in my Physical Therapy post, the heel bone is connected to the Achilles tendon, which attaches to the calf muscle. (The plantar fascia meets the Achilles tendon at the heel bone, and runs along the underside of the foot.) By lifting the heel, pressure on the plantar fascia is relieved. This can also release tension in the calf muscle, which, for people suffering with PF, is usually very tight. 

   

   http://www.footmedictechnology.com/stretching-and-plantar-fasciitis.php

4. Achilles lengthening surgery. Lengthening the Achilles tendon could possibly alleviate tension in the plantar fascia. You're probably thinking the same thing I was when my doctor suggested this: another surgery?! Unfortunately, in persistent cases of PF, multiple surgeries may be required. But, as my doctor said, surgery should always remain a last resort option. I think that, at the moment, I would rather deal with a foot that is about 50% better than go through another procedure. 

Admittedly, I left my doctor's office feeling pretty discouraged that day. It seemed that there was very little left for me to do, and I began to accept the fact that I may have pain in my feet for the rest of my life.

But then something unexpected happened. Within a few weeks, I started noticing less pain in my foot! Other than wearing the heel lifts I hadn't done anything differently, so this came as quite a pleasant surprise (and just in time for my vacation.)

What happened? Honestly, I don't know. Do I think it was the heel lifts? No, and I'll explain that later. It's now the end of July, and I haven't seen or called my doctor since the beginning of May. I think that it's possible the healing process took much longer than expected - at least 6 months. I'd be interested to hear from any of you who have had a similar experience with PF surgery, or any other surgical procedure, that had a longer recovery time than expected. Any thoughts?

In my next post, I will discuss heel lifts more in depth.

I can be reached with any questions on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/plantarwhat/ or through email: wsmalls12194@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading,

Becky

Recovery: Weeks/Months After Surgery

https://physiqz.com/sports-hernia-surgery-recovery-time/

Hi everybody. I'm sorry it's been more than two months since my last post. I've been pretty busy between going on vacation, switching jobs, and moving. In this post, I will discuss how my recovery was in the weeks and months following my surgery.

I wore the boot for at least a month after surgery, per my doctor's instructions. About a week or so after the procedure, my doctor removed one stitch from my foot (the only one I'd had.) If you've never gotten stitches removed before, don't worry! :) That was the first time I've ever had a stitch removed, and was pretty grossed out by the thought of it. It's so fast and doesn't hurt at all. It actually tickled for a second.

I developed a pretty big bruise on the underside of my foot that first week, which my doctor said was completely normal and to be expected. Until he told me that, I was nervous that I'd done something wrong, or was putting too much pressure on it, but that wasn't the case.

My doctor wanted me to use heat, not ice, while I recovered. Like most people, I prefer ice over heat when it comes to treating pain, but I was told that heat is better for healing after surgery. I got one of those packs that can be heated or frozen. 30 seconds in the microwave and it was hot - and stayed hot for a while. I found it easiest to sit on the couch with my feet on the floor, and rest my foot (gently, not with too much pressure) on top of the pack. Do whatever is easiest or most comfortable for you.

I did not do any clinical physical therapy after surgery. My doctor asked if I would like to (not recommended it, necessarily, but asked how I felt about it) and I declined. If you read my post about the PT I had months before this procedure, you already know that I had a fairly negative experience with it. This is why I decided to not go through with it post-op. Some doctors highly recommend it after surgery; others, like mine, are neutral. Do whatever feels right to you, whatever you can handle.

This is not to say, however, that I didn't do any physical therapy on my own. At home, I did some of the things I learned from my physical therapist, when my doctor gave me the OK to begin these exercises. Mostly I did lots of stretching - lots and lots of stretching, followed by heating.

I continued to wear New Balance sneakers after my surgery, along with my custom orthotic insets. If you haven't, I recommend that you read my post about inserts and how they can help relieve PF pain before and after surgery.

There was very little scarring after surgery. Today, eight months later, I have a tiny mark (probably about 1 cm in size) on the side of my foot, which is only visible under a lot of light. As with any post-op mark, this was a bit larger (maybe 2-3 cm) immediately after the surgery, and raised. If you notice anything unusual about the way your wound is healing, be sure to contact your doctor right away.

Your doctor will likely tell you not to take certain pain medications for a while after surgery, as mine told me. I was only allowed to use Tylenol for at least a few weeks. (I think this is standard for a lot of procedures, but I'm not sure.) When enough time had passed, I was able to take naproxen (prescription strength Aleve, basically) for pain as needed.

I want to thank those of you that have reached out to me via Facebook and email with questions. I'm happy to help and offer advice in any way I can, so keep in touch and let me know how you're doing! :) For anyone who hasn't, please visit my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/plantarwhat/

If you're not into social media (and I totally get that), send me an email: wsmalls12194@gmail.com.

In my next post, I will discuss the overall outcome of my surgery and how I am doing almost a year later.

Thanks for reading,
Becky