Question
Hello,
In January 2009 I had a modified kidner procedure and planter fascia release on my left foot. I have had daily chronic pain ever since. I now have a neuroma (4th toe from the big toe) and a slightly inflamed tendon around the 3rd toe. The pain is on top of my foot and goes up to the ankle and occasionally on the outside of the ankle. It's also on the surgical site and goes up toward the ankle. After the surgery I was on bed rest for 4 weeks, in a boot that whole time and for about 7 weeks total. I did physical therapy for 6+ weeks 2 times per week. I've been managing the pain with anti-inflammatories. Yesterday I was told that I needed to go to a pain clinic as there wasn't anything that could be done. I've been doing some reading on Prolotherepy and other things that are done at clinics. I've done a nerve conduction test, that was fine. Bone scan and that showed everything was fine, other than the tendon and neuroma. I've also done an MRI which came up fine other than slight scar tissue.
What do you think a pain clinic can do? I don't have RSD either.

Thanks, Tammy

Answer
This Chicago & Elmhurst Podiatrist says.......

Dear Tammy,

It can take up several months before the pain in the area of the Kidner is resolved. You may still need an ankle brace. See our website AnkleNFoot.com for examples.
Get your records and seek another opinion from a Board Certified Podiatrist. The pain specialist is not the person to see. Their knowledge of foot & ankle surgery is limited, and so you have a much better chance with a second opinion from another podiatrist.
Have the neuroma re-evaluated also-I have a suspicion that it may be metatarsalgia.
Look at our website AnkleNFoot.com for explanations of both metatarsalgia & neuroma and see which describes your pain best.
If the Kidner worked-you would not need prolotherapy. I wrote a paper on prolotherapy.
Following a plantar fascial release you would need orthotics/orthoses post-op to help prevent pain.
We do these kinds of second opinions and are located within 35 minutes of both Chicago airports

Hope This Helps
Good Luck!

Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661
AnkleNFoot.com
Runnersdoc.com
BabyFootDoc.com

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