Question
QUESTION: I am approximately 4 months post modified kidner. Several small rips by the insertion into the navicular were repaired and the tendon attached with an anchor. I got my new orthotics about two months ago. I am pretty much living in good sneakers.  I find that when I first wake up, I am pretty much pain free but by noon or 1 pm, my foot starts to hurt.  The area of the surgical site becomes very sensitive and painful where it touches my sneaker.  If I take my sneaker off, I still experience a throbbing sensation.  The next morning, I am ok for a few hours but the cycle starts all over again.  Is this considered normal at this point in my recovery?

ANSWER: This Chicago Podiatrist says.......
Following a Modified Kidner most your symptoms of pain should have resolved by now,however...
Things that may delay are increased weight and or increased physical activity-especially if you wake pain free and then the symptoms occur later in the day.
Please have a talk with your surgeon and explain your frustrations and expectations.The answers you receive should make sense,and the doctor should give a time frame for expectations.
Perhaps some physical therapy may quiet down the tendinitis.
Perhaps the area of surgical repair is pressing into the orthotic.
If the conversation you have with your doctor is not sincere and explanatory-let them know you will be seeking another opinion and go get it! Put your mind at ease.

We are experts in these kinds of foot and ankle surgeries and do second opinions


Hope this helps!
Good Luck My Friend!

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

DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I had been seeing a pt for about 6 weeks but when my rx ran out - two weeks ago, I stopped seeing her.  Both the pt and podiatrist said that the strength and ROM were very good and I didn't feel that the pt was really changing my execise routine at all.  I am following through with the home routine.

I saw the doctor the other day.  The surgical area is swollen.  He feels that the swelling is causing the increasing pain from  the shoe as the day progresses.  He said that there were many tears at the insertion that he had to repair and that sometimes a tendon just takes awhile to heal.  He feels that the fact that my foot is ok in the morning is a positive sign.  Does the increasing swelling as the day/week progresses sound realistic four months post op?  I am able to stand on my toes with no pain.

ANSWER: This Elmhurst Podiatrist says...
The fact that you can stand on your toes without pain and that you wake up pain free, following a Kidner  are excellent signs!!!
Again I must remind you that increased weight(even as little as 15-20 pounds)will slow you down-so if you need to lose weight-here is another very good reason to do so.
You are not going to give up the standing job-but maybe do regular shifts and no overtime.
Wrap the swollen area to push away the swelling-this will help with the pain.
Try a few layers of sticky ace wrap or a neoprene sleeve.
Check out our website's webstore at Anklenfoot.com for examples of above.
See if you can get an extension of your therapy benefits with a letter from your doctor and get ultrasound only and continue to wrap on your own. Cost effective and works best for symptoms you describe.Should improve soon with most of the above recommendations

Hope this helps!
Good Luck Again My Friend!

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

DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response.  I am indeed about 10 lbs overweight and agree that I HAVE to address that.  I am a school based Speech Language Pathologist with private clients on the side.  I do some walking, getting the younger kids but am able to sit about 60-70% of the time.  It does set my mind at ease knowing that this may not be considered abnormal at this point in my recovery.  Getting an extension of PT will not be a problem, however I didn't bother because my range of motion and strenght were both good.

Answer
This Chicago Podiatrist says...
My preference of PT for your condition at this point in time is ultrasound and mild compression when it swells. The ROM is not the problem-it is the tearing that is happening at the tendon and so you want these tissues to heal completely.
Try not to sit as long and spread out your standing and sitting.
If you must sit then do range of motion exercises before you stand
Good news is that you know you want to lose the weight- Now go do it! AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Hope this helps!
Good Luck My Friend!

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

DISCLAIMER:
This information is offered as free advice and as general information. It may not be applicable to the specific questioner and his/her problem.  It is not based on actual knowledge of the questioner or his/her medical history and it cannot and should not be relied upon as definitive medical opinion or advice.  Reliable medical opinion and advice can only be obtained through hands-on physical contact and exam of the patient to establish an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.  No doctor/patient relationship is created or established here and may not be inferred through answers on this site.  The questioner and other readers must consult his/her own doctor before proceeding or implementing any suggestions contained within this document and answers on this site.  The questioner is only to act upon his/her own doctor抯 orders and recommendations. By reading this posting which follows, the reader fully understands and confirms that he/she holds harmless this writer. If this is not fully agreeable to you, the reader, and/or you have not attained the age of 18 years, you hereby are advised to read no further.