Question
Wow, where should I begin! Last year I started having really bad heel pain so I went to through 3 cortisone injections, anti-inflams and it didn't get any better so we scheduled surgery.  I also had a cyst on the top of my foot that I requested be removed (no pain in the cyst just wanted it gone).  So the doctor did an EPF release and a cystectomy (pardon the spelling) in October 2007.  My foot is worse off now than it was b4 surgery.  I am on my 3rd doctor now and she has diagnosed it as having a Morton's neuroma and plantar Fasciitis.  The heel doesn't hurt anymore now the pain is in the ball of my foot and in the arch close to the big toe.  I experience, numbness in my toes, sharp pain in my toes and arch.  Burning pain on the ball of my foot when I walk.  I have had an MRI which showed nothing! I have been to PT and I go tomorrow for my 4th schlerosing injection.  None of this has helped and I am about to the end of my rope.  I am a stay at home mom of 3 kids so you can imagine how often I get to rest my feet.  If you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

Answer
Hi Jes,

There is hope for your pain.  First I would avoid further alcohol injections or any injections for that matter.  This will just aggravate the problem.  Your history is very familiar to me.  I see patients with the same problems that have had these surgeries and have gotten worse.  In some cases one of the nerves is cut in the EPF procedure and even with cyst removal.  This will lead to abnormal nerve regrowth and pain.  I am not an advocate of releasing the plantar fascia.  I have had excellent results performing the CryoMax procedure or ultrasound-guided cryosurgery.  This could relieve much of your pain.  See my website:
http://www.tampacryosurgery.com

Hopefully you are wearing an orthotic device.  I would advise against any surgeries that remove tissue or cut tissue for the neuroma or heel.

I recommend cryosurgery for my heel pain and neuroma pain patients.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com
www.cryosurgerypodiatrist.com


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