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Morton's Neuroma

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805

So i meet with the doctor here the size of my neuroma's.

Right Foot 2.5mm
Left Foot 2.6mm

Normal ~1mm

So I am having surgery on Nov 19, both feet at the same time. He is going to try to decompress and relocate them. If he feels that he can not relocate with out causing pain then he will just remove them.

Not so much fun.

lisa c · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 0

Holy crap! I hope you have someone taking care of you for a week or so. It's going to be rough but you will be so glad that you did this.

May your surgery go well and your recovery be swift!!!

lynchdogger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 0

Great to read I'm not alone but sorry that we all have had or are dealing with this pain!
I joke with my wife that I feel like the lion from that Aesop's Fable - in other words, I'm typically not a complainer but this issue has been debilitating.
I've done the custom footbeds and strength training but the pain won't go away. When it hits it knocks me off my feet.
I've grown very discouraged and although I thought the issue would be resolved after a cortisone shot just last week it came back and hit me hard yesterday after my weekly mtb ride. I was hoping this would calm things done for much longer than a week but from other's comments that's not going to happen.
Surgery - Aaaaaaarggh!!! Not looking forward to another surgery since I'm just recovering from foot surgery last August (foot was crushed at work but was lucky and I've had a full recovery). In fact, besides this neuroma issue and tendinitis in my elbows (isn't getting old fun), I'm in the best shape I've been in years - just in time for ice climbing and ski season!
Has anyone tried acupuncture or other alternative therapies? Are there any?
Good luck with surgery and luck to the rest of you dealing with this.
I'm going to suffer for awhile longer and deal with it late winter or early spring after the memories of my last surgery have faded further and after my favorite season.
I'll be checking in. Let's hope for lot's of ice and snow! Well wishes and good luck.

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805

Thanks!!!

Im going to end up missing most of the ICE season. Lame... I hopefully i can catch the tail end of it and maybe for once i can walk in my LaSportiva Nepals Boots with out it hurting.

Just found out from my HR Department that i could apply for short term disablity at work while i recover for a couple of weeks.... So i don't have to burn all my vacation days and then if it take longer that the 5-8 days im set while i recover..

Hopefully i can talk the doctor into taking some pictures during the surgery or at least some of the neuroma.

Lynchdogger at least start seeing the foot doctor to get things rolling, because they usually have to do a couple of cortizone shots first. That takes about 2-3 months. There not take painful, i was climbing at the red after shots in both feet. I just iced them the whole way down.

lisa c · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 0

Sunder, please keep us posted. I'm sure your recovery will go much faster than mine did, perhaps I had the worst-case scenario as far as recovery time.
And Lynch, accupunture may work but you have to keep getting it, which grows very expensive very fast and may not reverse or fix the neuroma. But give it a try, see what happens if you can afford it.
Basically, if you pound/use your feet the neuroma just keep growing.

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805

Off to surgery tommorrow @ 9AM!!!

lisa c · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 0

Sunder, almost a year to date since my surgery.
Keep us posted! And may you be squeezing those newly happy feet into climbing shoes soon!

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805

So the surgery is done and the doctor removed the neuroma's from both feet. The neuromas were way bigger than what the ultrasound showed. He compaired the size of my neuromas to the tip of my fiance's pinky finger so im guessing they were 3mm to 3.5mm.

The out patient places don't mess around I woke up from being knocked out and they gave me some food and i was out the door 15 to 20 minutes later.... I was really suprised at that, I thought i would be in recovery for an hour or so.

They have my feet wrapped in ace bandages and i am wearing the the blue surgery boots. They said not to use any crutches and my feet are numb so when i have to walk i feel like a pirate with two wooden legs.

I go to see the Doctor next tuesday and to get the dressing changed.

Dara · · Peep's republic · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 21

Sunder--
Hope your recovery is going well. I had this surgery 16 years ago--both feet--and while it was really painful at first, I was back running in 5 weeks. (okay, jogging....) It was probably a year before my feet felt "normal" and the tops of my toes are hypersensitive to this day, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I run, bike, and climb without foot pain--something I wouldn't be saying if I hadn't had the surgery. Good luck!

Sauce Purvis · · Golden, CO. · Joined Jun 2007 · Points: 375

Sunder,
I am scheduled to have surgery on my left foot on Dec.6. I seem to have one in my right foot as well but it is not problematic. I was hoping you could keep me posted on how the recovery is going. My Doc led me to believe I would be able to walk in a special shoe after 3-4 days and so I am hoping to take three days off work after surgery. Do you think that's consistent with your recovery time? Thanks for any info!

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805

I would say to take at least a week off, keep off you feet and ice it. If your only having the one foot done get some crutches so you can keep the weight off it and move around. If you go back to work make sure that you can keep it elevate your foot and ice it at work or else it will hurt and throb really bad.

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805

So i just had some bandages changed and was able to snap a picture of my feet to show what the surgery looks like. They still hurt pretty bad to put a lot of pressue on the front of the foot. The sitches come out in 7 days next wednesday.

lisa c · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 0

Hey, I recognize that state of Yeti feet.

Mary Moser · · Kirkland, AZ · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 200

I've been suffering from this ailment in my right foot for 3 years now and it's seriously impacted my climbing and hiking (forget backpacking!). I no longer wear tight climbing shoes and I've switched to trail runners for hiking, which has helped. Slab climbing really aggravates this condition, so I try to stick to crack (my favorite type of climbing anyway!). I am apprehensive about surgery at this point, but may consider it since so many people in this forum have had a good experience with it. Thanks for the info!

Callie Rennison · · Boulder, Colorado · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 15

Looking good! You'll be so happy to be rid of those pesky neuromas!

Sherri Lewis · · Sequim, WA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 316

I had a neuroma removed about 16 years ago while I was working in Australia. They went in thru the bottom of the foot and told me it was ok to return to normal activity as soon as I could tolerate being on the foot. Not the best advice to give a very active Type A personality. I did too much too soon and the pain returned with a vengeance. Went in for surgery again several months later to have the scar tissue and the nerve removed.

I was not a climber at the time but I was an avid jogger and the pain continued to restrict my participation in the activity for nearly a decade after the surgeries, despite spending a lot of money on podiatrists and their custom orthotics. Even walking around the house barefoot was painful.

The magic bullet which finally resolved the issue was a relatively cheap, semi-custom orthotic made for me by a shoe store owner. Go figure.

Six years later I'm wearing those same orthotics and enjoying running and climbing to my hearts content. Going barefoot is once again a pleasure I can indulge in.

The moral, if there is one, is that you may have to try more than approach or treatment and it may take some research and patience to find that right combination for your particular situation. Don't give up. If your feet aren't happy, nothing else will be either.

Best of luck with your surgery/recovery Sunder!

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805

So the stiches were taken out 6 days ago and i was finally able to put on gym shoes and drive. I stopped taking Vicodin 3 days before the stiches were removed.

The first 3 days were spent doing the old man shuffle your feet walk. Now i am walking better just a bit slower.

It is so weird to get use to the new sensations that i have in my foot. Like my toes rubbing on sheets at night in bed, it feels like they are hot and cold or wet. The other feeling is i feel like my pinky toes is crossed over my 4th toe. This is all starting to go away as time passes.

My foot is just a bit tender still but it will probably take 2-3 months for a full recovery. Im working on being able to curl my 3rd and 4th toes all the way, the scare is a little tight and preventing this.. I am also working on putting more preasure on the ball of my foot.

Picture of my cut up hobit feet 3 days after the stiches were removed.

Callie Rennison · · Boulder, Colorado · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 15

Looking good!

Greg Gavin · · SLC, UT · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 889

Is this what I have to look forward to when I get older?

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805
Greg G wrote:Is this what I have to look forward to when I get older?
Im only 28....
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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