Comments on: 1 Month Post Plantar Fasciotomy – Left Foot http://christinawiley.info/2008/09/1-month-post-plantar-fasciotomy-left-foot/ Personal journey with bilateral plantar fasciitis surgery Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:56:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Christina http://christinawiley.info/2008/09/1-month-post-plantar-fasciotomy-left-foot/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Christina Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:50:43 +0000 http://christinawiley.info/?p=98#comment-179 Hi DAB! You are most welcome. Thank you very much for your prayers. I am sorry that you have plantar fasciitis as well. The decision to have surgery is never an easy one. I've had PF since 2000 and here it is 2008 and I'm finally having surgery. In early 2003 is when my PF pain was at its peak. I could hardly walk and certainly couldn't run - which is very important to a law enforcement officer. I believe awareness of what PF is and how to take care of it at the onset is so important. I had it for three years before I even knew it was a medical condition. I thought I was just on my feet a lot so they hurt. I initially ruled out surgery because I had heard that runners who had the surgery would take off running and the plantar fascia would just "snap". That really didn't appeal to me. Another doctor told me that he didn't see anyone the surgery helped - but this came from a doctor who didn't really examine me and he was a bit negative. I can't stress enough the importance of having a good doctor. My lifestyle completely changed, DAB, to being inactive. Earlier this year as I approached my 36th birthday it hit me that I did not want to live the rest of my life like this. I used to like to go out, now I like to stay home. I used to like going to the beach, but now I can hardly walk on it. I used to like going to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, now I can hardly walk around. I used to love going for long walks and hiking, now those are just great memories. I decided that I didn't want the rest of my life to be like the last few years and that's when I began to consider surgery again. I made an appointment with my doctor so I could discuss it with him. During that appointment I decided to move forward and schedule the surgery. When I left his office and was driving down the freeway I felt such a relief. Actually, what I felt was hope and tears welled up in my eyes. I had hope that the years to come would be full of activity and memories I'd cherish forever. Recovery from the left foot surgery (I have PF in both feet) wasn't easy even though I had a lot of help, but I would say so far that it was worth it for me. I'm not yet fully recovered even at 6 weeks, but knowing that my range of motion is excellent and that the plantar fascia did not reattach makes me believe that this was a successful surgery. Recovery takes about three months so I'll be able to better tell you with certainty at that point. I hope that helps. :) Hi DAB! You are most welcome. Thank you very much for your prayers. I am sorry that you have plantar fasciitis as well. The decision to have surgery is never an easy one. I’ve had PF since 2000 and here it is 2008 and I’m finally having surgery. In early 2003 is when my PF pain was at its peak. I could hardly walk and certainly couldn’t run – which is very important to a law enforcement officer. I believe awareness of what PF is and how to take care of it at the onset is so important. I had it for three years before I even knew it was a medical condition. I thought I was just on my feet a lot so they hurt.

I initially ruled out surgery because I had heard that runners who had the surgery would take off running and the plantar fascia would just “snap”. That really didn’t appeal to me. Another doctor told me that he didn’t see anyone the surgery helped – but this came from a doctor who didn’t really examine me and he was a bit negative. I can’t stress enough the importance of having a good doctor.

My lifestyle completely changed, DAB, to being inactive. Earlier this year as I approached my 36th birthday it hit me that I did not want to live the rest of my life like this. I used to like to go out, now I like to stay home. I used to like going to the beach, but now I can hardly walk on it. I used to like going to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, now I can hardly walk around. I used to love going for long walks and hiking, now those are just great memories.

I decided that I didn’t want the rest of my life to be like the last few years and that’s when I began to consider surgery again. I made an appointment with my doctor so I could discuss it with him. During that appointment I decided to move forward and schedule the surgery. When I left his office and was driving down the freeway I felt such a relief. Actually, what I felt was hope and tears welled up in my eyes. I had hope that the years to come would be full of activity and memories I’d cherish forever.

Recovery from the left foot surgery (I have PF in both feet) wasn’t easy even though I had a lot of help, but I would say so far that it was worth it for me. I’m not yet fully recovered even at 6 weeks, but knowing that my range of motion is excellent and that the plantar fascia did not reattach makes me believe that this was a successful surgery. Recovery takes about three months so I’ll be able to better tell you with certainty at that point.

I hope that helps. :)

]]> By: Christina http://christinawiley.info/2008/09/1-month-post-plantar-fasciotomy-left-foot/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Christina Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:37:31 +0000 http://christinawiley.info/?p=98#comment-178 Hi MamaC! I'm sorry that you've been suffering from PF, but am glad you found my blog. Thank you very much for sending healing thoughts. I was not given a walking cast prior to surgery. I'm not really sure how that would have helped, but I'm not a doctor either. I could see if your doctor suggesting wearing a night splint prior to surgery, but I'm confused about the purpose of a walking cast. After surgery I wore an Equalizer Air Walker, but sure didn't do any walking in it. I used crutches. In my opinion it served a few purposes post-op: protect the surgical site, kept my foot at a 90 degree angle to my leg (this is very important) day and night (had to wear it 24 hours a day except when I removed it to apply ice) and my foot felt safe and secure while I was moving about. Hi MamaC! I’m sorry that you’ve been suffering from PF, but am glad you found my blog. Thank you very much for sending healing thoughts. I was not given a walking cast prior to surgery. I’m not really sure how that would have helped, but I’m not a doctor either. I could see if your doctor suggesting wearing a night splint prior to surgery, but I’m confused about the purpose of a walking cast.

After surgery I wore an Equalizer Air Walker, but sure didn’t do any walking in it. I used crutches. In my opinion it served a few purposes post-op: protect the surgical site, kept my foot at a 90 degree angle to my leg (this is very important) day and night (had to wear it 24 hours a day except when I removed it to apply ice) and my foot felt safe and secure while I was moving about.

]]> By: DAB http://christinawiley.info/2008/09/1-month-post-plantar-fasciotomy-left-foot/comment-page-1/#comment-150 DAB Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:35:08 +0000 http://christinawiley.info/?p=98#comment-150 Thanks so much for sharing your journey. I too have been dealing with this terrible disorder and am considering surgery. I had a steroid injection just 4 days ago and it has not helped at all. If anything, it is worse. My physician said that very few people end up having surgery but I can hardly walk and am getting very tired of the pain. Do you think the surgery is worth it and how long did you have this before consenting to surgery? Thanks again for all your help and my prayers are with you. Sincerely, DAB Thanks so much for sharing your journey. I too have been dealing with this terrible disorder and am considering surgery. I had a steroid injection just 4 days ago and it has not helped at all. If anything, it is worse. My physician said that very few people end up having surgery but I can hardly walk and am getting very tired of the pain. Do you think the surgery is worth it and how long did you have this before consenting to surgery? Thanks again for all your help and my prayers are with you. Sincerely, DAB

]]> By: MamaC http://christinawiley.info/2008/09/1-month-post-plantar-fasciotomy-left-foot/comment-page-1/#comment-146 MamaC Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:18:30 +0000 http://christinawiley.info/?p=98#comment-146 Christina, I was wondering if you were given a 'walking cast' to try as part of your pre-surgical treatment options, and if so, how did this work for you? Thanks! Christina,
I was wondering if you were given a ‘walking cast’ to try as part of your pre-surgical treatment options, and if so, how did this work for you? Thanks!

]]> By: MamaC http://christinawiley.info/2008/09/1-month-post-plantar-fasciotomy-left-foot/comment-page-1/#comment-141 MamaC Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:26:46 +0000 http://christinawiley.info/?p=98#comment-141 Your blog has been so helpful in documenting one girl's journey though this surgery and recovery. Keep on writing! I have had PF since January 2007, but did home treatments (ice, stretching, etc.) until mid-2008 and unfortunately, even with the addition now of PT, corticosteroid injection and shoe inserts, the pain is worsening to the point where I'm (obviously) checking out surgical options. Thanks for your great blog. I'll check-in on your progress and am sending healing thoughts your way! Your blog has been so helpful in documenting one girl’s journey though this surgery and recovery. Keep on writing!

I have had PF since January 2007, but did home treatments (ice, stretching, etc.) until mid-2008 and unfortunately, even with the addition now of PT, corticosteroid injection and shoe inserts, the pain is worsening to the point where I’m (obviously) checking out surgical options. Thanks for your great blog. I’ll check-in on your progress and am sending healing thoughts your way!

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