to explain anything to me Sue, I understand, my lab partner has Sjogren's Syndrome and I watch his struggles every day. I try to help him in anyway that I can - just listening seems to be of some use although I do help him "interpret" his labs and reports - sometimes a different perspective can help with the situation.

I had no idea about the issues w/ dancers - I'm culturally impaired you see but I can see how the many hours of pratice during formative years can lead a child to ruin as an adolescent and an adult. You sound as though you speak from the voice of 1st hand wisdom - if so I'm sorry that you have to deal w/ that too.

I will add another link to the ones posted already - hopefully not one anyone else will ever really need but something that was informative to me. The info is really for intrinsic muscle atrophy and deformities from diabetic neuropathy but I can relate in any case. Now just to find a Dr who can do a similar study for me.

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/reprint/25/8/1444

Thanks again for your reply - I'm sorry you were having a series of bad days and I hope you will get some meaningful relief soon. and many good thoughts to you

Alkymst

Sue
I forgot to answer your ? about the night splint. It was first suggested and described to me by an extremely knowledgeable physical therapist. One of the 3 podiatrists I mentioned in an earlier post prescribed one for me which I used on each foot for quite a while. I can't really say it improved either foot but it probably slowed the progression somewhat.

The major positive effect was that I could now launch my wife's kittypuss without hurting my foot - great for me but not viewed as a significant benefit by the other half of the family - the cat's vote doesn't count.

Sorry I missed this before and thanks for the suggestion - a really good one. The splint is sort of the court of last resort I'm told.

alkymst

Poor kittypuss right in the air huh!! Well thanks again for the imformation.
I'm glad your lab parter has your help. Sjoren's is odd it sneaks up on you
and goes away,untill next time. But you get to visit new Drs. who seem
more confused then you Ha!! Take care and leave your wife's cat alone.
I would like to see you do that with my son's 38 lb. Kitty. And thanks
for the laugh. Sue

Dear Alkymst;

I was convinced by the same doctor that did my first Tarsel Tunnel surgery that I needed to have my Achilles tendon lengthened. Up to that point I had lived almost 50 yrs. with my Achilles being too short but I went ahead with the recommendation. BIG MISTAKE. I had both done at the same time (no big deal, right?) so I had those horrible podiatric boots up to the knees on day and night for 5 weeks and now I find out that physical therapy could have done the same thing for me. Yea or Nay it doesn't matter since the Tarsel Tunnel surgery was a waste and only made my PN much worse and forced 2 addl. surgeries to clean up scar tissue and open the tarsel tunnel again.

I have no idea if this helps in your situation but I wish you much luck.

Nancy

Nancy and yes your comments do help a lot. I apologize for not replying sooner but I had a neuro app't this AM which would shed a lot of light on my next move or lack thereof. His opinion is that since I still have some flexibility in my toes he wants me to continue PT, indefinitely if necessary, to see if things improve, even on a glacial or cosmic time scale.

He won't recommend any sort of surgical intervention until and unless my toes become completely rigid - I respect his opinion enough not to press for going under the knife so I'll hold off and certainly rethink this given your experience - thank you for sharing and I'm sorry it was such a costly experience for you.

Alkymst

My only concern, and my neuro doc, tells me the same thing....cutting does damage. You can't avoid doing even microdamage, so consider every surgery and consult your neuro..some things go out of alignment even after surgery, as the nerves are 'dead' or not functioning. Surgeons like to cut...they are good at it and it increases self esteem and revenue, and often times, it helps the patient....Neurologists see every little trauma and see millions of synapses severed....Some birds are made to fly, some birds are made to swim...just consider the perspective of the individual proposing or opposing the procedure.

I suppose you have tried orthotics and braces already. It sounds like you are up on stuff. Most orthotics need replacement every 2 years, at least for feet.

I have had a few poor docs who did nothing, when they should have, and a few excellent ones who told me when NOT to do something was the better option.

The same rule, risk versus benefit ratio!

for very sage advice. Long story short yes I have worn orthotics now for nearly 22 years, not the same pair, for lumbar problems long before manifestation of the on-going PN issues. They have been refit and recasted several times to account for the on-going changes in my plantar surfaces and toes. I've also done night splints on each foot for some months which probably slowed the progression but I have not tried a formal,rigid brace if that's what you mean.

Believe me I'm not jumping at the opportunity to go under the knife, rather just looking for some blessed relief from a 24/7/365 problem which everyone here shares in some manner.

Thanks again for your advice.

alkymst

Sue, yes I would defer to your son's 38# kittypuss and it brings a smile to my face although it sounds like it could be 38# of ***** kicking death and destruction! Is it a Maine Coon?

Vicki (my wife) took a roll of pictures some years ago of me holding, with geat difficulty, a 44# kittypuss named "The Big Kahuna" that belonged to the author of a children's book who came to our town for a book signing. Her story and the cat were written up in the local paper so I went to see the cat. As we arrived the author asked if we had a cat, we do - the same furball we have now - and she asked if we, read that me, would mind watching her furry lump while see signed books for a bit.

Bozo that I am I agreed and was caretaker of Kahuna for ~30-35minutes. Everyone I tell this too thinks I'm yanking their chain until I show them the pictures and then that quiets the conversation.

Thanks for the smile.

Alkymst

that a cat of ANY size, when angry, is not one to 'cuddle with'? My long gone 18 pounder [that's after the diet...he chewed/gnawed the furniture in protest] had wonderful eyes....they changed color according to mood -could always tell when I was in the Danger proximity....meaning close the door! But this guy KNEW how to open plain old round doorknobs. My apartment downstairs neighbor thot I had a 'puppy'. Beast would fall asleep on these big-wide window sills and FALL off FLOMP...the lady loved the beast, and I would bring him down to 'visit' her on his leash [yes, I leash-trained him...took lots of time and patience, used to take him for 'walks' in area parks..had to usually carry him back-ugh].
I would think a cat 2X's the size of my big guy would be either the size of a standard poodle or well, pretty fat? Am I wrong here?

As for surgery, I'd had plantar treatments for over a year on a wart I couldn't see...the doc did NOT want to create more scar tissue and other issues for me later. My podiatrist now does NOT want to do any ingrown nail removal stuff on my feet now due to the neuropathy..even tho I've escaped any infections and all to date...[It was all done chemically, salacylic acid every two weeks for a year...almost akin to the stabbing pains of acute PN's- no scars tho - tied a long-term treatment record w/a guy from the FBI?]

With neuropathy, any surgeries or other invasions in key areas are risk rated 50-100% higher due to possible complications. Your circulation and vascular aspects are compromised as with those who have diabetic neuropathies...you are less likely to heal normally due to those complications, I would think. As for micro damage due to surgeries...it depends...but the stuff is micro surgery or should be! With that, IF and only IF there were no tolerable alternatives, I would surely look for the BEST micro-surgeon to do whatever needs doing.. AND a surgeon who does nothing but THAT aspect you want addressed. Otherwise I would approach it all with pounds of caution...

GEESH! Orthotics for that long? OUCH! - j

You're up late - hope it's by choice and not due to pain. To your ? about the cat, the big Kahuna I presume - if I can figure out how to scan the pictures and post them I will - you have to see this thing to believe it. He was the size of a medium sized dog but he really couldn't lay down like a normal cat - his legs splayed out beneath him so I suspect he really wasn't very comfortable.

I'll show Vicki your post about your cat on a leash. She tried w/ her furball a few times and on each occassion he just swelled up like a furry tick, moaned and groaned angrily, and threatened imminent eruption. If she tried to move it, it would literally be dragged for a real short distance - probably not good since we didn't want cat abuse charges. We've found that just holding the leash now elicits the same response so we've abondoned this as a viable exercise.

I can share your experiences w/ plantar warts although not for the length of your treatment. Many years ago I had multiple ones chemically burned off of both feet using nitric acid rather than salicylic - always remember the conical shaped depressions ~1/16-1/8" deep on my feet after the treatment and debriding the dead skin - took multiple visits over a few months but it worked well and I've not been bothered by them since.

You're dead on about the surgery and I'm not anxious to do so, just anxious to get some relief. I am fortunate re: vascular issues in that I have no compromised circulation in my legs or feet. Just had the 2nd Doppler study and ABI's for both feet done ~ 5 months ago - my PCP and cardiologist are excellent about working w/ me for these types of concerns. Long story short - thankfully no issues for me, normal waveforms from femoral through feet including dorsal pedal and posterior tibial. ABI's were normal bilaterally too. At the same time my PCP ordered a 3 phase bone scan which ruled out RSD.

From the neuro's view yesterday he won't recommend surgery until all else has been shown to fail unequivocally. Highlite of the visit was his determination that I am a curmudgeon which tickled Vicki no end. However, I pointed out that she could be a curmudgeonette by default.

Your advice to search out the best microsurgeon is dead on too. I'm doing so now but hoping that the search results won't be necessary. I've worn orthotics now for so long that to go without them is more uncomfortable for me. Thanks again for your kind thoughts - many good ones back to you!

Alkymst