hi Morgan,

Thanks for the kind words. I am staying active. I hope I didn't misrepresent though, I don't run anymore, my peripheral nerve and ortho surgeons don't want me to. I am trying to increase my walk length though. I am getting out for short hikes now, easy to do in the Austin area with all the hills and creeks here. I have recently been able to get down to the cove where my gym keeps its kayaks. They are on an old quarry lake and have SUP, too. Very cool and restorative to get out on the water again!

I am so glad your injections are US guided. I would hold off scheduling anything surgical until 30-45 days after the last set. The results may very well be cumulative. It is very important at this point that you offload that neuroma as much as possible to keep the nerve from getting irritated and swelling up again. You need a big toebox and possibly to do a cutout in your insert to take pressure off the area. Enna just told me about these cool running shoes called Altra which have an anatomical toebox. They hit the 150 price point retail but 6.pm.com had them way, way cheaper. I would also recommend trying some ttime out of shoes with a toe spreader to give some space in between your digits. See if that makes any difference.

I think it's always good to have backup during appointments. Getting your honey's take on the guy is good too. Go armed with questions about what exactly he plans to do and what the expected outcome is, chance of success and failure, how many of these he does a year, etc. Both feet at once, one at a time. Does he go from the top, cut the ligament, cut the nerve, what? Are there inherent biomechanics he thinks caused this and will it just come back?
You can never ask too many questions if you are trying to decide on a surgery or a surgeon! Trust your gut. You don't have to like the doctor but you do need to feel confident in him.

Do let us know what happens. I am rooting for you. determination and grit will get you through this. I am praying that your shots will make a difference and get you back to your life.

Have a beautiful weekend. I am sending Healing Love, Littlepaw

Hi Littlepaw,
Did you say kayak? Ohhhh! That sounds wonderful! What a great way to get your feet somewhat elevated and still get that awesome workout! Can I please join your gym? 😜. We do not have gyms here that offer that, but do have canoeing and kayaking on the Brandywine River here. How is hiking for you? Is it painful with each step? Or do you have it managed such that you feel it after the exercise? I want so much to be walking or hiking, but each step is an exercise in pain. If it is like that for you? How do you work through that?
Thank you for the link to the sneaker site. I am fine spending the money on shoes that will allow me to walk without pain, or at least reduce it. Are the sneakers you refer to the ones that look like each to is separate? I'm also not sure what a toe spreader is. I have my shoes so big so that there is a lot of room in the toe box. Any pressure on the foot causes pain. I have an extraordinarily high arch in my feet so that I am prone to issues if I don't get enough arch support. So it may be that I am predisposed to foot issues.
Do you or did you have neuromas too? You had surgery on your feet. Would you do that again, being that hind sight is 20/20? It had to be tough to be in crutches and stay off them after surgery. Did you actually do that? I am having trouble staying off mine. I always want to do stuff!
Thank you for your ideas on what to ask the doc tomorrow. I hope he has better insight this time.
I hope you are out and about, maybe on the water if you have good weather. I'll pretend I'm kayaking. : ). Have a great day, and I am saying prayers for your healing because miracles DO happen! : )

hi Morgan,

I will send you a PM in the next day or so on most of this stuff, that way we can let Velkyn have this thread back, cuz we are

Thanks Velkyn

but for the record since I think addressing the pushing through pain question is important to address...

I was on crutches nine months total out of 18 including all three surgeries and the initial non weight bearing before the first op. No choice, I wanted to get better. I have a two story house and developed super upper body strength lifting up on triceps to get upstairs! I followed doctors instructions religiously. I did NOT push through pain and still don't. I figured the pain was telling me my limits. I believe I would've really screwed things up if I had hurried things along. Going slow, following recs and obtaining patience I never had before all helped me have the ability to heal as much as I have. Focus on the long term goal, mobility for as much of your life as possible. Don't be stubborn on the small right-now stuff, make sacrifices when needed to get there!