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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
 Posted - 12/13/2010 : 20:21:40
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Hi, I haven't posted in a bit and wanted to update and maybe get some opinions.
First of all, I am NOT pain free yet. I have known about TMS for 3 months. Worked on it pretty hard the first month, but haven't thought about it as much lately (no jornaling, thinking about emotions, etc). So maybe that is still why I have some pain. But really, my pain doesn't limit me anymore.
I was dealing with some ankle tendonitis that is way less now, but still there. I was also dealing with a kind of acute pain in my ankles that I didn't know if it was TMS or screws I had implanted, and was trying to figure out whether to have surgery to remove them. I still need to make that decision.
The screws keep me from overpronating/flat feet, which was deemed the cause of my pain. I now know it was tms. If I remove the screws, I won't have any pain from them and I won't have to worry about any future complications from them. On the other hand, the pain from them has lessened in the past month. It it a simple surgery, but surgery is still surgery. And the last thing... that doubt that the overponation/flat feet WAS the cause of my pain (even though I still had some of the same pain after surgery) and if I get the screws out, I will have problems from flat feet again. Or in the future. Hmmm. Part of me thinks I should just leave well enough alone... I am not in a lot of pain. But then again, I just don't need these stinkin screws right? Why not be free of problems from them?? arrrr.
Another thing, I ran 5 miles the other day! woohoo! Something I thought I would never ever be able to do again. |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2010 : 09:51:58
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As we've discussed, it's a complicated situation. My first stop at this point might be to consult with top notch sports medicine docs, guys and gals who really know what they're doing. I'm in Boston for example, and there are places you can go for a full evaluation on a treadmill. I think B.U. has a well thought of clinic along these lines.
I've never heard of someone's feet being so flat they needed surgery. It just sounds entirely bogus to me. But I'm not a physician.
Once you've established there's really nothing wrong with your God-given feet (as I strongly suspect you will), it should simplify the decision greatly.
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2010 : 10:19:35
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| I've never heard of that remedy (screws) either. Sounds extreme. Wouldn't motion control shoes or orthotics have done the job, along with some foot strengthening? |
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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2010 : 10:55:52
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Actually, the surgery I had for this was the absolute LEAST extreme you could have, and totally reversible. A ton of people have flat foot surgery. Just like a ton of people have back surgery. Maybe it is is extreme, but when you have tried everything else and no one's told you about tms, you go for it. You just want the pain to end.
Just as I'm sure you guys know all the possible medical treatments for your "ailments," I know all about foot surgery. And let me tell you, it gets scary. Most flat foot surgery (which is more common than you might think) involves cutting the heel bone and repositioning it with plates and screws, as well as tendon transfers, fusing joints, etc. My surgery involved putting a "screw" (not actually a screw, but looks like one) in a joint space. It kind of acts as a doorstop to prevent over-closing of the joint, resulting in overpronation.
Anyhow- YES, with my degree of overponation motion control shoes, insoles, etc. should have done the trick. Actually, one with tms should argue that I didn't even need THOSE measures, right? But anyway, typical tms story, I tried absolutely everything. Nothing worked. So, I had surgery.
Anyway, I know I got some answers to this before. I have actually talked to a few doctors, and have a date set for surgery if I want it. Problem is, I need to do it before the end of this month (2 weeks) if I want insurance to pay! Deductable goes back to zippo in the new year. And I have a ridiculous deductable. That's why I'mk stressing about it.
But also, opinions from doctors have me confused.... is analyzing my gait really relevant to ANYTHING? I mean, maybe if I was a world-class marathon runner, but I am not. I run once in a while and don't care about it all that much. I'm just a normal person, on my feet most of the day. But back to my point- does my footstrike and the way I pronate really MEAN anything?? Isn't it just another "abnormality" that probably doesn't cause problems. I mean, here it is- I am bow-legged and I used to overpronate. Now I stil have bow-legs, and don't overpronate (but somehow feel I am missing some important shock absorbtion). If I went to a really good sports-med doc, they would probably anaylze my gait and tell me ten-million things that could be improved. But isn't this akin some buldging disks in an mri? I wish sarno had done more work with feet!
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2010 : 18:55:02
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I used to get a lot of foot pain that was tms. It was blamed on overpronation, flat foot (especially the right), bunion, morton's neuroma, etc. I have not had pain, but still have these foot descriptions. Over the last 6 months, I have been running barefoot, or in moccasins or flat sandals. My arches have come back in my feet, they no longer tilt inward. It seems running barefoot exercises the feet. This is not for everyone, and if you do try it,
please start off slowly or walking, for just a few minutes. There are tutorials on youtube. You land on the outside edge of your foot, not your heel, running barefoot. There may be some other way to exercise your foot arches, but I don't know of one. I would say exercising your feet would be good to try, rather than surgery.
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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 00:33:43
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Thanks for your reply, Al. Barefoot running seems to make sense, in that it would definately strengthen your foot muscles and get rid of all "gadgets."
There are definately many foot strengthening exercises to do. However, I feel like these all fall under the physical modality category. And none of them ever helped me! The only thing that has helped is tms! So, I'm not too big on the stengthening.
Unfortunately, I already HAD surgery (before knowing about tms). So this surgery decision is whether or not to reverse it.
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 10:07:35
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| Heelsdown--I would think bowleggedness would actually lessen pronation. Anyway, how do you know over-pronation was your problem? Did you have knee pain? That's the associated symptom. Some pronation is necessary (helps cushion impact). |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 10:30:17
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I'd not rush this for reasons of insurance. I'd take my time and worry first and foremost about making the right decision. Chances are quite good given the things you've shared here that this flat feet problem and the accompanying pain was simple TMS.
MOst back surgeries are unnecessary and counterproductive. And I can't imagine why a reputable surgeon would go to the extremes of operating on someone who's problem (to the extent it even exists) could be fixed by a different pair of shoes!
Had you checked with some running experts before the surgery, I'm quite sure they'd have told you not to get the operation based on what you're saying.
I'd still want to consult with someone reputable in the field though before you do anything else. The more you know, the more certain you can be you're doing the right thing.
All that said, (and to contradict a lot of what I've suggested ) if it were me, I'd probably get the damned things yanked. But that IS NOT my recommendation.
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Edited by - art on 12/15/2010 10:35:45 |
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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 10:33:10
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Hi Wrldtrv,
I wasn't saying that bowleggedness caused my pronation. Just that
I have/had both! Being bow legged can cause you to supinate OR pronate more. Although, depending on what doctor you ask, one may be more common than the other. All depneds who you talk to!
You are 100% correct that some pronation is necessary, and natural. But when there is excessive pronation (which I had), is it taught that this causes problems. Notice I say "taught" and that is not necessarily true, but generally believed. You asked how I knew that pronation was my problem. Well, I knew because the pronation was observed, and I had foot pain! So, foot pain blamed on pronation! Well, now I know the pronation was NOT my problem. It was tms.
And knee-pain isn't "the associated symptom" with pronation. Usually it is foot and ankle pain. BUT, it can also be blamed for knee, leg, hip, back, neck, even jaw pain and headaches! Seems crazy, huh? Well, that is what is generally believed in the medical profession. But it is just another normal abnormality that shouldn't cause problems, right?
I feel like you guys are all asking me about flat feet and pronation and pain as if they are connected. Which I am trying to prove to myself they are not!!! B/c I have tms! Of course I have my doubts sometimes, don't we all? But it all makes sense to me! |
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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 11:04:48
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Thanks Art!
"if it were me, I'd probably get the damned things yanked." That made me laugh, because I have definately felt like that at times. I mean, it makes me mad that I had this done in the first place.... if only I had known about tms!!! BUT, would I have accepted tms if I hadn't gone through surgery and then STILL had pain? I don't know.
And trying to figure out why a reputable surgeon would operate on someone who's problem SHOULD have been able to have been fixed by shoes? Well, b/c I had pain for two years and it was NOT fixed by shoes, orthotics, braces, stretching, stenghthening, ultrasound, accupuncture, chiropractic, rest, supplements, etc, etc, etc, on and on and on. If conservative measures fail, most often surgery is looked to. And hey, a surgeon is a surgeon. It's how they make their living! |
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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 11:11:48
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ALSO,
I'm sorry if I sound defensive in any of this. I'm just a bit stressed about the decision and definately know what's what when it comes to feet (or at least what the medical community says!). I've reasearched to no end and been dealing with this forever. And I guess I am also just pissed that I had this done in the first place. And pissed that so much of modern medicine is kind of bogus! |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 14:35:07
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Hd,
My question was really rhetorical, but your answer is correct of course. It's how they make their money.
The whole health care system is corrupted by money. Just like congress. But in the latter case there are solutions...like term limits.
Don't feel badly. Most of us have made our share of medical mistakes. The good news yours in reversible if need be, |
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Update, running, surgery?
