Recouperating-Heel Surgery

**bouncer** · March 16th, 2008, 05:50 PM

Well, I finally did it. I found a podiatrist that was confident that he could take care of the heel spurs and the plantar faciitus. He's done hundreds of these. What a great thing to have hope for a solution, rather than just another dude who wants to sell me another pair of $1000 orthotic inserts for my shoes (which after 4 tries never did anything for me except cause more pain.)

To save the insurance deductable, I had it done in his office with a local. He took tension off the tendon, and rasped off the spur. The pain during the procedure was minimal, it was pretty weird though, because through the sense of pressure I could feel alot of what was going on. It did take longer to complete the procedure due to the fact that I had a huge amount of scar tissue resulting from the spur.

So now after nearly two weeks, I'm out if the cast, and off crutches. That cast was painful to walk on and it was making me a grumpy bastard. My girlfriend (who used to be a massage therapist) gave me a foot rub last night and it was damn near orgasmic! I still have 4 weeks of recovery, but I think this has done the trick. Amazingly, my lower back has quit barking as much and so has my left knee. I'm sure I've aggrivated things due to compensating for my foot.

I'll post later in the process to let people know how this has worked out. I know there are many of us who deal with this.

**JoeBAR** · March 16th, 2008, 05:56 PM

Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery, old bean! I'm sure you've got sumthin there about compensating, it's often the case.

Take Care!

**wildstang** · March 16th, 2008, 06:13 PM

glad 2 here your doing so good! i was wondering about how you were doing and inquired in your other thread.

**tooncesthecat** · March 16th, 2008, 07:20 PM

Great to hear about your progress Bouncer! Having been a massage therapist, I can attest to both the feel from the massage as well as its effectiveness! You hit the nail right on the head when you said that your back was feeling better. I have seen people who have neck and back trouble resulting from foot problems...it's one big chain reaction. You're a new man!!!

**JarheadRI** · March 16th, 2008, 08:08 PM

Welcome back! Sounds like it would hurt like hell!

**bouncer** · March 19th, 2008, 11:57 AM

FYI....if anyone has it done...don't get too froggy too soon. I'm back on crutches after being off them for three days.

**Italianangel** · April 3rd, 2008, 06:46 PM

how goes it?

**bouncer** · April 7th, 2008, 02:09 AM

Well, the stitches are out, and I'm about without cane or crutches. I can tell that the surgery took care of the problem, however walking on a surgical wound is a pain-to say the least. I overdid it yesterday, while taking my sons to the Seattle zoo. Hopefully, a couple of weeks of PT will straighten things out. I'm looking forward to good weather and hiking some of the great trails we have here in the northwest.

**wildstang** · April 7th, 2008, 12:47 PM

just take your time and dont overdoe it so as to avoid any complications that may develop.
time is of the essence. i know someone such as yourself or myself for that matter probably hates the down time but at least you can still hit a lot of upper body work to keep your sanity. seated curls, rows, seated shrugs, <<<<improvise!, and tricep work. actually can work parts of the legs on extensions and such.

**Italianangel** · April 7th, 2008, 02:20 PM

Go easy bro!

**bouncer** · April 8th, 2008, 11:48 AM

Yeah, I know. I'm gonna be good now. I promise

**bouncer** · April 23rd, 2008, 12:07 PM

Here's aquick update. I had really expected to be better by now, so yesterday, a bouncer with a fair amount of polite chagrin visited the Dr. They hit me with ultra sound, electro stim, 2 cortisone shots, and fitted me with sports orthotics (shoe inserts.)

This morning was the first morning in a couple of months that I could walk as soon as I got out of bed. Being in constant pain makes for a grumpy bouncer. However, after yesterday's visit, I've become a bit more optimistic. The PT continues for another 4 weeks.

footdude · April 23rd, 2008, 03:30 PM

How's it going Bouncer? I'm a podiatrist and was actually cruisin the site and saw you post. I have extensive experience in heel surgery. Please let me know if there is any questions you have? I have done a lot of fasciotomies but rarely ever touch the spur. I usually don't like to do bone work in the office however it is a pretty straight forward procedure.

Good luck!

**bouncer** · April 23rd, 2008, 06:33 PM

Well, it's good to know you are on here footdude! I had the option to do it in the office, and therefore save the deductible.

One question I do have is how long do you think a person will have to wait until full recovery? (Is my lack of patience showing?)

Thanks in advance.

footdude · April 24th, 2008, 07:23 AM

Honestly,

I know everybody hates to hear it but it varies by person. I would assume your incision is on the side of your heel-- In which case-- patients are usually weightbearing by 4 weeks outside of a boot or surgical shoe. To tell you the truth your main limiting factor is the fact that you had the spur removed. Bone resection alway results in more pain and longer recovery times. Think of it this way, bone takes 6-8 weeks to heal whether you break an arm or resect a spur.
I would give it 8-10 weeks and you should be able to start returning to most activities such as light jogging and lifting. Hold of on any further investments of orthotics or physical therapy. It has been my experience that soft tissue work (massage) and time are what work the best. Your good days will soon outnumber your bad. Keep me up to date on how it going.

**wildstang** · April 24th, 2008, 07:22 PM

patience bouncer. try wearing a plastic immobilizer 4 over 12 months 4 back surgery like i had 2! guarantee you will wanna go nuts!....lol hmmmm. maybe thats why im a lunatic...lol
but on a more serious note joking aside, be patient and dont rush things.
another question, have you modified your walking stance slightly to compensate 4 the heel injury (surgery) by walking more on the toes? i find since ive been a sprinter kinda distance runner 440, 880, mile, 2 mile in my younger days ive developed a walk on the toes at times wich has helped in the past by having super quiet steps 4 someone my size sneeking up on someone.

**bouncer** · April 24th, 2008, 11:44 PM

Ha! When you are my size the only people you sneak up on are asleep!

As far as my walking stance, it's been for quite some time, the old "walk the way it hurts the least method." The new orthotics I have are adjusting my stride though. Toe walking at this stage is still out.

As far as the patience thing....I know it could be worse, but I was told a 6 week recovery. Now it's past 8 weeks and I can tell it's gonna be another month at least. Although I feel 90 years old below the knees, I feel 25 above 'em. I am well enough now that I can do leg extensions and curls. I'm also stable enough to do standing barbel curls, and overhead presses. Leg presses and squats are still on hold.

I'm really hoping to be able to tackle the hiking trails around here in a few weeks, There are great trails here in the northwest.