jersey2007

First of all I’m a 61 years old male. I’m 6’4” tall and weigh 210 lbs. I’ve always been very active and athletic, walking three or four times a week for a distance of about four miles each day. I normally walked at an 11 to 12 minute mile pace. I bowled Professional Senior events throughout the NW. I also walked while playing golf two or three times a week. I used to have normal feet except for high arches and having once gone through a bout with Planter Fasciatis back in 1995-96. Then nearly 21 months ago (January 2006), while walking bare foot on the beach in Maui, I sensed some rather sharp tingling sensations/pain in the central metatarsal area of my left foot. The pain was such that I turned around at that point (having already walked about a mile) and returned to my condo.

After returning to the mainland my pain continued to worsen. After a couple of months, I visited the best orthopedic foot surgeon in my area, who took x-rays and such and basically was told to see an Orthotist to provide me with custom orthotics to help relieve pain derived from a Morton’s Neuroma. The Dr. also recommended stretching my calf muscles and Achilles tendons. At this point, my right foot is beginning to exhibit similar sensations of my left, so I had the Orthotist provide a matched pair of orthotics to hopefully keep my right foot from getting as bad as my left. Both of these orthotics had a Metatarsal pad to help relive this so-call neuroma pain.

Not getting any better after a few more months, I decided to see a Podiatrist and get another opinion. He seemed to think I also had a Morton’s Neuroma in my left foot. He also noticed the forth toe on my left foot was starting to form into a “hammer toe”. He also mentioned the possibility that the padding on the bottom of my feet may be “thinning”. In the end, all he recommended was for some thicker cushioning for my shoes.

Anyway another four or five months go by and I’m getting worse to the point that I can’t even take a shower without wearing a pair of flip-flops. I no longer can walk and carry my bag while playing golf. Exercise walking is now out of the question on hard surfaces. I’ve now also totally given up recreational and tournament bowling.

So at this point I decide to see another Podiatrist after researching to find the best Pod in my area (Portland, OR). All he basically recommends is to replace my custom orthotics with a pair of “Superfeet” brand arch supports and buy some New Balance walking shoes with a really large toe-box area. He says I’m experiencing plantar fat pad atrophy.

I’ve researched the Internet endlessly and not really found much related information. However, I did run across a company in Canada that’s conducting testing of a procedure that restores thinning plantar fat pads by injecting a gel-like material directly into the fat pads.

I also understand there have been several Podiatrists that have used similar injection procedures over the last several years.

So here I am, nearly another year later and seemingly getting worse on a daily basis with no help in sight. I’m getting more out of shape all the time. I’m getting really depressed. I just don’t know where to turn.

I’ve personally always taken a very aggressive and proactive approach to any ailment or physical problem I’ve ever experienced. Now it seems there is nothing I can do. What's to become of me?

Is there anyone else out there that is going through this misery?

Is there anyone out there who can help me?

I just can’t give up !

Thinks for Listening,
Jack