Waiting Game (Flat Feet Reconstruction Surgery) - Foot Problems Message Board

WorldWalker · 11-01-2008, 08:31 AM

So I'm currently across the pond doing a study abroad. I have been having trouble with my feet since I was a child. The doctors suggested surgery but I was not looking forward to being cut up at the most active point in my life and orthotics worked and I grew out of them. I lived an active life by swimming and bike riding and little walking or running. I got around mostly by driving around. I didn't start having problems until last November when I transferred from comm. college to a University with a larger campus which required a lot of walking on my part. I had gone to a more conservative doctor who wound it up with tape and told me to take Aleve for a week and get back to him. It worked and I put it in the back of my mind really taking Aleve if it started up. Early spring it stopped working and I was concerned at the discomfort I felt from walking and the pain afterwards. I would miss class in the summer because it hurt so much and people thought it funny that I took a bus down the street or would take an elevator to avoid stairs. In late August of 08 I found out I have Stage II right posterior tibial tendon insufficiency and would require surgery. (He had also mentioned at this point there was a 40% bone displacement or something) I didn't have enough time before I left in Sept. so I told him I would have it when I returned...in June. Though I'm trying to return earlier in April or May because I've had such trouble. He said the surgery would consist of the following: Gastroc recession, Medializing calcaneal osteotomy, Possible lateral coloumn lengthening, & Flexor digitorum profundus transfer left. He had emailed me the following details:
"The surgery has three goals:

1) Make the calf muscle the right length - To do this we make a cut on the back
of the calf and make a cut in the tendon that is too tight so that it can heal
as long as it should be

2) Put the bones back into an arch - To do this we make 2 cuts in your heel
bone to reposition it. Sometimes we have to take some bone from your hip to
put into one of the cuts

3) Replace the tendon that no longer works - We borrow the tendon that bends
the very tips of your toes and reroute it to make up for the one that isn't
doing its job right now.

It is a same day surgery. You will be in a cast, on crutches for 6 weeks.
Then you will go into a boot for another 2-3 weeks as you start your walking on
that foot and that is the point where you will have some physical therapy."

Is there anything you guys could say about these procedures in regards to scars, pain, recovery, complications, suggestions for toughing it out until next spring/summer. I've already got orthotics that are attempting to help to no avail and I think just having to wait so long and having such trouble is making me think on it a lot. So maybe by talking about it I can put my mind at ease and enjoy myself more while I'm in the UK. The doctor has told me not to worry since I'm 20 and that should help with recovery but here I am still worried.

CheerAngel · 11-01-2008, 09:46 AM

Hi WorldWalker, I can't help you much here 'cause I've not had surgery done on my foot. Unlike you, I have high arch(pes cavus) and my doctor also asked me to go for surgery. In the end, I cancelled it but am still under his care as he wants to monitor me. And like you, I have feet problems since a child and my feet hurts everyday. I can't wear a lot of nice shoes, so am stick with sport shoes + orthotics. Orthotics, taping, physio, nothing much helps me... but I'm still not confident to go ahead with the surgery. My surgeon says success rate is 80% for my case and it would be a major surgery. Then you will not know if the pain will be gone after surgery. I ask myself, what if the scar is sensitive and will hurt even long after I have recover. What about the metal implants in my feet, whether they will hurt or effect me after surgery. As bones will be broken, whether it will heal/join back properly... if not, more surgery. Infection is also another worry... I'm still young and don't want my life to be affected by the surgery if the outcome is not as good as I want it to be.

My surgeon also says that my ankle has tilted due to my feet problem.

Have you seek a second opinion? Don't rush into surgery if you are not comfortable and confident enough. And if you do go ahead with the surgery, make sure that your surgeon has a lot of experience with that type of surgery.

All the best to you!

hurts2walk · 11-01-2008, 10:15 AM

Welcome WorldWalker. There are many of us here that have had the surgery you are describing. Do a search on here for PTTD and you will learn plenty. I have lived with flat feet and problems/pain for years and I have to say that surgery may be your only "cure". As scary as it sounds, you can get through it!

WorldWalker · 11-01-2008, 12:03 PM

Thank you for the Welcome you guys. I do plan on having the surgery but waiting another 6-7 months is going to be tough for me right now. I've been searching this board for a while as a guest. Right now I'm on pg 80 of 200 something for foot problems reading peoples various surgeries and recoveries and looking for tips and how they felt and coped with it. However I finally posted because I know though they have one or two of the same procedures, each one has different factors such as age, weight, gender, lifestyle, what other things may play a factor, location etc... I do appreciate that people are already responding! : )

Also your from MN, that's where I'm from and will have my surgery, what have you found recovery to be like?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hurts2walk

Welcome WorldWalker. There are many of us here that have had the surgery you are describing. Do a search on here for PTTD and you will learn plenty. I have lived with flat feet and problems/pain for years and I have to say that surgery may be your only "cure". As scary as it sounds, you can get through it!

scribytoo · 11-01-2008, 08:54 PM

Hi WorldWalker. I'm 7.5 weeks into recovery from a triple arthodesis which is the bottom-line surgery with PTTD - fusing of the bones to reconstruct my arch. I dealt with the pain from either rupturing or straining my tendon for at least 4-5 years from orthotics to a boot and an Ankle-foot orthotic and Pt. I finally decided to have the surgery and had it Sept. 2. I'm 57 now and have worked long, hard hours on my feet most of my life.

The surgery I had was painful for the first few days (very, very painful) until I was able to get my pain meds regularized but has not been very bad since the first week except for those instances of nerves being re-awakened. The recovery is expected to be between 10 to 12 weeks completely non-weight bearing. I am due to get my cast off on Nov. 18 and get into a boot. Then hopefully gradually adding weight and eventually PT. Thus far, the hardest thing has been being stuck in the house but many others have written that they've returned to work on crutches, etc. I have a few various reasons why I'm not on crutches that probably stem from my age and general health concerns. If I were on crutches, I would not have felt as limited.

It is a long recovery but I am looking very forward to getting my life back. I have learned a lot about myself and how much I hate giving up control during this time. And I've learned that the people on this board are great support. We will all be able to offer lots of advice about setting up for and getting through the recovery, if that's the way you go.
Linda