Depressing Accessory Navicular Bone problems - Foot Problems Message Board

pumpkin soup · 01-08-2009, 12:37 AM

I have had extremely flat feet my entire life and have had custom made orthodics since I was a young child. I have always had large and painful navicular bones, although the orthodics have helped quite a bit.

Now I am 25 and have recently quit my full time fashion retail job because my huge accessory navicular bones were giving me so much grief (even with orthodics) , they were keeping me awake at night and in the morning it was hard to get on my feet. All day my ankles would throb in pain and would make me so unhappy I eventually stopped serving customers, then quit to stay home and rest my feet.

My new podiatrist told me I shouldn't be working in retail or any job that requires standing for long periods of time, due to my extreme flat footedness. She told me I had the flattest feet she had seen in a year. I asked for a referal 2 weeks later to see an orthopedic surgeon as the pain was just too unbearable. After extensive research on the net I discovered many dancers, gymnists, and athletic youngsters with my problem were having surgery to have their accessory naviculars removed so that they weren't hindered by them.

I am very interested in fixing my problem as I have just been accepted into a very prestige film school where I will be studying and training for the next 12 months and then enter the film industry. I do not want the same probems I had in retail, as my career is something I hold very dear to me. (naturally).

Today I saw the orthopedic surgeon and he told me all I need to do is continue wearing my oorthodics in better shoes like Dr Martins. Is this right? Is this the final answer? When I told him how much pain my accessory navicular bones have caused me he simply answered "But you coped, right?"

I can't even think about getting in the shower without feeling depressed because my feet hurt that much and I cant wear orthodics in the shower. And why must I be confined to ugly Dr Martins for the rest of my life? Is this it? What about in the summer time when everyone is wearing sandhoes and tennis shoes- must I suffer in Dr Martins? ANd forget flip flops, they have always been out of the question.

I just returned home and I want to cry. He told me that because I can stand on my tippytoes that there were no tendon problems therefore I didnt have a problem. The xrays showed nothing wrong. But I read that only a CT scan or MRI can detect the problem (something to do with the tissues) is this correct?

I left feeling like he was trying to make me think my pain is all in my head. I can't walk ot the shops, I cant go out, Im now unemployed and I dont know how Im going to pay the rent because I cant work on my feet, desperately looking for something that doesnt require me being on my feet. And the thought of having a shower in the morning is depressing. But according to him I'm "fine". He wasnt even interested in hearing what I had to say. He didnt ask any questions- he just wanted to talk about how 'fine' I was. He also said he never ever operates on anyone for having flat feet and you would have to be a 'loser' to get surgery for 'flat feet'.

Should I see someone else? Does this surgery even exist? DO I not qualify for it because I can stand on my tippy toes? And is it true- do I have to wear Dr Martins every single day for the rest of my life? Is there ANY hope???

I hope someone can answer me or point me to the right direction. I really am desperate

janewhite1 · 01-08-2009, 06:20 AM

Okay, we have a lot of people here who've had surgery for flat feet. Also, the surgery to remove the accessory navicular is usually far less involved and may make things considerably better for you all by itself. It probably should have been done years ago.

Complete inability to stand on tiptoe is a sign of some conditions, such as total rupture of the achilles tendon, or bad nerve problems. It does not rule out many other serious foot problems.

Definitely, get another opinion. And like they said on the TV show Family Guy, use those feet to kick that doctor... Okay, don't actually kick anyone. But find someone else. He's basically saying that your situation isn't bad enough for surgery, and maybe that was true 40 years ago, but absolutely not today. See someone who is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon or podiatric surgeon. In fact, you could call a local sports team or dance company and find out who they'd use. Do you have financial resources to continue looking?

dizzizzi99 · 01-08-2009, 09:04 AM

Pumpkin Soup,
If your doctor said you were a loser for trying to get yourself out of pain YOU SHOULD NEVER GO SEE HIM AGAIN. I'm not sure what your other options are but do not waste your time with this belittling a**hole. You should have stomped on his foot before he left. I'm sorry, but this upsets me alot. I had gone in repeatedly and was patted on the head like a child and told "oh honey you'll be fine" The whole time I was walking around with major problems. Insist on the MRI if you can. I wish you the best of luck. I too am unemployeed because of my feet (ankles) and to have someone make light of your daily struggle is just wrong. There is another site I go to with Doctor moderators its at **********.com try here to see if you can get some DR. advice Sometimes they can be vauge but Im sure they have to be careful about liability. They have a foot forum where you can ask questions and talk to others as well.
Diane

SkyKing · 06-08-2009, 12:57 AM

Hi, I do not know about the navilcular bones issue but I did have the Evans procedure which is designed to help with flat feet. I had it done in conjunction with a bunion and hammertoe that were the complications/result of my flat foot.
I saw a a show on "the doctors" ABC, the other day where a mother brought her daughter in for something that was inserted in the upper part of the foot. It was done outpatient. The mother had had all the issues that flat feet can bring (knee, back etc)and this was a preventative for her daughter..she was preteen. My podiatrist knew what I was talking about on my last visit. Wish I had know about that when I was younger. My foot was pretty far gone by the time I had my surgery and the Evans was not something I went looking for but my dr. said fixing the bunion hammertoe without addressing the flat foot would not be good.
Anyway, look up the Evans procedure...perhaps that with the bone(navicular) correction someone else mentioned? Who knows but keep searching. Foot surgery is tough and I am not 100% 10 months out but then again I waited too long and trying to heal all three procedures has been a slow process. Hope you find some relief.