3 Months ago I had hammertoe surgery on four toes on my left foot (excluding the big toe). After the stitches and bandages came off I still couldn't walk except for on the side of my foot. My podiatrist didn't want to deal with the issue and said all I needed was gait training.
I FOUND ANOTHER PODIATRIST!!!!
My new podiatrist took Xrays and showed me that I had a ton of scar tissue (I had indeed told the other doctor that it felt like my feet were stitched together. They were rock hard and swollen. In addition the sole of my foot felt bloated and I could not walk on it comfortably.
This new doctor prescribed taking steroids for a week (Methylprednisolone or something like that). Well-bang- my toes shrank, the puffiness on the bottom of my foot went away and I was 70% better. We decided to try a second dosage. Wow-suddenly I was a nervous wreck and didn't sleep a wink for 3 days, so discontinued that. The doctor then prescribed a non steroid and that also kept me awake.
The doctor, not giving up, tried this patch treatment, (very new) called a "Flector Patch". These are patches that you apply where the medication is absorbed through the skin. It will not make you nervous because the dose is watered down by the time it reaches other parts of the body.
End result. I'm 85% better in 3 weeks. Think I'll probably let time heal the rest.
Yes, walking fast (I used to be an avid walker) is still hard, but grocery shopping and visiting parks to stroll are fine and I can forget about my foot limitations.
I'm not one to advocate taking drugs- but for someone like me who in the past has been healthy, this drug therapy has really helped.
I FOUND ANOTHER PODIATRIST!!!!
My new podiatrist took Xrays and showed me that I had a ton of scar tissue (I had indeed told the other doctor that it felt like my feet were stitched together. They were rock hard and swollen. In addition the sole of my foot felt bloated and I could not walk on it comfortably.
This new doctor prescribed taking steroids for a week (Methylprednisolone or something like that). Well-bang- my toes shrank, the puffiness on the bottom of my foot went away and I was 70% better. We decided to try a second dosage. Wow-suddenly I was a nervous wreck and didn't sleep a wink for 3 days, so discontinued that. The doctor then prescribed a non steroid and that also kept me awake.
The doctor, not giving up, tried this patch treatment, (very new) called a "Flector Patch". These are patches that you apply where the medication is absorbed through the skin. It will not make you nervous because the dose is watered down by the time it reaches other parts of the body.
End result. I'm 85% better in 3 weeks. Think I'll probably let time heal the rest.
Yes, walking fast (I used to be an avid walker) is still hard, but grocery shopping and visiting parks to stroll are fine and I can forget about my foot limitations.
I'm not one to advocate taking drugs- but for someone like me who in the past has been healthy, this drug therapy has really helped.