|
|
Angie
UNREGISTERED
Guests
N/A
--
|
 |
Aug. 14 2004,18:02 |
|
I started having pain in my calf and my feet right after I gave birth to my twins. I was misdiagnosed by my doctor and left in pain for over 18 months. Finally I got a second opinion and was diagnosed with Planter Faciitis. Now even with physical therpy, night splints, and shoe inserts the pain is getting wrose. The physical therpist thinks I have broken my heel, but my doctor doesn't agree (and I haven't even seen him about it). I am in sooooooooo much pain!!!!!
What is the reason for having sharp pain in my heel located in one spot?
Thank you for answering!
Angie
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dr Foot
Super Administrators
420
Jan. 2003
|
 |
Aug. 15 2004,22:44 |
|
You need a MRI scan which will show the plantar fascia from different angles. Worse case scenario is that your have a tear in the fascia that requires heel pain surgery.
Some background info on heel pain surgery:
The most common technique is the minimal surgical release. The central slip of the plantar fascia is released at its origin. The spur, if present, is removed. The fascia of the abductor hallucis muscles and the fascia of the quadratus plantae are divided to release nerves. The patient is usually placed in a short term leg cast and is recommend to be non-weight bearing for 7 days or a minimal of weight bearing for 4-7 days. If the patient is comfortable at 3 weeks than weight bearing with a surgical shoe is permitted. Other technicians could be complete surgical exploration (long incision, central potion of planter fascia released). The patient needs to be non-weight bearing cast for 2 weeks.
Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy is relatively new and requires equipment and skill that some doctors do not have. Some surgeons do not think it is more effective than other types of surgery, but there is at least one journal article that indicates otherwise. It was first performed around 1991. It appears from our surgery database and journal articles that podiatrists are using it much more often than orthopedic surgeons. It takes 20 minutes to an hour and does not require a stay in the hospital. The surgeon detaches (cuts) a portion of the plantar fascia from the heel (this is the origin of the "plantar fasciotomy" portion of the EPF name). A slotted tube is inserted through two small incisions (less than 1/2") in the skin on each side of the heel. Sometimes an incision is made only on the inside of the heel. A knife inserted down the tube pokes out of the slot, cutting the fascia. An endoscopic camera is inserted into the tube to allow the surgeon to see what he is cutting (this is the origin of the "endoscopic" portion of the EPF name). The cut fascia usually relieves pain and pressure in the area. New fascia tissue grows into the gap created by the cut.
Now you have tried the plantar fascia night splint, insoles and physio. Before you decide on surgery I would recommend you to visit a podiatrist for a biomechanical evaluation, advice to stretch the fascia, cold therapy and silicone heel cups.
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
