11/11/08 Topaz Procedure On My Plantar Fasciitis. Is it normal to still have sharp, burning pain 6 weeks later?

by Maureen
(Spring Hill, FL)

In March of 2008 I got out of bed and had a "charlie horse" on the bottom of my foot. I let it go for about a month.

A friend who works for a Dr told me I had Plantar Fasciitis. I had never heard of this before. I let it go for another 2 weeks went to my Dr and he said it was PF. He referred me to Poditrist.

The Poditrist told me it was PF too. He gave me a cortizone shot. I felt no relief at all. Went back 2 weeks later and did and ultra sound and referred me to Physical Therapy and put me in boot from my foot to ankle. I also wore a night splint. PT did help quite a bit but insurance ran out.

On November 11th I had the Topaz Procedure. I woke up with my boot on my foot and instructions not to take it off, no weight on my foot, and NO SHOWER for almost 4 weeks.

I couldn't work or drive. Got released to go back to work on Light duty (I teach Pre-K) on 12/9/08.

While sitting at home with my foot up it felt fine. Now that I'm back to work my foot feels the same, charlie horse, hot, stabbing pain and it feels like a 2x2inch sponge was inserted in my foot.

I do go back to Poditrist 1/12/10. Am I just being a sissy or is ths normal? I have even been wearing MBT shoes and ortho inserts.



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Joshua Answers:


No shower for four weeks?? That's crazy. Even major surgery doesn't requre 4 weeks away from water/shower/bath.

Open heart surgery patients in the hospital post surgery are in the shower on day three.

4 weeks? WTF?

That's funny too, as Topaz is advertised as a 'no surgery' technique. I'm not sure how Topaz, along with some other procedures, are billed as non-surgical, but further down the content they say 'minimally invasive' and 'small incision'.

This 'news' article (advertisment), for instance. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/health/10434709/detail.html

That's surgery, folks.


So. Are you being a sissy? No.

Is it normal? Kind of. In my experience, surgery either works, or they don't work at all.

Granted, I only talk with the people in the 'didn't work' category.

Did you have foot pain? Certainly. Did you have Plantar Fasciitis? By strict definition of inflammation of the fascia, yes.

Did you need surgery? Maybe. That's a whole different conversation. From what you say, it looks like it didn't help and possibly made it worse. Which has me say 'no, you clearly didn't need it.'

Or at least, needed a more effective surgery....(assuming that a 'better, more effective' surgey would actually fix the problem.)


You said 'charlie horse'. To me, that implies cramp. Was it cramp/spasm pain, or is that just what you're using to describe the sudden onset foot pain?


So...more information please:

1. Describe the pain in great detail. who what how when where why

2. Describe how it's different now from where it was pre-surgery.

3. Overall health? How's your weight?

4. Overall diet description.

5. Age.

6. Just one foot? Or both?

7. Wear high heels much historically?

8. What did you do for post surgery self care?





Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com