Right Foot – PF Returns!

Unfortunately, the “in-step” PF release procedure was not completely effective.

Right Foot Surgery Done

I just had the stiches removed after the Plantar Fascia release procedure on my right foot. My doctor this time was Dr. Todd, he was trained by Dr. Rush who did my left foot. This time, Dr. Todd did a “in-step PF release”. The main difference is that the in-step version is a larger incision and the recovery time is a bit longer. Dr. Todd favors it because he can see better what he is doing. He mentioned that there are nerves in this area, and if they are damaged you can end up with permanent numbness in the soles of your feet.

As of today, it’s been three weeks since the surgery on Sep 28, 2020. It is a little bit sore, but following more or less the same recovery curve as my left foot.

So, hopefully this will be the last entry in this blog 🙂 I’m very grateful to all the doctors who have treated me!

Another Postscript

Not too long after recovering from the PF release procedure on my left foot (which has been totally successful), I started noticing some pain in my RIGHT FOOT!!! It got progressively worse, even though I was no longer doing ANY running, just normal walking 4-6 miles per week for exercise, and periodic travel walking 6-9 miles per day during trips.

The pain felt slightly different in my right foot, more toward the outside than what I remembered about my pain in the left foot. But, a visit to the podiatrist confirmed it was good ‘ol Plantar Fasciitis! I was so overjoyed 😦

I am scheduled for the PF release procedure on my right foot at the end of September, 2020. So, looking back, it has been FIVE YEARS since my PF started in my left foot. I am so heartily sick of this, I can’t tell you. Every trip, every outing involving walking has been fraught with worry for all that time. I’m sick of it, my family is sick of it…

But, I am certainly not alone in having PF in both feet. My primary care physician had it also in both feet. But, I haven’t met anyone who has struggled with it as much or for as long as I have!

Update – 2 years later

The good news – my left foot (the one where I had the PF release procedure) is doing great.  No further trouble, I’m able to do whole-day walking/standing without any problems.  No running for exercise though.  See below.

The bad news – I have developed Plantar Fasciitis in my other (right) foot!  I guess this may not be all that unusual.  My family doctor told me he got it in both feet.  Can’t tell you how frustrating this is!

One thing I should stress — I have flat feet.  I’m now convinced that my flat feet and my running are the main causes of my PF.  I haven’t done any significant running since I got the PF release procedure in my left foot.  Sadly, I’ve had to face the fact that my running days are over.  There are worse things 🙂

I’ve been to the podiatrist for my right foot.  So far one set of cortisone injections.  The foot feels much better and after almost a week of limited activity (only walking/standing as needed for my daily routine, which isn’t much since I have a desk job), I’m slowly starting to walk for exercise (1/4 mile, 1 day rest, 1/2 mile, etc).  Last time, I went back to running after the cortisone shots.  I’m not going to do that this time.

Postscript – 1 year

It’s now been a bit over a year since I had the PF release procedure.  Last spring I was feeling really good and went out to play frisbee with some colleagues.  Of course I couldn’t just stand there, I had to do a lot of running and jumping.  I managed to injure my knee in the process.  Finally found out it was a torn meniscus, which unfortunately takes a long time to heal.  This was 7-8 months ago and it is just now getting better.  The doctor and physical therapist told me that this injury takes particularly long to heal because the blood flow in the knee joint is not very good.

So, lessons there are: 1) I’m 58 and injury prone.  I should not be doing any activity which causes high stress on my body.  Like frisbee.  Difficult thing to accept, but I’m starting to understand why older people move slowly and carefully 🙂  2) I should have been more careful with the post-procedure recovery period.  Start small, build slowly and carefully 🙂

Good news is, my foot has been feeling totally normal for the past 6 months or so.  The injured foot (left) feels the same as the right foot in all situations.  They tell me that it is not unusual for the full recovery to take 4-6 months.

Eight Week Update

I just got back from a trip to Rome where I did 80 miles of walking in 8 days.  Both of my feet were a bit sore after the longer days (12 miles).  Some days the ‘bad’ foot was a bit more sore than the ‘good’ one.  However, they both felt great the next morning.  It’s the first time I’ve had similar sensation (soreness) in both feet after a long day of walking.

So, I’m ready to say that the PF release procedure was a success.  If things continue to go well, I’m going to cautiously start running again.

My Doctor

My doctor has agreed to let me post his info.  His name is Dr. Shannon Rush, DPM.  He does a lot of PF release procedures, and his success rate is very high.  He is highly respected in my daughter’s Podiatry school (Samuel Merrit University in Oakland, CA).  My daughter asked many of the faculty members and they all recommended Dr. Rush for someone in my situation.

2 Week Follow-up Appt

Went in this morning for a two week follow-up.  They said I’m doing well and cleared me to transition to a regular shoe.  They referred me for physical therapy but said it is optional.  I think I’m going to pass.  Today I can walk normally, at least for short stretches of 10-20 paces.  Need to get back to the gym, I haven’t really worked out (except for dancing) since the procedure.

Day 13 update

Last night was my daughter’s birthday.  Since last year we’ve been celebrating by going to this great club in San Francisco called the “Cat Club“.  Once per month they have a 70’s / 80’s music night.  Very fun, and I couldn’t miss it.  I ended up dancing 6-7 songs.  My foot was a bit sore this morning, but not too bad.  My wife Kathy (right) and daughter Jessie (left) hammed it up with a David Bowie lookalike.  This activity would have caused a lot more pain before the procedure.

Tomorrow is my two week follow-up appointment.  I may get scolded for removing the bandage and dancing, but I don’t think there has been any harm done.

MRI Images

Just got back some of the MRI images that were taken before my procedure.  From what my doctor said, they all show a very thickened and degraded Plantar Fascia.