Foot numbness and pain after surgery

by Colleen
(Houston tx)

I had plantar and tarsal release and bone spurs removed from my right foot 7/2014. 2 months later and I'm still in pain. I'm supposed to have my left foot done, I'm nervous because I am having to these problems with my right foot. I'm still in the boot because my heel is very numb, but the scar ACHES when a shoes encloses it. Right above the scar if touched it feels like several electrical currents are running from my leg to my foot very Weird feeling and it hurts. I'm in physical therapy but that doesn't help that much. The plantar is back with a vengeance and I'm sick of feeling this way. Urgh!!!!!

RESPONSE

Hi Colleen,

Why would you even consider having your other foot done after the problems you are having with the first surgery?

Two months after surgery there can still be residual pain but what happens in "normal healing" is that each week there should be further improvement as the body repairs itself. This does not appear to be the case with you.

If, for example, you are still having as much pain in your foot as lets say one month ago, then there is a problem.

Worse than that, if you are still experiencing the original pain in addition to new pain from the incision and the surgery, chances are there is an issue with the actual surgery itself.

Have you spoken to your surgeon? What does he or she have to say? If they are telling you everything is alright, then I might actually have an issue with their honesty. If the surgeon is suggesting there may be a problem with the surgery, I would respect that and if that is the case, I would ask the doctor what the next step would be to rectify the problem with the first foot before I ventured to have the second foot done.

Complications are a normal part of surgery and it happens. A good surgeon will admit there may be an issue and take steps to remedy it. A surgeon who is clueless or has no idea of what is going on, will just keep making excuses until you finally get tired of the pain and go somewhere else.

I do not pretend to actually know what is going on with your foot as I do not have the luxury of examining you, but if I had to "guess" I would venture to say that an incomplete tarsal tunnel release was performed and so part of the nerve is still entrapped.

The other possibility is that when the incision for the tarsal tunnel was closed it was closed too tightly and there is pressure on the nerve. That is why when you touch the incision (or just above it) you are getting those electrical shocks. If the electrical sensations continue to worsen, I would also be concerned about excess scarring in the surgical site. Physical therapy, which you are undergoing, should help that aspect. I should also point out that excessive post operative swelling on the inside of the heel may also be giving you the continued tarsal tunnel pain, but again, physical therapy should be helping that as well.

There is also the possibility that you have a heel neuroma and that was never addressed and so you continue to have pain in the heel.

Since over two months have passed since the surgery and since according to your narrative, you seem worse now than before the surgery, it is time to have a heart to heart discussion with your surgeon. If you feel the doctor is sincere and is aware of what is going on then you may want to continue following his or her guidance.

If, however, you feel as if you are getting no real answers, just a lot of excuses, then it may be time to get a second opinion by another doctor in your area.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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