FLCC> FW: foot pain

[John Dennis]

Hi Alex et al., 
 
Yikes, Alex!  Look before you leap. 
 
Keeping in mind that my experience and advice may be totally irrelevant
to your situation, I see from the podiatry channel
http://www.podiatrychannel.com/mortonneuroma/  that the surgical option
from above involves cutting through a lot of structure of the foot until
finally a ligament is intentionally cut (to loosen things up) and this
may permanently weaken the foot! The surgical option from below--the
plantar approach--enables a fairly direct cutting out of the neuroma,
but then you are on crutches for three weeks and the void may fill with
a painful hematoma or the nerve may grow back (in unguided fashion)
resulting in chronic pain requiring more surgery. (At a stroke of a
scapel, you are wonderously catapulted into the geriatric phase of your
life and lost to the FLCC forever!!) Neurontin can be used to treat
painful nerve endings, but I'd say the first two treatments you list
would be the far better way to go.  
 
As Ithaca is the NE capital of massage, you'd probably want to add
massage as a treatment. Some mix of massage, stretching, and physical
therapy (PT) could be used to get your feet as limbered up as much as
possible.  Bob Anderson has foot and ankle stretches on pp. 31-33 of his
1980 book, Stretching (33rd printing in 1997).  I'd be glad to fax you
those pages or lend you the book. 
 
I've used orthotic soles in my cycling shoes starting last year.  A
couple of years ago, I was standing in the back of a crowded lecture
hall in Warren Hall, wearing a budget variety of Specialist cycling
shoes and listening to a lecture by Amartya Sen, when I became aware of
an awful pain in my right heel.  Probably suffering from plantar
fasciatis,  I upgraded to Sidi cycling shoes and got Jeff at Cayuga Ski
and Cyclery to make me a pair of orthotic soles for about $100.  For a
while, I rotated the orthotics between my indoor slippers and my cycling
shoes.  Once the problem ended, I simply left them in my cycling shoes.
 
I can also speak to the efficacy of cortisone.  About two months ago I
developed a stiffening and loss of range of motion (ROM) in my left
shoulder--and without a doubt--some of the most excruiating pain I've
ever felt, possibly the end result of splitting wood for the previous
five months.  It was enough of a problem that when putting on a jacket I
have to reach over with my right hand to help pull the sleeve up my left
arm.  After a PT (incorrectly) diagnosed adhesive capsulitis, I went to
Dr. Bruce Greene's office where it was x-rayed and diagnosed as common
garden bursitis.  While I'm still not out of the woods, the problem has
responded well to a single 5cc injection of cortisone into the shoulder
and to on-going ROM exercises. 
 
Hope this helps,   John 
 <http://www.podiatrychannel.com/mortonneuroma/>  
-----Original Message-----
From: flcc-bounces at icycle.org [mailto:flcc-bounces at icycle.org] On Behalf
Of aspec335 at aol.com
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 12:09 PM
To: FLCC at icycle.org
Subject: FLCC> foot pain


Hi All,
 
I've been diagnosed with a "Morton's Neuroma", which is a scarring of a
foot nerve and causes pain and numbness. The podiatrist gave me a list
of treatments: custom foot orthotics (cycling specific); cortizone shot
to reduce inflammation and pain; alcohol shots to kill the nerve;
surgery to remove the nerve. Each had associated risks and
effectiveness.
 
Has anyone had this and can offer some feedback? Would be most
appreciated. Assume that I already have proper shoe/cleat fit.
 
Thnx,
Alex
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