Friday, February 15, 2013

The most boring injury ever.

My injury is so boring that unless you have followed my blog for at least 7 months (Hi, Tera!!) then you wouldn't even know what I'm talking about.
Here is your clue.

Add to that some nerve and heel pain not consistent with PF.

With an ever so slightly delay in the Calcaneus nerve transmission, and you get nothing.

By nothing it means I went to the Podiatrist today.  After snowmobiling two weekends ago my foot hurt more then it's hurt in a while.  I wore inserts the entire time.  Of course the night before Hangover 2013 I may have walked a little rough on it, because as "Tim & Tickle" know, moonshine makes you a little numb.  But I still wore an insert.  I am getting so frustrated by my foot hurting when I'm not even running.  So I went to chat with my podiatrist.

He said a lot of words like, "uncommon", "outlier", "anomaly".  No one wants to hear those words, especially when you are talking about trying to heal your body.  Weird facts about my foot:

*Resting for 7 weeks did not help 
*Only one foot
*Slight nerve delay
*Missing a big toenail.  (OK, that's just from running)

Luckily it doesn't mean this:

                                Picture
GROSS!  

So I've got a few choices now.  The one I've chosen is Tenex.  I haven't done all the research yet, but it seems like a better choice then Astym, for me.  But first about Tenex and why I want to go with it.  It not only breaks up but it gets rid of most of the scar tissue.  Of course there is a chance of infection, but I'm pretty healthy and will drink Kombucha all day (my new OBSESSION that I realize I'm about a year behind).  

Here is a little bit of what I found on the internet that seems to accurately describe it:


(Vibrates, Irrigates and Sucks....Bahahahaha)

Tenex Health is a California company that has developed the FAST (Focused Aspiration of Soft Tissue) procedure for percutaneous removal of tissue that can help restore the normal functioning of tendons and soft tissue. Last February, Tenex announced the FDA clearance of its portable device used in conjunction with the FAST procedure that allowed soft tissue removal in the elbow, knee, ankle, foot, and shoulder.
MED CITY NEWS

Astym involves seeing a Physical Therapist about 3 times a week for at least 2 weeks.  Plus it hurts like crazy.  How do I know...well I've done it.  It looks like this:

I can hear the patient screaming!

I know Tenex will also hurt, that I will be off of my foot for at least 4 days and in a boot morning, noon and night (Dat Boot 2) for 4-6 weeks.  I'm willing to make that commitment.  Will it completely fix my foot?  I have no idea.  The Tenex procedure is a long way from surgery to cut nerves and fascia and whatever else they do.  I just don't know what else to do.  I tape, ice, elevate, ibuprofen, essential oil and stretch it just about every day!

SO that is the boring, long update on the injury that is lasting forever!  

Today's ab work was a Core class at my Pilates studio.  I had cramps in my abs.  Cramps!  This month must be doing something!

How is your injury?  Is it boring?  Have you ever been injured?

Blog on............

30 comments:

  1. It may be boring but still very real and very sad :( I wish nobody would ever have to deal with injuries. Why can't we just run and enjoy this sport that makes us so filled with endorphins dancing all over inside us!

    Oh goodness! It's late and I'm talking weird, but regardless, I hope you can get this fixed and on the road to recovery pronto.

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    1. I just keep thinking that I'll be back sooner or later!

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  2. Hey, don't forget me! I've been following your foot injury for the last year too! (It's gotta be so frustrating!)

    I had an IT band issue a couple of years ago that seemed like it went on forever! (In reality, it was 4-6 months, but it felt like an eternity.) And then, there's my ACL reconstruction in 2007 that made me feel like I had an old-lady, creeky knee (I told my surgeon that exact thing) for close to a year.

    Ugh. Injuries really suck. Good luck with the new procedure. I hope it works.

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    1. You've been a great support and thank you! Sorry I forgot, I tease Tera because she likes when I mention her name! hehe. Luckily running is something you can do at any age!

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  3. Ouch, ouch, ouch! And I wasn't prepared for that surgery picture to pop up. Yikes! Can you not get some painkillers for those treatments?! Have mercy, medical field!

    I feel like my injuries rotate. When one hurts worse, I don't notice the other one. And so on and so forth.

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    1. Yeah, I can get pain killers. Sorry about the surgery picture, I'm a little numb to the insides of bodies. Hahaha I'm hoping that with some patience I can get through this and back to hitting the pavement within about 6 months. Right now I just try to use ibuprofen unless I am going crazy with pain!

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  4. OUCH! That doesn't sound boring to me! Sending you tons of fast healing thoughts!

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  5. Did you have the Tenex? did it work? I am exploring options

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  6. Yes I did. I had it in march and afterwards went to a running clinic and now I'm running pain free!

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  7. That's sounds great! Glad to hear you are pain free. I've been going through the same problem. My fascia is 7mm thick. How bad was yours? How long were you in the boot, was it four weeks like you said it might be?

    Thanks : )

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  8. I had tenex surgery on the heal of my foot. There was a calcification on the bone. The pain was awful and dealt with it for ten plus years. It's almost two weeks since the surgery and I've been walking on it every day. There is still pain hopefully it's just from healing process. My doctor doesn't do the boot or crutches. He wants you tho walk on it right away. If anybody has had similar experience please reply. I hope I just need time to let it heal more.

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  9. Very informative blog entry. I don't think there's such a thing as a "boring" injury because every kind of injury has their own upsetting quirks and a mad set of insights to impart. What's important is we pick those up and learn in order to avoid them from occurring again. Nonetheless, good luck and take care!

    Loura Swader @ US Health Works

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  10. Update? I am considering a TENEX procedure for persistent Achilles tendonitis!

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    1. Running pain free 6 months after the procedure. After another year it's still pain free!

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  11. Looking into the TENEX as well. My fascia is measuring 11.?? mm. MRI shows scar tissue and inflammation. I had a 2.5 cm tear in my fascia that has healed, but am left with lots of scar tissue and now have interstitial tears forming. I'm back in the boot for another 4-6 weeks. If the swelling does not go down, I'm looking at surgery. I was casted and non weight bearing for 12 weeks earlier this year. I have been dealing with this for over 18 months and am ready to be pain free!

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    1. I was pain free once the surgery was done. I had a boot and it took a while before I was actually running but I did a slow 1/2 marathon 6 months after and I'm back full time now. NO PAIN! It's awesome!

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  13. I had the tenex done 2 weeks ago. Did you have to wear the boot for 4-6 weeks..? Did you have to wear orthodics post recovery? Were you able to wear flats. I know not a soul who had this procedure. Looking forward to hear your reply

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    1. I did wear the boot. Then I slowly transitioned into a shoe adding an hour a day. I wear over the counter orthodics because they are softer. (SOLES) I was very careful the first 6 months and by the next summer I was wearing some flats but I've had zero pain since the surgery. I've ran an Ultra Relay and I'm training for a marathon. I can't say enough good things about it. But I still wear good shoes for the most part and take good care of my feet. I don't want it back ever!

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  14. Thanks so much. I'm praying I have the same results as you. 😄

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  15. Wait! One last question i promise. My surgeon had me do calf stretches three days post surgery. Do you still do those stretches ?

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    1. As a runner I do keep my calf's loose. I think it helps.

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  16. Nice blog, very informative, have been dealing with PF now for going on 11 months, thinking of having Tenex done. Have gone thru 1 few pairs of orthotics myself, 2 pairs from the Podiatrist which are too rigid to consider running with.

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  17. I had Tenex done to my left heel and left achilles tendon exactly 7 days ago. It was under conscious sedation. I am in the boot (it's enormous -- someone told me I look like a Star Wars Storm Trooper) for 3 weeks. I just emailed the doc to ask if I could stop wearing it after 2 weeks, but he said to wear it the full 3 weeks, so I will. I can't swim either for 3 weeks, because of the little stitches (on inner heel, one achilles) to avoid risk of infection. I'm going a little stir crazy, but keeping my eye on the long-run. I am not hurting, but I am not doing any normal walking yet. When I get out of bed and walk barefoot to the bathroom in the morning, it still hurts, but I think this is because it is still sore from the procedure, and I am fearful that I will damage it by not being in the boot... I only required 1 percocet after the surgery. Ibuprofin and tylenol managed any discomfort. Fingers crossed for success. Thanks to others for sharing their stories.

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    1. I following my doctors orders exactly. It feels like your going crazy but it’s so worth it. They had me transition slowly into a shoe that took a couple of weeks. It felt really weird after being in the boot. Really an almost painless surgery. Good luck to you!! I’m 3 years out and I’ve ran a marathon and lots of halfs!

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  18. Had Tenex done on March 18th, doctor had me in the boot for only 9 days. Had zero pain post surgery, never even opened the pain killers didn't need them. Now, stretching and foam roller, PF was gone immediately , still wear the PF boot to bed, , hope to begin running by Memorial Day weekend.

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  19. I'm looking to have tenex done.I have pain for years and hope it will work for me.I live in ocmd where is it being done?I can't walk to far.

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    1. VCU's Baird Vascular Institute in Richmond, VA does it.

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  20. Happy to hear Texex worked for you! Foot pain is no joke! I tore a tendon in March of 2016 while running. I had Tenex procedure on September 20, 2016. But I still have heel pain. I'm worried because I've read so many negative things about it, and if it doesnt get better, the procedure may have caused nerve damage! I may be expecting too much too soon, but it doesn't feel like it's helped. What are your thoughts? I just want to be able to run again! :(

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  21. You’re absolutely right. That’s just what I was thinking.

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