Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Support Group

I am a 25 year old female and I have been active all my life. I love being outdoors and walking, hiking, etc. I train horses for a living. My life has kind of been put on hold for 2 years because of foot pain.

First I was diagnosed as having plantar fasciitis and posterior tibial tendonitis due to flat feet. Orthotics helped a bit, but didn't clear things up. In Feb 2010 and June 2010 I had surgery to fix my flat feet (sinus tarsi implant). First sugery on left foot in Feb had complications with a hematoma and took a really long time to heal. My right foot in june did much better, but is stil recovering.

My problem now is that I seem to have developed tarsal tunnel in my left foot, and possibly mildly in my right as well, but my left foot is the problem child. Now, I may have had this condition all along and it just wasn't diagnosed before. But it seems weird that it would pop up more severely after surgery when my flat feet were less severe than before. My main symptom right now is arch pain and tingling. Made worse by walking and standing (standing is the worst!) and relieved by rest and elevation.

I'm really not sure if it is getting better or worse. It seems to have good days and bad days. I have had one cortisone injection so far that seemed to help for a day or two!

I have not had a nerve conduction study. And I can sometimes get a tinel's sign, if I tap really really hard in the right place. But often I cannot get one. But this has been diagnosed as tarsal tunnel based on symptoms.

This is just so hard for me since I am 25, out of college, and haven't really been able to "start" my life. I work with horses for a living, and that is a very physical, on your feet job. So I have only been able to do some part time work that doesn't cause me too much pain. It is also hard because I don't think peolpe understand that someone my age can have this much pain. And I don't want people to think I am lazy. I thrive on hard work, and it makes me so sad that I can't work hard right now. People my age that I meet can't seem to understand what I'm going through, and often I just try to hide it, but it's hard if I have to decline an activity because I just can't do it.

I go between trying to be thankful for all that I CAN do, and being mad about all that I can't. I am scared this will get worse. I am hoping it will get better because I do NOT want surgery. I just had two and don't want more!

Anyway, I just want people to talk to who understand. If anyone in this group would like to be email buddies I think that would help me a lot. Just to vent and exchange ideas, etc.

Anyway, that is my "hi." Thanks for reading, if you read all that! And I hope I can make some friends here.

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Thanks for your response! I am having nerve pain. It is mostly tingling, and also just vague aching. But the tingling is what is driving me nutso. I haven't really tried any meds. I'm the type of person who hates taking meds, especially ones that "cover things up." But it got to the point this week where I was going crazy and had to be on my feet a lot, so I experimented on my own. I have a few klonopin left over that had been prescribed for situational anxiety. I do not take them regularly. But I noticed that when I take them, the tingling is way less. Also, I tried a friend's lyrica. It actually helped with the tingling too, but made me dizzy and drunk feeling. And that was on the lowest dose.

I don't want to take pain meds, but I am maybe rethinking that now. I am so much happier without the pain and worry so much less that maybe it is worth it. I just worry about doing more damage while I am on them. And needing to increase doses, etc. I'm the type of person who just wants the root of the problem fixed!!!! AH.

What is your take on pain meds? I think maybe someone needs to convince me that they are not a bad thing!

Another reason I take them is because there is no way to fix me. My conditions are chronic with no cures in site. At this point I am at pain management. The attempts to try to fix me didn't work. So I can either try to get some relief with meds or try to tough it out and I'm not brave enough for that yet.

Alli from New Mexico

I'm sorry that you have had so much pain for so long. I'm only 25 and can't comprehend how the rest of my life might be filled with this.

I am really having a ton of pain today, more than normal, and have to go work tomorrow morning at 6 (and be on my feet) and feel sick thinking about it. I don't know what to do anymore.

Heelsdown, I hope you are having a low pain day. I'm sorry you have to work on your feet. Sounds awful.