My tarsal tunnel story began in early 2005, but I have been "popping" my ankles for years. I would pop them all the time. I asked a friend who was a doctor many years ago if it was a problem and he said no, that I probably just had loose joints. So that was what I thought until I started having problems when I started working out on the elliptical machine at the gym. My right ankle would pop every single time around on the elliptical machine, which if I stayed on 30 minutes added up to hundreds and hundreds of times. They also popped every time going up and down stairs. It didn't hurt much, but it did concern me that something might be wrong. So I went to my primary care doctor (PCP), he took xrays and found some arthritis. He suggested I see a podiatrist.

During this time, I was also having left knee pain, and had to have surgery on my left knee. Consequently, I was having to compensate with my right knee and foot. While I was in physical therapy (PT) for my knee, my ankle really started hurting while I was doing calf raises. Each time I would go up on mytoes, I would have a sharp, shooting pain. The popping in my ankle soon stopped and the pain really started. It was electric-type, sharp pain with weight bearing. Interestingly, the pain was worse when I would wear shoes. Without shoes, it was tolerable. I started seeing a podiatrist. He gave me an active ankle splint, did an x-ray and an MRI which showed a possible ganglion cyst and synovitis. I received a steroid shot and a prescription for Celebrex. I received another steroid shot 2 weeks later, started wearing a cast boot and started PT. I did have a positive Tinel's sign at this time. The doctor was concerned about the possible ganglion as it was getting larger so he attempted aspiration, then gave me another steriod shot in the area. He thought the ganglion might be pressing on the nerves and causing pain. A few weeks passed and it was decided that he should remove the mass.

When he opened me up to do so, he discoved that the mass was not a ganglion, but was in fact a tendon so swollen that it burst upon him touching it with the scalpel. So he did a tarsal tunnel release. After surgery, I was put back into the cast boot and sent back to PT. I did ok for a several months. After complaining about the pain more, I received custom made orthodics and a custom made brace. I started taking Lyrica. Tinel's sign was still noted and I started using the cast boot again. Another MRI was done, it showed nothing. I started using Lidoderm patches and Flexeril for my back (pain from the cast boot). I was sent for a nerve conduction study which showed mild tarsal tunnel. Started taking Rx Metanx. Not long after, I had another tarsal tunnel release. Then I was sent to PT and neurologist as pain was no better. The neurologist suggested that RSD had set in.