Hi Everyone,
I am up late again with pain and burning in my feet as so often happens anymore. I have been having foot problems
that started back around 2006 sometime after I had a fragmented disc removed from L4/L5 area. The surgery went well and eliminated the back pain I had been suffering with for 15 years. I went to PT with a couple guys that are specialist in Spine and Sports rehab. They taught me exercises for the core that I was never aware of. Since then I continued to utilize the things they taught me. Life was good, I was able to continue being active mostly by bicycling long distances and taking long walks when the weather wasn't conducive to biking. Continued to do ab work religiously. Like I said, sometime after the surgery probably within a year or two I noticed that during the cold months of the year (november to March) my feet would always feel like there were marbles under my toes and like my socks were bunched under my feet. In the last three years its been more on then off. Got to a point where in 2011 I decided to see a Podiatrist who said I had signs of Neuropathy but never did a test. He recommended conservative treatment, Icing etc etc.. Later on in the summer of 2012 I went to see a Orthopedic foot doctor who recommended foot inserts and icing also. This never helped either so I went back to see him. He performed a very painful EMG nerve conduction study that indicated that there was nothing wrong. I started physical therapy. In the meantime I went back to the Orthopedic surgeon who operated on my back to see if any of this was related to the operation. He suggest PT which I started again with the guys from S&S. They informed me that over the years my foot has not formed correctly and that there was to much of a load being placed on the front portion of the foot. Soon after starting the PT I developed sever pain in the bottom of my left foot. This was sever enough to prevent me from walking for any distance or time. I was very limited because of the limp. I couldn't wear shoes and started wearing clogs on a regular basis to lighten the load. Eventullaly I went back to the foot doctor who after performing a MRI told me I have capsulitus of the second Metarsal. To help with this he suggested wearing a boot and staying off if for awhile. Well that didn't work out so well. By putting all the weight on the right side I developed sever sciatic pain. I finally went to see a second Ortho doctor for a second opinion because I thought the pain and burning that I have all the time was from the capsulititus. He indicated that it was not and that I PROBABLY have Neuopathy. Its frustrating for them to tell me this when all indications from the EMG say I don't have nerve damage. Also I am not diabetic and in very good shape. Recently I completed a 48 week treatment of three meds for Hep C which would probably be something that might enhance any previous symptoms for things such as Arthritus. The treatment went well as am now testing negative for the virus that has been with me for then 22 years. I had the foot problem before the treatment and continue to have it as of this writing. I am currtently taking Neurotin and have increased my intake of Vitaman b in hopes to aleviate the pain. Its always most painful at night when laying down. I still have a hard time wearing shoes because the numbness and feeling on the balls of my feet. I thoguht since the people I met on DS Hep C support group were so helpful that I would check this out to see if someone could enlighten me on some possible suggestions and/or remedies.... Sorry to be so long winded but I can't sleep and have nothing else to do or complain about. Wishing you all the best and stay warm where ever you are