Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Maybe next year

I've been out of commission since July '03 due to Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Like Carpel Tunnel it's an entrapment of a nerve, but in the foot, makes a lot of pain and difficulties. My insurance has been very slow to allow me to get surgery, had to try lotsa' stuff first like meds and ultrasound. That was well and good, but I've gone from an avid cyclist, camper, etc., to some one that sits in the recliner all day if not working. I gave my dog to my girlfriend 'cause it hurts too much to walk him.
So, I got approved for surgery today, they'll go in and release the entrapment or remove any bone that has grown out and is pressing on it. There's varied succcess with this procedure, sometimes works 100%, sometimes nothing, and sometimes (VERY rarely) it gets worse. Might take three months to get in, but there's hope that by 2006 I'll be taking my summer vacation in the Sierra's again.
If anyone wants to see my pics (and what keeps me going) go to
http://www.clubphoto.com/ and type in jlaz

JTL

good luck on the surgery. i will tell you having had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in October for a torn rotator cuff, keep your recovery expectations in check because it probably be longer and slower than you think. i don't know the mechanics of healing but there is a lot of stuff to mend regardless how "minor" the surgery is deemed to be. and do your therapy, dreaming about walking in the mountains again.

Good luck with your surgery, I know exactly how you feel. I need to have a bunionectomy on both feet, but I am waiting until I see if I get a permit for Whitney this season. I am not sure how I will do sitting in a chair recouping...ugg! Keep smilin!

Ditto the wishes for good luck.

Back in '85, I blew an Achilles tendon playing volleyball. Surgery and 10 weeks on crutches, then another 6 months on shoes with built-up heels. No fun, and it was a year before I could stand comfortably on a flat surface in bare feet!

But that's all behind me, and the only lingering effect is the bulk of the repaired tendon and surgical scar, which tend to get rubbed raw if I'm not careful how I lace my boots. We'll see how that goes after 10 days on the trail in Philmont with the Scouts this summer!

Recovery from any foot/ankle surgery is a pain (literally) but stick with it...we'll be pulling for you...

Good well soon. Man, giving your dog up had to hurt worse than your leg. Don't break up with your girlfriend or you will lose your dog.

I have hesitated responding, but I had wished when I was in your shoes, someone was there to give me a little extra "hang in there" so here goes: in 2001, I had my large intestine removed. My biggest fear was not dying of cancer or anything (at 34 yrs old, I had 8 pre-cancerous spots), it was that if I did live I would not have the ability to go way back into the mountains, like I loved to do. I wanted the same lifestyle despite the physical challenges. I had the first surgery in Feb, reconstructive surgery in April, and then did a 4 day 3 night trip rim to rim across the Grand Canyon. Although that seems long for such a short trip, I absorbed food and liquid so much differently, that if I pushed myself, I had to pay for it for days. Long story short, by 2003, I did a one day ascent up Whitney, the only problem being I hit the wall on the descent to Trail Camp and had to stop and fuel up for about an hour, had a great trip other than that. Point of story: although there may be adjustments (and I hope you heal up just fine, 100%), most of the time your spirit and drive are able to overcome obstacles. Good luck! Your photos to keep you going are a great idea; I had pix of peaks in here in Utah and lots of Southwest hikes all around during my recomvery period. I hope everything turns out just like you plan!

Is this Tarsal Tunnel similar to Mortons Neuroma Syndrome? Mortons is a nerve hitting the bone in the foot. If so, having this nerve removed isn't quite as bad as I thought it would be. This doesn't solve all foot pain, but it helps. Other tricks are wearing larger boots, loosening when possible, and an arch support insert. I bought a stock 1 at REI that can be moulded by boiling in water & increase bending of the insert, to give increased support, especially with a pack on. This reduces stress on the ball & other parts of the foot.

Lucas- a question for you (sorry, JTL, to divert from the main topic)

I also have a morton's neuroma and might get it removed. How long was recovery, and how much of an improvement did you have? Do you still get any of the burning/numbness? Is it worth it?

I have two Morton's but the left one is significant while the right occasionally makes itself known.

I've heard about the surgery but have also heard that it is not always successful and folks have found themselves worse off.

I have on a few occasions gotten steroid shots and that has helped.

Also finding boots that are wider helps but I have also found that just "wide" is not always the answer as _I_ think that sometimes it may be the shape of the foot bed (flat, rippled, curvature, whatever) and not always merely the boot width that can affect it.

I have found pretty consistently that Vasque Clarions work really well for me. I am now on my third pair, having tried some others in the middle. While my podiatrist recommended Montrails, they did create some irritation and again, they certainly seemed wide enough at the forefoot. I also tried a pair of REI branded boots that were wider. And while they worked fine on a 5 days of a 6 day backpack, suddenly on day 6, the sharp, knife-like pain emerged!!!!

The Vasques have been up Whitney two years ago and did the Haute Route (about 100 miles and lots of up and down elevation) this past summer. No real problems with an occasional tinge.

Oh, I do go with their WIDE model as they do have widths.

REI sells them. But, again, if it is shape (the up or down of the forefoot area and not just width), your mileage (pun slips in) may vary.

I too suffered from Morton's neuroma. Too many years of aerobic abuse, plus backpacking, and heavy cycling. I had it removed five years ago and have not had any pain until recently. It is quite possible that the pain is returning to a couple of areas in my feet because I now, in addition to backpacking, do a lot of kayaking so am putting lots of stress on the ball of my foot. I need to look at this issue and resolve it before it's too late. But as far as the neuroma surgery, for me it was a God send. It got so bad that I could not walk more than a mile or so, and even then felt pain. Good luck, and follow doctor's orders for therapy.

Thanks, fred and carol, for the info. Gives me more to think about. I'd rather go conservative for now, but if things get worse, I'll probably opt for surgery.

Kletter, yes it was worth it. I started rehad within 1- 2 weeks. All cycling. Easier on the impact. No heavy hiking for probably 1 month? The dilema on having the surgery was the Dr. said although there was pain, nothing was being damaged. (My first thought on the pain, being as excruciating as it was, is that I was really screwing someting up in my foot) How long could I tough it out. No it's not perfect, but it's pretty good. I would do it again, and I probably will have to in my other foot eventually. The good part was timing of the surgery & rehab. Just pick a time of year when it does not disrupt too much. I picked right after Thanksgiving & didn't miss a beat. Good Luck.
P.S. Loosing weight is a must if you are overweight as I was. This, I am sure, severely elevated the problem

An interesting side note: In having the neuroma fixed, I was told I would have no feeling in my 4th toe area (next to the small toe). The neuroma was between the 3rd & 4th toes. The nerve removed was the size of a large pea. The nerve would rub back & forth over the the bone, hence pain. I do not miss having feeling (pain) in the toe area.