Looks like it’s my turn to make one of these old man threads! :D
About a year ago, at age 51, my flat feet finally became a problem. Well, the right one anyway. I started noticing foot pain and swelling and the inside of my ankle/heel felt tender and bruised all the time.
I saw an orthopedist, got xrays and an MRI and they found little tears in the tibial tendon that goes from the calf down to the foot. It’s old and giving up its elasticity and showing signs of literal wear and tear. I put orthopedic arch supports in all my shoes, tried wearing an ankle brace, and finally got an ultrasound-guided cortisone injection last August. Hot damn, that stuff worked like a miracle for 6 or 7 months but then it wore off and started hurting again back in March.
I saw the doctor again last week and she told me I was a candidate for flat foot reconstruction surgery. This came as a surprise because last year she told me surgery wasn’t an option for this problem but now suddenly it was. When I asked why, she explained that too many patients want surgery too quickly so she initially discourages that as an option until the condition proves itself to be chronic. Okay, I get that. People are dumb. I’m not, but okay.
So now I’m weighing that option! My initial thought was to get it done around this time next year. But now I’m thinking maybe the sooner the better. If I’m gonna do it, why not enjoy the benefits for a longer period of time.
I liked how she kept saying I was a good candidate because of how young I was. :D
From what research I’ve done, it sounds like there’s around a 90% success rate so those are good odds. They take out the bad tendon and arrange an existing tendon to replace it and I guess slice off some heel bone for good measure. (?!) Recovery is two weeks with no weight-bearing, four weeks in a cast/boot, then physical therapy and slowly learning to use it I guess.
I think I’m gonna go for it but I’m not sure when. She put me in the system to go get another cortisone shot right away if I want to. But it seems like I should skip the temporary so-loosh and go big or go home.
Have any of you old gamers by chance had this surgery? Or know someone who has had it done?
Hopefully somewhere in this thread’s future, I’m reporting back from a long hike on my new foot and feeling grateful I went through with it! :)