I thought I'd share my experience as I seem to have many more nodules on the bottom of my feet than any post I've read here.
I have had foot problems all my life. I clearly remember my arches cramping as a child when I was playing in swimming pools, braces on my legs and feet to correct bowed legs, etc.
About 15 years ago I had a bad case of plantar fasciitis, which seemed to turn into ledderhose disease of both feet. The nodules were painful, so about every year I'd have both my feet completely numbed and then Kenelog injections. This reduced the size of the nodules but they never went away. I became ill from the steroids so discontinued that treatment.
It has been about four years since I've had any injections and my modules are many and large. I have clusters of them in the center of my arch and smaller nodules near the cluster. I experience a lot of pain from these. I cannot stand for very long or walk for very long without disconfort.
Many foot doctors said the only treatment is to remove all the fascia tissue but they would not perform the surgery because they had no experience. Recently, I found a podiatrist who has performed quite a few of these surgeries who wants to operate on my feet. He says that the disease is too advanced for any other option.
I'd like to know if anyone else on this forum has had this surgery and what the recovery was like. Also, have you had any other biomechanical issues because of no longer having plantar fascia to support your foot? Thanks in advance for your information. PS I am also considering trying Verapamil gel. Anyone tried this?
Maree, I had no foot surgery so far (lucky me) but I have heard of a few patients where the surgery was successful. But my feeling is that for the majority of patients the recovery took a long tie and the disease came back. Some doctors say if they remove the whole plantar aponeurosis the disease wouldn't come back but i am not sure about it.
You might be too late for radiotherapy which helps to soften nodules and slow down the growth rate. If you want you might try somethinng which a bee holder indicated in our German forum. He believes that bee venom can reduce the nodule size and soften the nodules, also if they are already big. I consider this somewhat obscure but - provided you are not allergic against bee stitches - you might give it a try, maybe only on a few nodules on one foot. From what I understand bee venom might have a similar effect as kenalog but it has natural cortisol which is said to be much more efficient than cortizone and has less side effects (except for the allergy). If you know a bee holder you might just ask him to have a bee stitch you into your nodule. Its cheaper and probably better than injecting the so-called "standardized" bee venom that you can buy.
Thanks for writing Wolfgang. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to bees. I see my Dr. next week. He is pushing surgery as the only solution for my advanced case. However, a friend of mine is a diplomat of oriental medicine, an accupuncturist, and an herbalist, and she thinks she can find the cause and help me. So, I believe I'll wait on surgery.
Have you or anyone ever heard of using Caster Oil with wool felt (put caster oil on felt, in a bag and put feet on a heating pad for two hours 3 plus times a week). I am going to try that. I guess Edgar Case says this breaks up scar tissue. Weird.
I have no idea what to do to help my knuckes. They have cysts on them (middle joint of fingers). Painful little suckers.
Thanks much,
Maree
I'll keep all of you posted on what I find if any success.
An update about my ledderhose: I saw an orothopetic foot surgeon and he said that he would not ever operate on my feet because from his experience and knowledge surgery doesn't work and has to be repeated over and over again. He told me of a patient who has had six radical plantar fascia surgeries and is now facing foot amputation (not his patient). Ouch!
I have found some relief by eating a diet that reduces inflammation in my body. I now no longer eat any gluten. Sounds strange, but it has helped with my pain in my feet. I also find it helps to wear my orthotics as much as possible and wear hiking boots when I have to do a lot of walking.
I also now keep honey bees and have found that I'm not allergic to honey bees, so at some point, I will brave using them on my fibroids and possibly on my knuckle pads. A local bee keeper I know uses honey bees to reduce his arthritis pain in his hands.
I have used verapamil with no success whatsoever! Just a lot of time waiting for the feet to dry so I could get around. I wouldn't recommend based on my subjective experience.
Would love to share information with you as 2 doctors have already told me I have the worse case they have ever seen, so perhaps we can help one another, if possible.
I am almost 6 months past my last RT treatment now. Have not gone back for round 2 yet as dr. suggested. Very difficult to walk almost daily now. On my really "bad" days I sometimes think surgery is my only option, but thanks to this forum I continue to avoid it and hope.
Please let me know about bee solution, although I hate bee stings!
261 users online
Login
Thanks for writing Wolfgang. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to bees. I see my Dr. next week. He is pushing surgery as the only solution for my advanced case. However, a friend of mine is a diplomat of oriental medicine, an accupuncturist, and an herbalist, and she thinks she can find the cause and help me. So, I believe I'll wait on surgery.
