My nodules on the arches of both feet are about the size of a silver dollar and I have nodules beneath both large toes. The metatarsal area, or toe pads, are very tender in the morning and feel like large rocks have taken over. As the day progresses they become sore and inflamed. I have used simple mole skin on the toe pads and commercially available cushions that hook through the index toe and cover the toe pads. The insoles that are available to correct pronation and used to alleviate plantar faciities do not seem to work since the arch support hits right on the nodules in the arch. It appears that the ledderhose has created plantar facitiis and tarsal tunnel syndrome simply because of the gait that I have created over time to compensate for the pain in the nodules.

The shoes that I wear now are made by Drew which with the right width accomodate the insoles. I have tried various insoles since I not only have ledderhose but also plantar facitiis and tarsal tunnel and metetarsal pain. The insoles that help the arch do not work because they rub on the nodules in the arch. I have found that a insole made of foam with some support on the heal, to keep from pronating helps the most. I also wear pads for the metetarsal area and some toe seperators which keep me from rolling on to my small toes. I have had
the nodules injected numerous times to try to reduce the size but with little success. I also tried Lyrica which made me foggy. I am now on Cymbalta which is for the tarsal tunnel and I have not had any
side effects and it does seem to help with the nerve pain in my heal.

The metetarsal pain which is on the toe pads of both feet feel like I am walking on hot marbles. Massage feels great but does not last long. I have researched a drug which is in phase two called 4975 made by Anesiva. With one injection the drug relieves pain for up to twelve weeks for people suffering with neuroma. It is not an opiat and not a steriod. I would like to get on the list as a candidate to do a trial. I doubt it will be out for another three to four years. I have not tried cyro and I am very afraid of any surgery on the foot area. I hope this information helps someone in the same condition.

Jay

You should look into cryosurgery - seriously. I read a detailed account of it on a Yahoo discussion group devoted to Ledderhose, and while results weren't instant, in the end there was a lot of improvement. It's minimally invasive, recovery time isn't terribly long. If my case gets bad enough that would be my first plan.

Hello all, new and old to this forum: I am Steve (drumhead), and I would like to set all this mumbo-jumbo straight for you. If you are new to this problem, read on. If you are a long-time sufferer, such as myself, you will understand my words are true.

I started getttin LD on my feet around 25 yrs old, nothing but a strange, burning occassionally. This lasted for years. Then slowly, bumps, small ones, became obvious to the touch. Painful when new, sharp burning sensation, like standing on a curb and having your feet rest on the curb, pointed down. You would know it by the burn. Then late 30's, bumps appeared on one foot, then the other, like a big bunion, or knot. I thought "Oh well, they can remove this with laser or surgery, you know, no big deal." Wrong. In my forties, I started to get PIP issues on the knuckle pads of my fingers (to date I've had nine surgeries to remove these, sore, mostly unsightly bumps, that hurt. Right now, I need another surgery on my right index finger top (pip) and now bottom of knuckle, as well, fibrous tissue, pulling my finger downward.

My feet? Well they are loaded up with bumps, sore spots, new ones, as well as the old stranglers. After extensive research on my part (and the help of a medical friend/ colleague, surgery on the feet is a NO GO! Listen up, if you are reading this! DO NOT DO NOT let anyone cut on the bottom of your feet.

My rate of re-occurence is about 75-80%, meaning MOST of the time, I have only temporary relief, never a permant feel of being gone forever.

I am of NORTHERN EUROPEAN descent, as with almost ALL sufferers of these ailments-diseases. Called Pipers Disease in Scotland, the main problem with this LD is that you damage nerves, blood flow, and more with cutting on the bottom of your feet. Please, DON'T DO IT! You MUST find a way to co-exist with it. Now, your fingers, hands? MUCH safer, but they can, and sometimes do, come back with a vengeance. Nature of this beast.

Look for sore spots on your feet that, when stretched, become a burning, sensitive spot. IF you are of Northern Euro descent? Good chance you have this junk.

My advice to you is this = I have been to probably 20+ Dr/s, specialists, who all mean well, but do NOT understand what causes this, how to treat it, at this point? We/you are ALL guinea pigs.

IF your hands / fingers are an issue? Go ahead and get surgery with a skilled PS or hand doc. NO guarentee this crap won't come back (with friends), but I've seen too many people who CURSE the day they gave in, and had surgery on the bottoms of their feet.

I can't stress to you enough DON"T!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Find some pain killers, blockers, to help you cope, lead a somewhat normal life, after all, that's what those meds are for. Do your RESEARCH.
Steve
steve@crabtree.com

Chiang Mai, some people report that massages improved their Ledderhose and/or relieved pain. But we seem to react individually and differently, what works for one person might not work for another. If your massage did you well just keep doing it. Someone also mentioned walking in sand did well (maybe also a sort of massage), others reported about massaging with a hard (wooden) ball rduced the size of their nodules. I myself tried massaging with a wooden ball but didn't observe any improvement. Everyone is different.

Wolfgang

It's been two and a half years since I had radiation to my feet. It worked really well. Small nodules dissapeared and big ones softened. I can walk pain free. I actually wore a pair of low heels to a graduation last month. Brave but I knew I'd mostly be sitting down.