Testimonials: Ankle & Foot

Ecstatic is the one word that best describes my satisfaction with the results of my tarsal tunnel surgery. My recovery was unremarkable. Your description about what to expect and what I should do to achieve a positive outcome was very helpful. I felt “good as new” three months after surgery. I feel “better than new” six months after surgery. I walk long distances, stand on my feet for extended periods and have returned to all previous activities without limitation. The most enjoyable aspect of my recovery was my return to playing tennis. I was playing tennis three times a week just three months after surgery! This is particularly satisfying since it had become very difficult for me play tennis due to pain. What is even more amazing is that six months after surgery, I am playing tennis 4-5+ times a week and never think about my foot! This picture was taken during a recent tennis match. I'd just like to thank you and extend my appreciation for such a positive experience. I would not hesitate to have surgery on my other foot if ever needed.

A.R.

I want to thank you a million times over for doing the nerve resection in my right foot 4-12-13.  Because of your willingness and ability to take on a difficult case- where I had had previous foot surgeries, and your close relationship with Johns Hopkins radiology and the (newer) neurography, I can now stand on my foot again. Before I came to the Dellon Institute, doctors at home (upstate NY) told me that I needed to go on disability.  The pain was unimaginable. But now I am back at work, manage own home again, and have a "life":) I also want to thank you for resecting the nerve in my L wrist on 12-11-13. I had had a cast on my arm too tight in 2008.  I struggled with nerve pain in my wrist for five years.  I tried  fat graft procedures that failed.  After my foot healed, I decided to have you take a look at my L wrist.  I can now use both hands again to type!  I do feel the numbness but I do NOT feel the pain. You have my permission to share this email with others and use my name if a patient ever wants to talk with a former patient. Thank you again and again and again.

J. H.

A patient who has endured 6 years of pain in the right foot following a complicated bunion surgery discusses what her life was like before and after her nerve procedure. Intense pain from sensations as mild as bedsheets and water is now non-existent.

Why are we posting this pair of legs with shoes on? We're celebrating, of course! This is the first time this patient has been comfortable in a pair of real shoes in several years. We sometimes take this ability for granted, and that is why we are celebrating this patient's feet. She was in a post-op velcro shoe for a long duration of time after she suffered terrible complications of chronic regional pain syndrome, following a failed bunion repair. After excellent orthopedic foot and ankle care give to her by Dr. Lew Schon at Union Memorial Hospital to revise and repair her failed bony complications, she was still unfortunately having tremendous pain. After failing to control or reverse the pain with physical therapy and medications and injections, she was referred to us for evaluation and management. She had been only able to walk with crutches and wasn't able to put weight on her foot for more than a year when we first saw her. The pain was described as sharp, stabbing, burning, terrible hypersensitivity pain. Air blowing across the skin was described as raking hot coals over her foot, and she described an electrocution-type pain in the great toe. While it did take several stages to complete her rehabilitation, she is recovering nicely and is now making great strides (quite literally!). We are celebrating with her every step. It has been a challenging battle, and we applaud her perseverance.

After a number of outside consultations, a patient who suffered nerve pain as a result of an ankle sprain finds proper treatment.

This patient had a partial foot drop from an injury to the common peroneal nerve as well as loss of function to the sole of his foot and weakness in toe flexion due to a compression of the tibial nerve in the calf.  He underwent a decompression of the common peroneal nerve as well as the proximal tibial nerve.  3 months after surgery, the patient notices substantial improvement in function not only the common peroneal nerve going to the top of his foot and allowing him to raise his foot and move it laterally, but also he has had substantial improvement in the sensation of the sole of his foot and the function of his toe flexor muscles.

It has now been 8 weeks since you performed surgery on the Morton's Neuroma in my left foot. I had been suffering with this condition for about seven years, and the severity of it was getting worse with each passing year. In my efforts to walk on that foot, I started developing hip, knee and back problems as well. When on my feet, I was in constant, sometimes excruciating pain.  I liked your approach, which was to preserve my nerve, and not remove it as so many other doctor’s had suggested. So you did the “neurolysis”, just dividing the ligament that was pinching the nerve.... and the pain is G-O-N-E!!!... and so are the aches and problems in my back, hip and knees!!! My chiropractor even released me from his care, as I no longer needed therapy to keep me going. I have every confidence that the numbness will also subside in time, and I look forward to regaining agility as I increase my physical activities... WITHOUT PAIN, WITHOUT CANE!! I will always be grateful to you and to the Dellon Institutes.

A. M. Baltimore, Maryland

This patient is now 6 months out from a tarsal tunnel release (w/decompressions of the medial plantar, lateral plantar, and calcaneal nerves) and decompressions of the common and deep peroneal nerves. He had been suffering from severe burning in his foot. Since our procedure his symptoms have improved 80%. If you or a person you know suffer from similar pain, Dr. Eric H. Williams would be happy to discuss this with you at the Dellon Institute for Peripheral Nerve Surgery in Baltimore, Maryland at 410-337-5400.

This patient is now 4.5 months out from a tarsal tunnel release, resection of the superficial and deep peroneal nerves, and decompression of the common peroneal nerve. He had previously been suffering from numbness and burning pain that radiated down his calf, through the bottom of his foot, and across the top of his foot. As a result of our procedure he has experienced tremendous relief. We are very pleased with his results.