What would you do?

lostinOregon · May 11, 2006

Last September working out for hunting my foot starting hurting right in the ball of my foot. I struggled with it through hunting season and went to the doctor after I got back from Montana (late November). I went to the foot doctor after a referal and he told me that he thought I had "plantar fasciatis" SP which is irritation or a tear in the tendons that attach on the bottom of your foot. So I had 3 cortosone SP injections into my heel, physical therapy, wore a boot and had to sleep in a funky sock. This has been a progression until last week when I had a bone scan. All this info leads up to the decision I have to make. I drew MT deer and elk, should draw a Oregon Snake River muley tag and have a landowner tag lined up for a deer hunt in Colorado. So I should have 3 tags and don't know the results of NV or WY yet. I live for Muley hunting, as my family says I'm obsessed. The doctor told me today that the only option left is surgery, the bad news is up to 4 months for recovery. so do I have surgery as soon as I can and hope that I will be in packing shape by the first tag in early october or put up with the daily pain in my foot. The pain fluctuates from annoying to friggin hurting. The doctor said I could wait and live through the pain and take some anti-inflammatorys and get through the season. So, what do I do.

Rich

BuckSnort · May 11, 2006

If it's not going to do damage by waiting I would wait and have it done after the hunts.But that's just me,your the only one who can make that decision.

freedivr2 · May 11, 2006

LAST EDITED ON May-11-06 AT 11:24PM (MST)[p]I can relate big time, although yours sounds worse than mine has been. Came down with mine last September via hauling a muley down a steep, steep canyon on my packframe (two trips I think is what did it....just pounded away at that ligment). Then what really kept it from healing was almost every weekend from Oct thru January, I was chasing quail and chukar. Every Monday morning my right foot in particular killed me when I woke up and got out of bed.

I've spoken to a lot of marathoners, and read a bunch about the treatments (including the slipper that keeps your foot at 90 degrees), and here's what I've recently found seems to work. It's slowly improving;

Every day, whenever you can think about it, Lift the ball of your foot off the ground and toward your knee, while keeping the heel on the ground). Hold that for about 1 second, then repeat for about 30 reps. This stretches the ligament and furnishes blood to it and promotes it's healing. The other thing you can do (same thing, actually) is to tap your foot a lot during the course of the day. I've been doing this since January and am almost 100% recovered.

Ligaments are tough and the healing process is slow, that's just the nature of the beast. You've got an inflamed ligament, so get after it daily and deliberately. It'll get better.

rookieray · May 11, 2006

That is a dilema isnt it. When could you have the surgery? If you could have it in the next week I think I would go for it. Being out of shape is one thing, but at least during your hunt when your out of breath you can stop for 5 or 10 minutes catch your breath and continue. A persistent pain that wont go away with a 10 minute break is something totally different. Another question, what will the recovery be like? I imagine you wont be able to be on your feet a whole lot, which brings you to your current problem of not getting in shape by running and hiking. But could you ride a stationary bike? I dont like them as much as running but you can still get your heart rate up. So my vote would be for surgery, of course you know all the facts so I guess it is really up to you. I say take my advice and if you dont recover in time you can always give me your tags.

Califelkslayer · May 11, 2006

Have the surgery right before the holidays. Its a good time not to do anything.

Really, I would try the anti-inflamatories? and see how effective they are and decide from there.

kingfish · May 12, 2006

Wait! I had knee surgery one year about 4 months before the season and lived to regret it.

theridge · May 12, 2006

I can relate to this. Do not have the surgery until you have exhausted all other options. I've had PF in both feet. Take anti inflammatories religiously. Stretch, stretch and stretch the ligament. I've found that wearing custom orthodics and walking up very steep hills or mtns. will do the trick. Walk up hill at least an hour a day if you can find the time. Good luck

bschnoor · May 12, 2006

I would try to have the surgery asap. You also don't want to take anti inflamatories for a long period of time! Brian

High5 · May 12, 2006

Rich,
I can relate as I have needed a total knee replacement for years, my routine was have an appointment every January to evaulate whether I could make it another year or not.

I had my knee replaced last Valentines day. I am working hard now doing daily PT, hoping to be ready for my fall hunts.

I've already cancelled my 1st August hunt knowing how physical of a hunt it is. I wish I would have had my surgery in January now, that would have given me another month.

I would get through the season & then evaulate in December or January.

High5

groundhog · May 12, 2006

I have also had ankle and foot problems. I had to wear the ski boot type support at night for quite a while. They took a mold of my foot and made orthotics that seem to help. Also buying good running shoes with good arch suppport help. If I wear shoes with no support my feet hurt almost immediatly.

When you do the surgery make sure you get a good doctor. I had some bone chips that were floating around in my ankle. They went in about two years ago to get them out. Now I am having the same symtoms and am sure they didn't get them all. Oh and one more thing, CRUTCHES SUCK!!! Personally I would do it now and work hard to get it in shape for hunting season. After hunting season doesn't work becuase then I would be messed up for horn huntin. Plus crutches and snow are not a good combo

crextin · May 12, 2006

In the long run it really is up to you. How ever I would consider a few things:

a) Your age- How many good years of hunting do you have left in you?

b) If you wait until after hunting season what is the risk that you could do permanent damage? Thus limiting your ability to enjoy future hunts and have the endurance to go the distance.

c) Are any of the hunts you have once in a lifetime chances? If not it may be worth your future health to put off one season.

d) Will the pain caused by your condition limit your ability to enjoy hunting or possibly make it a miserable experience? Cortizone shots don't always do the trick and the potential to do irreparable damage exists.

Just a few thoughts. You may have already considered these things.

my $.02

bowguy · May 12, 2006

lostinoregon,

I had PF a couple years ago from running. Tried all the shots etc. The boot helps. I taped my foot for months. Tape from the front of the arch back around the heel and back to the front of the arch then do around the whole foot at the arch just snug or you cut off the circulation. This will keep it from getting worse while you waite. Unless you have a bone spur you should be able to fix it with massage and streching.
To give you an idea of heeling time it was between 8 and 9 months before I could run.
Cycling works great to stretch and strenghten it.
If you have high arches you will be susceptible.
I put supports in all my shoes. Try this link.
http://www.hapad.com/scaph.shtml
good luck

lostinOregon · May 13, 2006

I appreciate everyone's input. I forgot to mention that I have tried every excercise in the world and had special arch supports made for my shoes. Apparantly all the treatment that I have went through cures 90% of the cases. I am apparantly the 10% because it has not gotten better at all. My doctor has an opening on Wednesday and I have to decide by Monday AM. It is a tough decision but I'm not sure I can take the pain for another 6 mos. Thanks to everybody and I will let you know what the outcome is.

Rich

Cahunter96 · May 13, 2006

Go hunting and then have the surgery. Its not going to make it worse. Beside once you have the operation then you will have all the off season to heal up. Good luck this year.

lostinOregon · May 17, 2006

I had the surgery earlier today and had a shot of demorol before leaving the hospital at 2PM and it is now 12:30 AM and have not had to take anything for the pain. I decided to get it done because I couldn't live with the daily pain. Doctor says I can start riding a stationery bike in 1 month, so I'm looking forward to getting started. Thanks for everyones input and good luck in the draws and hunts this year.

Rich

manny15 · May 18, 2006

hey Rich, just what did the surgery intail, did they remove a spur or did they have to cut the tendon?...

manny15 · May 18, 2006

P.S I was suposed to have knee surgery years ago decided not to and my knee is fine now, go figure...'eh

lostinOregon · May 18, 2006

Manny,

They cut the tendon and stretch it out and removed a bone spur from my heal. I'm glad I got it done, more incentive to get ready for the season.

Rich