Sclerosing Gives Karen Some P.F.D.s
[revised 10-15-01]
By Michael Zapf, D.P.M.
ACORN Article FOOTNOTES
October 2001
Those of you who have pursued my web site or seen me in person know I am fond
of TLAs – also known as three letter acronyms. So when Karen said that her
sclerosing therapy gave her 15 straight PFDs. I was A&D, er, I mean amused
and delighted. She explained that "PFD" meant a Perfect Foot Day or a
day in which she had no pain from her neuroma whatsoever.
A neuroma is a trapped nerve in the foot usually found between the 3rd
and 4th toes. When Karen walked, especially in shoes, the nerve would
hurt when pressured by the neighboring metatarsal bones. Pain would follow the
nerves and shoot up into the little toes. Karen’s pain was so bad that she
refused to wear some shoes and gave up on some of her favorite exercises and
activities. She could not wear the shoes she felt she should as a local school
district employee. This weekend she is planning on going to a local amusement
park and walk all day – an activity she would never contemplate when her
neuroma was acting up.
Karen likes to calendarize her foot pain. Day after day she recorded
Bad, Very Bad or Awful Foot Pain (AFP). When her first few visits did not
provide any significant relief with conventional therapy, she agreed to try alcohol
surgery. With this technique the neuroma is treated to a series of
injections with an alcohol solution (not as bad as it sounds – I assure you).
After the first two she was still skeptical. After two more her AFP days were
replaced by GFDs. Two more and she was sailing day after day with PFDs.
I saw her yesterday for her the last of her injections. She is thrilled with
her result and in great spirits. Without a traditional surgery her pain is gone,
she is wearing all her shoes and can walk all day. She smiled when I asked in my
best announcer voice, "Karen, now that you have had 21 PFDs in a row –
what are you going to do next?" With a smile she gave the traditional
response. I could tell this made her "VVH".
Dr. Michael Zapf practices podiatric medicine and surgery with offices in
Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks. He can be reached at (818) 707-3668. More
information on sclerosing for neuromas can be found on his web site:
www.zfootdoc.com
To see Karen's own original words see -->
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