Question
Please help!  I am 38 and in general good health.  For 2 years now I have been suffering with "pins and needles" and burning in my foot and ankle.  It first started at the base of my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th toes and has now moved to my ankle, so that now the entire top of my foot, my ankle and all around my ankle and sometimes creeping up my calf.  Sometimes it even feels like an invisible string tied around my 3rd toe.  I have been to 3 Dr.s and no one can tell me what's wrong.  I had an MRI on my back, foot and ankle.  The MRI on my back showed L5-S1 bulging discs, the foot was normal and the ankle MRI showed a "small amount of fluid in the peronueus brevis tendon sheath, and small joint effusions of the tibiotalar and posterior subtalar joints."  Okay, before the MRI's I had a nerve conduction study on my foot...just the simple placement of nodules and currents run through them...that showed it was my back.  So, back doctor says it's not my back causing this and the podiatrist says it's tendonitis.  I've taken anti-inflamitory pills and even been on Neurontin....nothing is helping.  I'm at a stage where I want to give up and just cut this foot off!!!  I do not know where to go from here and I've searched the internet and have come up with several things, but have no idea what to do.  Do I go back to a Orthopedic, Podiatrist, Neurologist or what???  I cannot sleep at night because the burning is so intense.  Any suggestions, ideas or theories as to what might be going on would be greatly appreciated.  Please help me fix my foot.

Answer
Hi Rhonda,

I would see a Neurologist for an exam and any further testing.  The symptoms that you describe are not likely tendonitis of the foot or ankle and it is possible but not likely that your back is the source.

I would suspect a foot and or ankle nerve problem.  These problems may not be evident on MRI or certain types of nerve conduction studies.

After the neurologist, I would see a Podiatrist that has a good track record or interest in treating nerve problems.  I see many patients like you each day.  I will typically find the source of your pain with anesthetic injections and then perform Cryosurgery for more long term relief.

I really think you need a better diagnosis.  Many Drs give up on complex pain such as yours.

Good Luck.

See my site www.TampaCryosurgery.com

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com


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