(Really boring post if you don’t. Sorry.)
So I apparently have a Morton’s Neuroma in one foot and it causes me some discomfort to walk.
I’ve tried over the counter orthotic inserts and when that didn’t work, paid big bucks to have custom ones fitted by a podiatrist.
Now that that isn’t working we’re talking surgical options. I’m very against resecting the nerve or cryotherapy. The former leaves one with a numb foot for the rest of their lives and the latter–from what I’ve read on the internet–isn’t that successful with many instances of recurrence and a long recuperative time.
My doctor has told me about the EDIN procedure. Endoscopic decompression of the intrametatarsal nerve. Here’s a doctor-level PDF if you want to know a lot more than most people and see pictures. Basically it’s a procedure to release (cut) a ligament running across the foot so that the metatarsal bones can spread out a little. This ligament is apparently expendable enough that consequent foot instability is not usually an issue.
It’s a minimally-invasive procedure and I’d only have to be off my feet for two days. And there’s 6 weeks of recovery afterward. As a hiker/runner/outdoors person that bothers me, but not as much as the foot problems I have.
But in trying to find other people’s success rates and/or problems, I don’t find many internet-related posts that are current. The vast majority of them seem clustered a few years ago. And they seem pretty down on it. LONG recovery times. Low incidence of success.
My doctor says I have about a 50% chance of success. This means I can take it or leave it. If it’s just 50% with no complications it would be worth the gamble. But if it’s a 50% chance and I’m likely to be off my feet for months and maybe even need physical therapy, I may decide to wait or not do it at all.
So–for lack of a better place to do it, I’d like to ask anyone who is familiar with the procedure from personal (or near-personal) experience to share their thoughts. How long did the doctor tell you that recovery would take vs. how long did it really take? How effective was it? What else should I be asking my doctor before I commit to this?
I will thank you in advance because I’m going to be away from the computer for several days. (Which means I won’t have a chance to acknowledge any resposes–assuming there are some–for a while. I’m not ignoring you.)
And I won’t be surprised if there’s no responses at all as this seems like a pretty niche area.
ETA: Usual disclaimers. You’re not my doctor. These are opinions. Lawsuits will not be based on response. No entry necessary to win. Void where prohibited, taxed or covered in gummy bears, Etc.