Approx 5 years ago I injuried my left foot dancing. Hard to explain, but I rolled over it wrong, causing it to discolor and swell instantly. About a week after injuring it I had an appt with my family doctor. Went in, took x-rays, and of course couldn’t find anything, so going with insurance because it was a foot injury I had to be referred to a podiatrist Biggest mistake of my life.

My first visit to the pod was horrible. He didn’t know what was wrong, but he knew it had to be something by the way my foot looked, I couldn’t dance on it, it was black and blue, and severely swollen. So he stuck me in a walking boot for a couple of months to see if that would help and nothing. So then we proceeded to a fiberglass cast, nothing. Meanwhile evertime I visit the pod i’m getting shots in my foot for pain. By this time the doc decided it was time for surgery. He told me I had a joint issue and that’s why it wasn’t getting any better. So putting trust into my doc I allowed him to do surgery. Bad idea. Being under the knife was the worst experience, himself and the radioligist (sp?) misread my x-rays, didn’t see a bone chip that I had from my inital injury, so they removed about 1 inch of my first metatarsil (sp), and fursed the joint with two screws that were to long and caused me to have arithitis.

So to make a long story shot, since my first surgery that was misdiagnosed and boched, I have had 5 others performed by my orthopedic surgeron who has tried anything and everything to try and get my foot back to “normal.” My luck though everything has failed. So in a week and a half I will be going under the knife again for surgery number 7 for a bone graph hoping this will be the last and I will be able to do what I love again……teaching dance!

Through the 5 years plus this has been going on I have became immune to all pain meds, along with muscle relaxers. I go in every three months for my lumbar sympathetic shot to help with the pain, but my RSD is so bad nothing helps long term. I have suffered both physically and emotionally. This has been the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with.

I’m currently under care with a pain mgn. doc, but just hope I won’t have to live with this forever and that I can teach again painfree. I have a rough time talking about my story, but I thought I would share to see if anyone would respond to see if you had any idea or help with my situation. Please let me know, I don’t want to loose my passion.