My foot

[webdog]

I'm not one to normally ask for personal prayer, but could use it. Some of you may know that 8 years ago I crushed my foot at work which resulted in a permanent swelling condition called lymphedema. Initially there was severe nerve damage / pain as a result. I've gone through quite a bit to get the swelling under control, but recently noticed the coloring change and pain increase, anywhere from just mild discomfort, the feeling of sandpaper between my toes, pin pricks to stabbing pains that will make me limp or stomp my foot until they subside. Today my doctor said I have RSD /CRPS. As someone who is pretty active in order to control the swelling, there is somewhat of an uphill battle at this point. I was told RSD can be serious in a younger person. I'm not one to go the Rx route, so please pray this can be controlled using holistic measures, and for both conditions to progress slllooowwwly, not to mention that God can be glorified in what He has allowed. Thanks!

 

[mcdirector]

Praying for you Webdog.

 

[ktn4eg]

Webdog, you are in my prayers.

 

[Rippon]

I have prayed for you before my posting. I hope you are given some healing.

You will not go the RX route at all?

 

[SaggyWoman]

I am praying for you............

 

[annsni]

WD - Having a husband who has a severe foot disability (also crushed but misdiagnosed 5 fractures for 3 weeks, two surgeries and 5.5 months of casts and completely non-weightbearing), I sympathize with you!! I pray that you can find a good treatment for this and experience relief from the worst of the symptoms.

 

[annsni]

I was just looking up what this syndrome is and I was wondering if vitamin B6 would help you. I don't know if you remember the story of the Central Park jogger but she was severely beaten in an attack years ago and the doctors said that she wasn't going to recover but she had one doctor who felt that she would. That doctor was correct - and she's my neurologist as well as being a member of our church. When I went to her for my carpal tunnel syndrome, she suggested the B6 (50 - 100 mg.) and I found it really helped the pain a LOT after a few weeks. I was able to put off the surgery for 5 years by taking it. It might be worth trying!

 

[kyredneck]

Webdog you have my prayers/sympathy/empathy, for real.

I'm half lame from an incident in 2004, it was a life altering event for me in many ways.

IME, a simple walking cane used strategically can work wonders as a preventive measure in extending the number of steps you're able to take each day. Canes are like umbrellas though, it's easy to walk off and leave them behind.

You're wise in rejecting the Rx route. I admire you for that.

 

[Benjamin]

From what I am understanding about your condition this is the directions I would be thinking of taking; I with you in that I wouldn’t want to take the RX approach either:

1) I would want to be focused on a regular good compression decongestive therapy program to help with the lymphedema drainage and to dispel toxins. I would be interested in looking into pneumatic intermittent / sequential compression pumps designed specifically for the foot.

2) Additionally, I would want to be strict on a program which would begin with a warm up – then some myofascial release, *ASTYM would be of great interest to me followed by a rigorous and properly balanced stretching and strengthening exercise program.

3) I would want to maintain “proper” stresses on the bones during exercise so do this while trying to hold to correct bio-mechanical movements (to rebuild and structure new bone mass) – I’m sure this would be challenging but I’d take as much bone stress and pain as I could tolerate while doing exercises and stretching – but I would expect a payoff for these efforts.

4) Further, my hope would also be to do some retraining of the nervous systems responses to the pain, which is a complicated and involved process but I believe it is possible to develop positive outcomes regarding pain and the “subjective” signals going to and from the brain. (Advanced treatment interventions and techniques being used concerning “phantom pain” for amputees would be of interest to me. – I know your pain is real, so is the amputee’s, but it is important to remember that pain is also subjective and the brain is amazing about how it is able to deal with these signals.) I’d be thinking about trying some sensation therapies on the nerves that are continuing to change and heal to help facilitate this nervous system retraining.

*From my notes on ASTYM:
How ASTYM Works:
Stimulates regeneration and remove or reduce problematic scar tissue.

ASTYM treatment non-invasively activates a regenerative response throughout dysfunctional soft tissues by inducing 1) dysfunctional capillary exudation, 2) local fibroblast activation, 3) macrophage mediated phagocytosis (or microdebridement) and 4) release of growth factors that result in additional fibroblast recruitment.

In addition to this release of humoral mediators and growth factors, the Astym process detects and eliminates or reduces inappropriate fibrosis that may be causing irritation or restrictions in movement.

All I can think of for you bud. There is hope, the body God gave us is amazing concerning what it can do. Blessings.

raying:

 

[webdog]

From what I am understanding about your condition this is the directions I would be thinking of taking; I with you in that I wouldn’t want to take the RX approach either:

1) I would want to be focused on a regular good compression decongestive therapy program to help with the lymphedema drainage and to dispel toxins. I would be interested in looking into pneumatic intermittent / sequential compression pumps designed specifically for the foot.

I do have the motorized compression boot and I also have custom compression hose for daily use. I also spent a week learning manual lymphatic drainage from my therapist that help with the lymphedema.

2) Additionally, I would want to be strict on a program which would begin with a warm up – then some myofascial release, *ASTYM would be of great interest to me followed by a rigorous and properly balanced stretching and strengthening exercise program.

Does the Insanity program qualify? I'm currently doing that. Aerobic exercise helps both the swelling and pain.

3) I would want to maintain “proper” stresses on the bones during exercise so do this while trying to hold to correct bio-mechanical movements (to rebuild and structure new bone mass) – I’m sure this would be challenging but I’d take as much bone stress and pain as I could tolerate while doing exercises and stretching – but I would expect a payoff for these efforts.

Can you elaborate on this more? Do you mean using proper form?

4) Further, my hope would also be to do some retraining of the nervous systems responses to the pain, which is a complicated and involved process but I believe it is possible to develop positive outcomes regarding pain and the “subjective” signals going to and from the brain. (Advanced treatment interventions and techniques being used concerning “phantom pain” for amputees would be of interest to me. – I know your pain is real, so is the amputee’s, but it is important to remember that pain is also subjective and the brain is amazing about how it is able to deal with these signals.) I’d be thinking about trying some sensation therapies on the nerves that are continuing to change and heal to help facilitate this nervous system retraining.


All I can think of for you bud. There is hope, the body God gave us is amazing concerning what it can do. Blessings.

raying:

Good stuff...I greatly appreciate it!

 

[webdog]

Webdog you have my prayers/sympathy/empathy, for real.

I'm half lame from an incident in 2004, it was a life altering event for me in many ways.

IME, a simple walking cane used strategically can work wonders as a preventive measure in extending the number of steps you're able to take each day. Canes are like umbrellas though, it's easy to walk off and leave them behind.

You're wise in rejecting the Rx route. I admire you for that.

Thank you, I appreciate it!

 

[webdog]

I was just looking up what this syndrome is and I was wondering if vitamin B6 would help you. I don't know if you remember the story of the Central Park jogger but she was severely beaten in an attack years ago and the doctors said that she wasn't going to recover but she had one doctor who felt that she would. That doctor was correct - and she's my neurologist as well as being a member of our church. When I went to her for my carpal tunnel syndrome, she suggested the B6 (50 - 100 mg.) and I found it really helped the pain a LOT after a few weeks. I was able to put off the surgery for 5 years by taking it. It might be worth trying!

I'll definitely look into that, thanks!

 

[SolaSaint]

Webdog,

Praying for healing and His blessings.

 

[webdog]

Webdog,

Praying for healing and His blessings.

Thanks brother!

 

[Benjamin]

Does the Insanity program qualify? I'm currently doing that. Aerobic exercise helps both the swelling and pain.

Good sign that exercising proves to be beneficial. The pumping action of aerobics makes sense that it would help alleviate some of the edema and other symptoms. But this going on for several years and seemingly getting worse I’m thinking more on line with dealing with muscular imbalances and addressing bone reformation or lack thereof specifically geared at remodeling the foot. I’d be aware and careful to avoid any counterproductive compensations causing imbalances going on during performing aerobics, but wouldn’t discourage it entirely.

Can you elaborate on this more? Do you mean using proper form?

I’m referring to remodeling bone; consider “Wolff’s Law” pertaining to osteoblasts and osteoclasts acting independently at different sites and their potential to create or resorb bone. According to Wolff’s Law, bone grows in proportion to mechanical stress. Also think of the rule of: “use it or lose it” - after years of pain causing compensation it in turn causes muscular imbalances leading to improper stresses on the bones whereby they continue to degenerate or form improperly.

To put the proper mechanical stress on the bones in the foot (our base of support) it takes the proper kinesthetic chain alignment to facilitate the proper bio-mechanical movements which place stress on the bones correctly – to facilitate correct remodeling.

So, yes, it’s about proper form but my plan would be to do this with rigorous strength training to produce the above mentioned stresses, which would be my focus more than aerobics for the reason of direct purposeful remodeling bone as well as addressing muscular imbalances.

It’s difficult to explain without visual and cuing but hope this makes some sense. My plan would be to start with “neutral ankle position” – with the foot pointing straight forward and maintaining some arch in the foot - > (no arch strength? - begin by pick up marbles under your toes and move them into a different pile) keep the foot neither supinated nor pronated, but “neutral position” (strengthen and stretch inversion/eversion/dorsiflexion/plantarflexion muscles accordingly.) then - > maintain good ankle, knee, hip alignment (= proper lower extremity kinesthetic chain alignment in all planes) then maintaining good core and spinal posture to the top of your head. Once you can maintain this position, make it habitual that you come back to it and work/move in it, then it is time to start adding stresses, through strength training, that of course go down to your base of support (feet) which is the main objective of the exercises that are focused on.

It is also likely that scaring of soft tissue is restricting good foot position and needs to be dealt with and that is where ASTYM may be very helpful. *ASTYM is a fairly new and an absolutely amazing procedure that helps regenerate new healthy tissue growth while eliminating inappropriate fibrosis. Continuing to exudate cellular debris and deposits and stimulating new growth during the healing process is important to correcting the imbalances that are facilitating a “chronic pain cycle”.

I would want to progressively be loading resistance with the use of various exercises while working to maintain ankle neutral and spinal neutral position and overall good posture then going forward to perform more complex bio-mechanical movements to challenge yourself to maintain correct base of support and this produces good functional training techniques which in turn are continuously working toward the objective of remodeling damaged tissues (always focus on stretching tight muscles, strengthening weak muscles to correct imbalances) and remodeling bone by the stresses that correctly placed resistance puts on the desired areas.

One step at time not only applies but also the focus should be on every step and move you take, so that multiple steps take place which are designed to facilitate proper alignment and continually produce wanted stresses for remodeling purposes.

I get told I often want or expect too much from individuals and this may be true in many/most instances…but there are occasionally those who not only figure it out and are willing to work for it so accomplish great improvements where others have said or expected it couldn’t be done. Therefore, I like to throw it out there with real hope and not limit any possibility of potentially high goals if that's the desire.

I suspect the goals I would want could take a couple years of strict retraining and remodeling and possibly a life time of continued maintenance to maintain good functional mobility.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Webdog, I am praying today for your foot to be healed.

 

[jilphn1022]

Praying for your foot, webdog.
May God heal you!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I'm not one to normally ask for personal prayer, but could use it. Some of you may know that 8 years ago I crushed my foot at work which resulted in a permanent swelling condition called lymphedema. Initially there was severe nerve damage / pain as a result. I've gone through quite a bit to get the swelling under control, but recently noticed the coloring change and pain increase, anywhere from just mild discomfort, the feeling of sandpaper between my toes, pin pricks to stabbing pains that will make me limp or stomp my foot until they subside. Today my doctor said I have RSD /CRPS. As someone who is pretty active in order to control the swelling, there is somewhat of an uphill battle at this point. I was told RSD can be serious in a younger person. I'm not one to go the Rx route, so please pray this can be controlled using holistic measures, and for both conditions to progress slllooowwwly, not to mention that God can be glorified in what He has allowed. Thanks!

Will do.....& I can empathize, I have nuropathy in both feet. So let me know what your doing Webb to treat it. Can you walk?

 

[webdog]

:sleeping_2:

Will do.....& I can empathize, I have nuropathy in both feet. So let me know what your doing Webb to treat it. Can you walk?

I can walk, run , etc. Actually my workout routine has been a main thing in helping the swelling and pain. If I could just workout every waking momeny I would be good to go.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

:sleeping_2:I can walk, run , etc. Actually my workout routine has been a main thing in helping the swelling and pain. If I could just workout every waking momeny I would be good to go.

When I worked in NYC, most of the time I walked vs taking public transportation (I did that too but tried to hoof it) .... and I was in the best shape of my life. A doctor once told me to walk every day for one hour. When I did that, all my ailments went away. See if you can do that brother for one month & then tell me how you feel. I have to get back to that myself. That and drinking more Guiness....:laugh: