Your Tarsal Tunnel surgery was performed and now it has failed. You still have the same shooting pains as you did before having tarsal tunnel surgery. Now what you are left with is a surgeon whose tarsal tunnel release failed, and a painful foot. Where do you turn? What do you do? First off, you will be fine,relax. The worst thing you can do after nerve surgery that failed is to get all upset. That only complicates matters.
Should you go for a second opinion? That depends. Did he do everything right the first time and by everything right, I mean get an MRI or Nerve conduction test? If you did not have that done you did not have it done correctly and you need a second opinion. But, if your surgeon did that and you like him, stick with him. What you need now is an MRI and NCV again to determine what exactly went wrong and what is still wrong with your foot. If you are interested in a second opinion there is a new website out called Health Tap where you can talk live with a doctor and get a second opinion (link below)
Get a Doctor’s Second Opinion. Live by Video, Voice & Chat 24/7.
First things first: do not have scar tissue removed. Do not let a surgeon tell you that you need scar tissue removed. Think about it, tarsal tunnel surgery caused the scar tissue. How then do you do a surgery to eliminate scar tissue? If you want to get rid of scar tissue, try an ultrasound. You can buy one yourself if you have to as they are not expensive:
Get a massager to break up the scar tissue. You can buy those yourself as well:
Or just get a referral to physical therapy. They should be able to massage and do ultrasound.
Do not get a cortisone shot into the tarsal tunnel, as this can make things worse. Cortisone damages tendons and makes them prone to rupture. The Tibailis Posterior tendon runs through the tarsal tunnel. That tendon supports your arch and you do not want it damaged.
If the doctor needs to reduce swelling he can use a simple compression bandage such as this:
Or he can try hot and cold wraps like this:
or he can write a prescription for Motrin or an oral steroid.
There are medications such as Cymbalta and Lyrica which are presciption. They work on peripheral neuropathy and may be some benefit towards your tarsal tunnel.
Look at all the treatments listed above you can try. Having a failed Tarsal Tunnel syndrome is not a death sentence.