Has anyone heard of doing a procedure called a Gastrocnemius recession for chronic plantar fasciitis? I've already had a plantar fasciotomy, and the orthopedic surgeon I saw thinks I have scar tissue from the surgery causing some nerve pain, and that lengthening my gastroc muscle while also cutting a small amount of the scar tissue away from my old incision would be a cure for me. Incidentely, he doesn't think I have Baxter's Nerve Entrapment, which is what I thought I might have. This surgeon doesn't even perform plantar fasciotomies for PF; he almost always does this other procedure, with supposedly 60-80% success rate. Thanks.
DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
************************************************** *********
Yes, I have heard of it, but I have neither had experience with it nor do I know of a patient who has undergone it. As always, check your surgeon out throughly before submitting to the knife, and get several other opinions through hands-on examination with well-vetted doctors.
two years ago my sister-in-law's orthopedic surgeon had her scheduled for that surgery because of her chronic plantar fascitis.
Her insurance company denied her the surgery because they said that it was experimental.
I had a gastroc recession on my left leg in April and am scheduled for my right leg on Dec 11. It sucks, but worked amazingly for me because my Achilles tendons are very tight and have been my entire life. I suffer from daily Charlie Horses and just being uncomfortable overall. My left leg feels awesome, but my right hurts.
It was not a fun healing process because I was in a cast for 5 weeks, but it's what I had to do. :-) Physical therapy was crazy too. At least I learned to walk correctly!
I just saw my Ortho Surgeon today who recommended this for me, as well. He said that it should be a very quick procedure.. maybe only 20 minutes, and that is to do both of my calves. He told me that he is going to do a small incision into the center of each calf muscle (to keep them attractive :-)).. go in, lengthen the muscle... and be done. I was told there will be pain and burning but it shouldn't be anything worse than what I have been dealing with already (that and not being able to run). 6 weeks to recovery, if that and I should still be able to make the Army 10-Miler in DC in October. He did tell me that I should get those sock type things to wear around my calves (I believe he said they were without feet) to just keep my calf muscles from "jiggling" - his medical terminology, not mine... for the first week or so... but he said with doing my surgery on a Friday I should be walking and driving over the weekend and by Monday.
I have the utmost confidence in my doctor... I hope yours goes as well as I think mine will.
I know this was along time ago... but are either of you still around? I'm scheduled for this procedure in a couple weeks and want more info. PLEASE!
The gastroc-recession is a very easy procedure that is designed to lenghten the calf muscle and the achilles tendon. the procedure is done at the area where the calf muscle and the achilles tendon meet. This area is rich in blood supply which allows the surgery to heal very quickly. There are several different ways to cut the muscle-tendon junction, but I like to make a cut through the muscle that resembles a top hat. This is called a tongue-in -groove procedure or a "Reverse Strayer". The fibers of the muscle-tendon junction are separated to lenghten the achilles tendon so the foot can dorsiflex (flex up at the ankle) further. The muscle-tendon junction is then strongly sutured together in a longer position, and the skin is closed. The procedure is done for many reasons including plantar fascitis, Posterior Heel spurs, and achilles tendon tears due to a tight calf muscle. A tight calf muscle forces you to put more pressure to the balls of the feet while walking constantly straining the plantarfascia and causes your feet to turn out.
Following the procedure, I put my patients in a non-weight bearing cast for two weeks, followed by a weight bearing cast for two weeks, and then the pateint is sent for physical therapy to strenghten and stretch the achilles and calf muscle for at least two weeks.
The procedure can be performed by your local orthopedist or Podiatrist. I have done hundreds of these procedures with great results. In fact, I'm doing one tomorrow for a 60 year old lady with a partial achilles tendon rupture with multiple calcifications in the distal end of her achilles tendon. Good luck on your surgery.
Dr. B (Podiatrist)
I just had the surgeries Nov. 5th and Dec. 24th. I was in a walking boot for 3 weeks while it was healing. I had intolerable pain on the outside and inside of my feet. It felt like the upper foot area was in a vise after each work day. Doctor stated I had tight calf muscle that restricted the range of foot movement. The surgery corrected my feet at resting by 15-20 degrees.
I had GR and PF release done 3 weeks ago - 2 weeks with "ski boots" and now for the next month only wear them at night.
Walking is tough - very very slow - feet swell if not elevated during the day periodically.
Hoping to cure PF that I've had for 12 years now.
I had GF 3 days ago, I feel great. Minimal pain. The whole experience was very positive. Its just the walking boot that sucks...very slow..I'm crossing my fingers it worked.
Gastroc recession
Linear Mode
