Question:
Has anyone experienced new pains prior to surgery?

I have my surgery in 5 weeks. Just in the past month or so my heels have started hurting, not the skin, but the bones in both heels, they ache all day and if I sit for a long time they make me limp because they are so achy. And it seems also lately my knee is "catching" when I walk, occasionally making me feel like it's going to give out and it has a quick but intense jab of pain. It seems like the closer I get to surgery, the more these things are occurring. I don't think it's psychological, because I feel the actual pain! But why now? Is it just a good thing that I am scheduled for surgery because my body parts are giving out? Has anyone else had any kind of similar experience? It's starting to freak me out, like my body's not going to make it to my Aug 11 surgery date!    — beeda (posted on July 7, 2003)

July 7, 2003
Oh my goondess....yes!! I felt like death prior to my surgery!! My knees were doing the same thing as yours....they would buckle and I'd almost fall!! My ankles and feet started to ache. My lower back killed 24/7 and I was so out of breath with the least bit of activity!! Just wait until after surgery....you are going to feel so much better!!
   — Terri G.

July 7, 2003
Hi, Debra: I sounds like you may have either heel spurs or plantar fasciitis. Both these can cause great pain in the heels. I had surgery for them in 1995, which just made the problem worse, and then another surgery in 1996, and I can't say I'm worse than after the first surgery, but I'm definitely worse than BEFORE the first surgery. Plantar fasciitis is when the ligament, or fascia, that runs from the ball of the foot to the heel gets stretched too tightly. It causes great pain; try pressing the bottom of your foot above the heel area. If that causes tremendous pain, fasciitis could be the culprit. When you sit for long periods of time, they stiffen up and when you first get up to walk, it's very painful; after you walk for a few minutes, it eases a little. You may want to see a podiatrist about it for pain control, and possibly orthotics in your shoes may help. They may have you do exercises to stretch them or try wearing night splints while you sleep. As you lose weight, you should notice a reduction in pain. If it's heel spurs, they may have to do surgery on them; they don't go away on their own. My experience was a bad one; I specifically asked the podiatrist if my weight was a factor, and if I lost the weight would it help the pain. All she told me was "It might." I was hoping that by having the surgery, the feet would feel better and I would lose weight. Boy, did I have that backward! My advise would be see a podiatrist, at least so you can get a diagnosis and see if you need treatment or if it will be helped by losing weight. I wish my podiatrist had been honest with me and said, "Look, why don't you try to lose weight first, they're not going to get any better with all the weight you're carrying on them, then if that doesn't help we'll try surgery." I know doctors are reluctant to bring up patients' weight these days because they're afraid they will offend them, but I asked for honesty, and I don't feel that this podiatrist was honest with me. I pray this doesn't happen to anyone else! Good luck; I sure hope it gets better on its own after surgery!
   — Moysa B.

July 7, 2003
Nope, you're not making it up! You are describing my pre-op experience exactly. I told a friend that I was starting to pray that I would live until surgery because so many things seemed to be falling apart. My mobility got more and more limited with heel pain and knee problems. I think it was all these things starting that gave me the courage to think about having surgery in the first place. And then the process takes so long that things definitely do get worse the longer you wait. I ate a lot of last meals which didn't help. When you're at your highest weight -- pushing the envelope as they say -- you are at your unhealthiest. Losing a little weight will start helping immediately. Just two weeks after surgery I found I could stand for two hours when a half hour on my feet left me in pain pre-op. My knees are stiff and awkward and are slowing me down in terms of exercise, but they've quit 'popping' and aching all the time and I'm just a month post-op. I can't wait to be a few more months down the road and have even more mobility. Laura
   — Laura K.

July 7, 2003
Debra, please don't take this the wrong way but I had to smile at the comment about it not being psychological because you can feel the pain. You would be amazed at how the mind works and you MAY actually feel pain or any other symptoms with psychological issues. That being said, I doubt your condition is psychological, but does sound very normal. I used to crawl from the bed to the bathroom in the morning and had to limit my walking tremendously pre-op. One thing to keep in mind for everyone, but moreso for those of us who are obese, is that GOOD shoes are essential. Gone are the days of Payless and department store brands, give me New Balance any day!! Best wishes!
   — Diane S.

July 8, 2003
I have a theory on this. I noticed that the closer that I got to surgery, the more I hurt also. My theory is that I had learned to ignore and live with alot of my pain because I knew there was nothing that I could do about it. As I got closer to surgery and knew there was an end to this madness, :) , I got more miserable as I got impatient to get better. Does that make sense?
   — joeandteri