The Gastrocnemius Slide

As an avid hiker I was not happy when I started getting shooting pains and pins and needles feelings in the bottom of my feet. I went from hiking 8-12 miles at a time a few days a week to barely being able to hobble three miles without being in excruciating pain.

My family doctor couldn't figure it out. He gave me a prescription for physical therapy. That didn't work. So, I went to a local small town podiatrist. A-Ha! Plantar fasciitis. Finally! A diagnosis. That means he can fix me!? Right? Wrong!!!  He gave me another prescription for another 12 weeks of physical therapy. It didn't help. When I came back in to see him he said that maybe it wasn't PF. What?! Come on dude.

Fast forward to getting an appointment to see an orthopedic surgeons who specializes in feet. My PF is caused by tight calve muscles and a contracted Achilles' tendon. After six months of at home exercises and no difference, I went back to the sports doctor and he told me that surgery was really my only option. The procedure he would use is called the Strayer Technique or the Gastrocnemius slide. He makes an incision on the inside of the calf and from there he takes a scalpel and nicks the tendon in three different places. This essentially loosens up the tendon and lengthens it.

I had this surgery on Thursday of last week. It took all of 45 minutes. The drive to get to Sacramento from my town took longer. I was on the road home by 9:30 am.
It's pretty painful I must say. I have to sleep in a boot or a night splint for the first month and then he said no hiking for 3 months. This is a super bummer for me because hiking is my happy place. If I can't hike I get depressed. So, while I'm resting daily with my leg elevated and on ice I'm considering all that I want to do when I'm healed. I can't say I'm excited about doing my other foot. It's too early to tell. I think I will definitely wait to do it during the winter time because being stuck in the house in the lovely Northern California weather is really a bummer.

I hope if you have PF and have not been able to find any relief that you ask about this procedure. It has a <86% success rate. Dr. Ghalambor in Sacramento is wonderful and kind. I recommend him.