What is a neuroma?
It is a nerve tumour or pinched nerve and is often painful. Neuromas can occur anywhere in the body. A common type is in the foot, where it grows between the third and fourth toes. Mine was between toe 1, 2 and 3. They can also develop in the hand.
Neuromas involve thickening of the nerve tissues, which often causes severe nerve pain. Symptoms : burning pain in the ball of the foot that radiates to the toes; Sharp ,tingling pain that intensifies with activity ; pain that exacerbated by wearing shoes, especially if they are tight or narrow; clicking sensation as you walk (i had this) and pain after taking off your shoes.
Causes : Surgery, especially limb amputations ,mastectomy or hernia repair; Certain shoe styles -tight , high heeled , pointed or ill- fitting that affect the foot and its alignment; bunions; repetitive stress; pregnancy; illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout .
My Story
Over the past 15 months or so, I have had so much pain in my feet. I had difficulty in getting my doctors to understand the enormity of my pain. An elderly friend found online a local orthopaedic doctor, who also specialises in feet. I had my first appointment with the specialist in late May 2023.
Finally, an MRI in June 2023 highlighted my long –standing problem- Morton’s Neuromas. We tried cortisone injections in mid -September 2023, but they were not successful, so surgery was necessary. My pain was simply not going away without surgery.
Surgery finally happened on Wednesday, November 22 2023 at St George Private Hospital, Kogarah. But not without a drama with a fall in my white blood cell count, which delayed a November 8 2023 operation.
I arrived at the Hospital at 630am Wednesday morning November 22 2023.
The reception in Admissions was very busy with people checking in for operations. I made it “inside” at 830am to begin preparations for surgery. I knew that I was second on my surgeon’s list for the day.
I put on the usual blue hospital; my right foot was cleaned with bethadine. Then, I was wheeled off to the waiting room before surgery. The anaesthetist came to chat with me to ask if I had any problems with anaesthetic. He raised the issue of my small mouth, which I had mentioned previously to my surgeon. I said “yes, but a lot comes out of it, at times.” He smiled. “We will use a fine tube, and a foot block,” he said.
I told him that” before my 4.5 hour spinal operation, in May 2015, with Dr Ali Ghahreman, he came into the operating theatre, and called out to me in a loud voice- good morning boss.” I replied in an affirmative manner “Ali, you are the boss today.” “Oh, the old Ali G “said the anaesthetist, as he smiled.
The surgeon came to see me next. I said to him “this is intimidating being in here. “ He replied that “when I started Medical School it was intimidating for me to be in theatre, but I am used to it. Of course, it is different for the patient.”
He then came back to check the location of pain in my foot and to mark it with biro. “See you inside “he cheerily said. I was not anxious, as I knew that this operation had to be done. I do not recall anything at all until i woke up in recovery.
The anaesthetist came to see me to ask how I was and asked about my general health. I said that “i am fine -I actually do swim once a week, but have not been able to do so since late April due to the pain.” I asked if “I had spilled any secrets whilst under anaesthetic.” “No” he said. “Well, I have plenty of those. “ He again smiled.
I was wheeled to my room –Room 218 in the Orthopaedic Ward. My room overlooked the Moorefield Estate and out to Botany Bay. This area was the subject of my first published book, in October 2016, on “The History of Moorefield Racecourse, Kogarah .Sydney (1888-1951).”
My room looked directly over the James Cook Boys Technology High School Assembly Hall, which is where my wonderful book launch took place on July 14 2016, 65 years to the day of the last Moorefield Racecourse race meeting.
The surgeon rang a friend to let her know that “all was well.” She was very impressed at this, and said to him ‘God Bless” at the end of their conversation. Sandwiches duly arrived and a welcome cup of tea to my room. Lunch followed later .
I had brought a book with me to read. It was “The Flying Vet” by Dr Amelia Scott, published in 2023. It was a wonderful story of a vet, who flew solo over a staggering territory of 200,000 sq kms of red dirt and bush to tend to animals of all shapes and sizes.
Her clients were scattered across the outback from Western NSW to Northern Victoria, to the SW of Queensland and to eastern South Australia. Amelia treated valuable stock animals and beloved pets providing a most valuable lifeline for the owners.
She treated animals in distress, wrangled hot blooded goats, to gelding horses and treated pregnant and calving cattle. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is an animal lover. Already, 2 friends have bought the book as a Xmas present.
I had to put covers on my legs. I called them” a whirlpool washing machine” and they made it so difficult to sleep. By 2am the pain levels cut in, and so I asked for strong pain killers, and “the washing machine” to be removed.
I had the usual list of nursing staff visiting to do blood pressure, temperature .etc. Breakfast arrived and then the doctor arrived on his rounds .He reminded me to “elevate, elevate, elevate. “ I asked if could I stay an additional night .He said that “he would see to it.”
The meals were lovely, and the morning tea and afternoon tea were always welcome.
I was now able to walk with a frame and walk only on the heel of my right foot. The physio came to see me and she returned on Thursday. I had to walk down the corridor and go up and down a step.
Thursday was an inclement day. I had left my other book at home – “Mr Todd’s Marvels. How One Man Telegraphed the World” by Adam Courtenay (Bryce Coutenay’s son). Thursday night, I watched an ABC program on Ningaloo Reef, and then Miriam Margoyles’ travels around Australia.
My lift, a lovely neighbour, arrived on Friday morning to take me home. I had been checked out, and I had to collect my pain killers from the chemist. And then home to rest and recover over the next 6 weeks.
I was a member of the St George Hospital Board , (1985-1988 ) who made the decision to demolish the St George Hospital laundry , and allow the Private Hospital to be built on this land. The Board made a very wise decision in allowing the Private Hospital to be built.
The Private Hospital today provides extensive medical facilities for our local St George community and to those from further afield. The Hospital is always busy, and this is testamount to both the quality of the medical staff, and the facilities within it.
Anne Field
Kogarah December 5 2023
