Third Time’s a Charm: My Journey with Foot Surgery

Hey guys, back with an update! I’m one day away from getting a high nerve release and fragment removal from my ankle, which has been causing a lot of pain. I have a floating bone fragment in my left ankle – you can’t miss it. It pops out of the skin, and now, it’s to the point where it hurts almost every day with every step. It’s part of my fibula, right above my ankle. It’s an old injury from my younger years, but it’s coming back. It looks wild on an X-ray, and you just have to look down, and you can’t miss it. That’s getting removed along with the nerve release.

Listen, I’m not the type to sit here and complain, feel sorry for myself, or just sit in pain, but let me tell you – it’s real. If you have tarsal tunnel syndrome, you know exactly what I’m talking about! If you’ve been following me from the beginning of this journey, you understand why I’m doing this at this point in my life.

I try to get through each day, from morning until bedtime. Yes, it hurts. Yes, I’m in pain. But I just try to ignore it and keep going with my day. That’s why I like to stay busy – it helps keep my mind off it. I work on staying strong mentally. This is my last straw with this. It’s my third surgery on the same left foot, and I’m also dealing with my right foot at the same time. It’s not as bad, but after a fall this summer, it started saying, “Hey, I’m here.” However, like I always say, I don’t think I’ll go for surgery on my right foot, just because of what my left foot feels like.

Listen, I’m only 40 years young. I have a lot of time left, and I’m trying everything possible to gain control over this issue. It’s hard, but I have an army behind me helping out. I try not to beat myself up about it, and I thank God for making me mentally and physically strong enough to handle this. I really can see how people can struggle with this condition. I feel for all of you going through it – this sucks. It’s tough to deal with sometimes, but for me, I just put a smile on my face and keep pushing through.

I have my wife and two girls to look after. They need me, and I need them. My two little ones are very active, and I try to stay active with them as much as I can. They are only little once, and life goes by so fast! I’m not going to miss out on that time with them. I do whatever I can. I know my limits, and I know that might sound crazy to some people, but not to me. I look at each day as a blessing.

I know that what I do for a living isn’t the best for me physically, but it’s my passion. This is what I was made to do – to help people with their health, get fit, and improve their life habits overall. I’m on my feet all day, but I do try to sit when I can. My clients understand and know what’s going on, and if they don’t, I let them know. I can still give cues and have a good view from a seated position, but most of the time, I’m up and moving. Let’s hope this surgery helps everyone. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I told myself I wouldn’t do this again, but sometimes it just has to be done. I’m willing to take the risk at this point. You always have that voice in your head telling you to go for it, while another part tells you you’re making it worse for yourself. But when I look at the cards I’m being dealt, I’m going for it.

Again, I’m not writing this to say “poor me” – I’m just taking you along for the journey, and I hope it gives hope to people with tarsal tunnel syndrome in the future. Thanks for hearing me out 💪💪💪.

Also, if you want to go back and read more about it, head to hitfitnesstraining.com and click on the blog section, or you can reach out to me at dan@hitfitnesstraining.com.