When I was 25 years old, I fractured my left heel. Ever since that injury, I have had chronic pain and continued problems to my left foot and the ankle. I sprained my ankle several times through the years resulting in multiple doctor’s visits. I had seen 5 different foot and ankle specialists including both orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons and podiatrists and unfortunately on one was not able to help reduce the chronic pain that I was dealing with. I was treated with multiple pairs of custom foot orthotics, physical therapy, steroid injections, anti-inflammatory medications, and I spent several months in a walking boot. Despite all of these treatments, my foot and ankle pain was getting worse. My job requires me to be on my feet for 8-10 hours a day and my quality of life was suffering. My pain was constantly at a 10/10 and my leg became very weak. My pain became so bad daily walking became a challenge and I was forced to use a cane.
One of my coworkers was under the care of Dr. Stewart at Timonium Foot and Ankle Center and he highly recommended that I visit him. At my very first visit, Dr. Stewart was very direct with me and did not sugar coat anything. He diagnosed me with an accessory navicular bone, a chronic unstable ankle sprain, peroneal tendinitis, and insertional Achilles tendinitis with a large bone spur. Dr. Stewart told me that he rarely recommends surgery at a first visit, but since I had undergone extensive conservative care and was not improving, he felt that surgery would in fact be my best option. At the first visit, he started me on some medication that allowed me to sleep for the first time at night in years. Dr. Stewart is very clear in his explanations and as a result it made my decision very easy.
On February 27, 2020, Dr. Stewart took me to the operating room, and he performed multiple procedures to address the chronic pain to my left foot and ankle. He removed my accessory navicular and reinserted my tendon into the bone, he repaired my unstable ankle with bone anchors, he repaired my Achilles tendon and removed the heel spur, and he released my tight calf tissue. Within 1 week of surgery the chronic pain that I felt for years was 40% better. I listened to everything that Dr. Stewart told me, and I am happy to say that the pain I had before surgery is 100% resolved. I am back to working 8 hours per day and I am tolerating standing and my every day walking is pain-free. During my recovery, I developed plantar fasciitis, which Dr. Stewart told me is common after wearing a boot for such a long period of time. As part of my treatment he made me custom foot orthotics. Over the years, I spent 100s of dollars on multiple pairs of orthotics and they never seemed to help me. The orthotics that Dr. Stewart made me are the only orthotics that have worked and fixed my condition. They are high-quality and comfortable, and this is consistent with all of the treatment I have received at Timonium Foot and Ankle Center.
Dr. Stewart’s staff is very nice, accommodating, and my visits were always on time. The staff was extremely helpful in filling out my disability paperwork and they were very transparent with me and this made me feel extremely comfortable. I have recommended and will continue to recommend anyone with foot and/or ankle problems to Dr. Stewart and Timonium Foot and Ankle Center.
Suzann Nonemaker
* Results may vary from person to person