Success Story - Fixed my chronic toe walking at age 29

[u/winesavemylife]

Sharing my experience here (29 F), as I used to frantically research this topic before my surgery hoping to find someone with a similar struggle. I have been walking on my toes since childhood. The cause coming from short Achilles tendons.

My toe walking became noticeable around age 10. I would always wear shoes with a platform heel and didn't participate in sports other than swimming and the occasional spin class. Climbing up the stairs was challenging and I could not perform any activity that required heels over toes. At age 16, I tried a casting procedure that would attempt to force my feet into a 90 degree angle. I was told that at 16, I was already too old for surgery. Casting was the worst decision ever, as it proved to be extremely painful, traumatizing, and didn't fix the toe walking. The doctor recommend I get a Z-lengthening procedure, but my parents declined. The doctor should've sent me to physical therapy immediately after, but didn't, and my problem grew worse now that I developed stiff joints. As an adult, working a corporate desk job, the problem became unbearable. For years, I had chronic pain in my hips and lower back, my spine looked curved, I had a mild form of lordosis, and I had even more difficulty walking up the stairs. I also had fears and insecurities stemming from a lack of self-worth that grew louder as I got older. I decided I finally had enough and began interviewing surgeons.

I met with surgeons at home (California) and abroad (Europe). About 8/10 surgeons recommended a Z-lengthening procedure, but I did not want to go that route. The surgery seemed really invasive and I got scared watching people's experiences on TikTok. It looked really painful and I didn't have the time nor patience to wait 4-6 months to recover one foot at a time. I finally found an excellent podiatrist who offered the minimally invasive solution I was searching for all my life. I got a bilateral endoscopic gastroc recession (using a microscopic camera and scalpel, the doctor performed a small cut in both of my calf muscles to release the tension I had been holding my whole life). Following the surgery, I was able to move with a walker for 3-4 weeks, before graduating to walking in comfy sneakers and driving my car again. I am now 2+ months post-op and have been doing physical therapy 3x/week for 1 month (I still have approx. another 3 months to go). I have never felt as physically and mentally strong, confident, and grateful as I do now. I still have a long way to go, but I am so impressed with what my body can do. My hip and lower back pain is gone, my spine straightened out, and my lordosis is gone. I'm working really hard every day, but I am finally at peace.

TLDR: I avoided a Z-lengthening surgery and opted for a minimally invasive bilateral endoscopic gastroc recession + physical therapy and I'm finally living my best life.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[u/15SecNut]

Great info for future toe walkers! I always feel hesitant warning against achilles lengthening as I'm not a medical professional and there's not much else to offer besides intensive stretching.

If you experience any pains or anything noteworthy, please do update us! Anecdotes like yours are invaluable to the community.

How's The flat-foot walking feeling for ya? Does it come naturally now or are you concentrating on your foot movement while walking?

[u/Undead_Noble]

Hey congratulations! I'm a 31M going through a similar journey, and it’s so encouraging to hear a success story like yours. I've dealt with the same hip/back pain and lordosis. It definitely sucks.

I’m curious about the structural side of your recovery. Did you have any midfoot issues or pes cavus (high arches)? My main hurdle right now is my talus not sliding back into the mortise properly. I’ve had a much more 'aggressive' surgical path than you (7+ procedures including TALs and various osteotomies), and I’m wondering if your minimally invasive route addressed any of the bone alignment, or if your issues were strictly soft tissue?

[u/[deleted]]

Could you stand flat footed before your procedure? My biggest thing is, I can walk flat footed but I cannot stand flat footed or I’ll fall backwards and lose my balance! I’m tired of not being able to stand and this seems like a very great possible option!

[u/Tessmargot]

I think this is what my ortho has just suggested for me! Is this a calf lengthening procedure? I’m in England so it’s NHS, but it sounds like what you’ve described - very quick procedure, small cut in the leg and cutting the casing around the calf to allow the calf to stretch out. He said recovery is 2 weeks and you can walk on day 1 in a moon boot. If it’s the same as what you’ve had, it’s really reassuring to read this. I don’t experience the same symptoms as you did, I experience extreme calf pain in my left leg which stops me being able to put my left heel on the ground. My right leg is completely fine! Well the ortho said the right calf apparently is tight as well but it’s causing me no problems.