My Comeback Story: Patti S.

I had flat feet as a child but, in my mid-thirties, my feet progressively got worse. I started wearing custom orthotics, which needed to be built stronger every few years. Eventually, I was wearing an ankle brace plus orthotics and even tried a Richie brace to hold my ankle up. Nothing seemed to work. It was incredibly painful for me to walk and I would often wake up crying due to severe pain in my foot & ankle. I had difficulty walking to my mailbox or through the grocery store. I would avoid going to the mall, the county fair, or a hike with friends, because they required walking. My podiatrist would only suggest stronger foot braces. I went to a orthopaedist foot specialist in Dutchess County who took x-rays. He was very dismissive & told me I had severe arthritis, but there was nothing he could do. He suggested that I wear sneakers & simply loosen my shoe laces to alleviate pressure on my foot. He never suggested an MRI. Since he told me there was nothing I could do, I suffered for another few years. I finally returned to the podiatrist & asked her to please prescribe an MRI. The MRI showed a severely torn posterior tibial tendon & severe arthritis.

When I got the results, I made an appointment with Dr. Andrew Rosenbaum, because I read that he was trained to perform flat foot reconstructions.. After reviewing the MRI film & report, he was surprised how bad my foot was. He recommended that I have surgery on my left foot and explained that the recovery would be difficult & last about 12 months, but it would be worth it. He was right. Dr. Rosenbaum took the time to explain the procedures. In 20 years, I had treated with two podiatrists and had consultations with three orthopaedic surgeons. Dr. Rosenbaum was the only doctor who actually acknowledged that something was very wrong with my foot & he was the only one who was able to confidently offer me hope.

In January 2022, I underwent the flat foot reconstruction. The recovery took almost an entire year & it was hard to learn how to walk again. That said, I am no longer in pain and my foot functions normally again. I walk my dog approximately two miles every day and I've been able to hike six miles of non strenuous trails occasionally. I still can't wear cute high heels but I can wear sandals & boots. This surgery was life changing. I will forever be grateful to Dr. Rosenbaum for acknowledging that something was wrong with my foot, for offering me hope, and allowing me to walk again.