Information on ClubFeet in Black and White

Jason F's Story

I am 37 years old and was born with bilateral club feet. The left foot was mostly corrected but the right foot stayed clubbed. I have had 3 operations (6months, 3yrs, 21yrs) to correct it. The last operation found a stitch in the Extensor Hallucis muscle (the one on the front of the leg connecting the foot) which had been left there for 18 years. Within months of the stitch being removed, the muscle grew by 3x in width.

4 years ago I took up martial arts. I had just lost some weight and wanted to do more sports. I grew up playing some sports, but only with friends. I have to say, martial arts has vastly improved my balance, strength, and coordination. I know I'm not talented - I really have to work hard, much harder than most, but we all have our weaknesses. I am now a black belt.

I was teased at school and I still walk with a limp. My right calf is much smaller than my left calf, despite 4yrs of training (I attend and teach martial arts class at least 3x a week). I have scars over most of my foot, up the front of my leg, and all the way up the back of my leg.

As far as occupation is concerned, I made the decision early on that I did not want to stand on my feet all day. I attended university and graduated with a BA. I then taught myself all about computers and for the past 15 years I've worked in I.T.

I still experience a lot of pain. If I stand on my feet all day, then rest for a couple of hours in the evening, I have to hold on to something to be able to walk. If I over-do it at karate, I can barely walk the next day. But I don't give up; I keep moving. Eventually the muscles and tendons loosen up and the pain subsides. I only take pain killers in extreme conditions, such as when I am on my feet all day, 3 days in a row.

Is this a success story? I don't know... I am successful and neither of my kids were born with club foot. In that regards, yes it's a success story.

Comments

Comment added by : Dee on the 01 May 2007 at 22:46pm
As a fellow martial artist and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, I think your success with that foot is amazing! I was born with club feet, the left mostly fixed but the right one never really got good. My foot is very much like your own, and its always a stuggle with some of the turning kicks. Balance, for me, has always been a problem, and I think that anyone who can achieve your level in a martial art with a decreased range of motion and balance should be commended!! Keep it up! Its great to hear someone else who is doing the same thing. Sometimes its hard to explain to someone why standing to long can hurt so bad....but they'll have to cut my foot off before I quit TKD.
Comment added by : Jason on the 19 Apr 2007 at 18:18pm
To Stephanie: I teach in Vancouver, Canada.

To Cathleen: Is the operation they are proposing known as the "Jones Tendon Transfer"? If so, I had that operation at 21yrs old and I would have to say in the long term, it didn't help.
Comment added by : Cathleen Gallagher on the 18 Feb 2007 at 12:40pm
Hello Jason,
Thanks for posting your story. My daughter who is now 5 and a half was also born with severe bilateral clubfoot. she was treated using the ponseti method at 8weeks old and she responded great. It wasn't until recently that she started showing signs of tightening in her right foot which was always turned in more then the left, She tends to walk on her toes on her right foot with her heal off the ground majority of the time. I believe this is due to a growth spurt. She has always showed weakness in physical activies like riding her bike for example and jumping on one and even two feet. I was told that we can try surgery on the right foot which would involve transfering muscle from the top of her foot to the outside and loosening the achilies tendon. Is this the type of surgery you had? if so, Did it improve your condition or did you have side effects? I can not find info on this and I want to make the right decision for my daughter. Thank you so much.Cathleen
Comment added by : Stephanie on the 17 Jan 2007 at 19:41pm
Hi Jason:
Our daughter who is 41/2 was born with club feet. She had one surgery at 6 months old. In what state do you teach martial arts?


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