Colleen Conlon

I was 65 years old and was exercising with some of the Physical Therapists where I worked (NSLIJ Stern Family Center for Rehab). All of a sudden I couldn't continue secondary to pain in my right foot. I thought it would go away and I continued to walk on it for a month or two. I then went to a Podiatrist and he sent me for a MRI which showed a Posterior Tibial Tendon Tear, as well as flat foot deformity. While discussing my options with this doctor, he said that he would try to immobilize it and hope that it healed, but that surgery for this condition has a high failure rate. While I was home with my foot up I started to research the condition and what I found on the internet was not encouraging. I also came across Dr. Jonathan Deland's information on the HSS website. Twenty years earlier Dr. Deland had repaired a fractured ankle for me. Dr. Deland went over the surgery with me and I decided to go ahead with the procedure. The entire surgical procedure and recovery in the hospital (HSS) was a very positive one. From the surgical techs and Dr. Deland to the nurses in the recovery room and on the unit everyone was very professional and caring. Last Spring I was able to take my 10 year old grandson, Jack, to Washington DC and walk around the capitol and the museums with him. I am a very active grandmother and I have another 20 or 30 years that I want to be able to walk, so I am very happy that I went through with the surgery.