Patient Overview:
Patient X, a 38-year-old female, presented to Synergy Physio after undergoing calf surgery, which included sural nerve decompression and a muscle biopsy. She had been living with calf pain for two decades. A dedicated yoga instructor and school teacher with an active lifestyle, she also juggled the responsibilities of raising two young children. Desperate for help, she came to us after being left without guidance, exercises or post-surgery advice, despite still being in significant pain.
The Challenge:
The patient came to us post-surgery with considerable pain, swelling, and limited mobility in her foot. Initially, we began treatment with soft tissue work and range of motion exercises. As her progress was slow, we gradually incorporated stretching and strengthening exercises. However, despite our efforts, her symptoms showed little improvement, and she reported that the surgery had actually worsened her pain.
Upon further examination, we noticed her wound had not healed properly, remaining open and tender six months post-surgery. Although the medical staff insisted it was fine, it was clear something wasn’t right. As her condition worsened, she started looking and feeling generally unwell, eventually leading to a diagnosis of sepsis. After being admitted to the hospital, she returned to physiotherapy feeling defeated, essentially back to square one.
The Solution:
Given that our musculoskeletal treatments hadn’t yielded long-term improvements, we began suspecting that her pain might have a non-musculoskeletal origin. With a special interest in Vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies, we took a holistic approach by gathering additional evidence to explore potential underlying factors contributing to her persistent pain. We encouraged the patient to undergo blood tests, which revealed significant deficiencies in Vitamin D and folate.
This was no easy task. These deficiencies are often overlooked by the NHS and other healthcare providers because they are not always seen as critical indeed it was suggested to her that her pain might be psychological and that she needed to become more active. Despite this, I continued to advocate for her, liaising with her original consultant and NHS GP to push for further investigations.
In addition to addressing her nutritional deficiencies, she received scar tissue massage therapy from a Synergy Physio sports massage therapist, which played a pivotal role in alleviating her symptoms and enhancing her recovery.
As we await further medical investigations from her doctors, we continue to support and facilitate her recovery journey.
Results:
After implementing a comprehensive treatment plan, we saw a remarkable 90% reduction in the patient’s pain. She began taking the necessary vitamins to address her deficiencies, which she had never known about before. The ongoing medical investigations continue to explore other potential deficiencies that could be exacerbating her symptoms. Today, she is barely in pain and, as one of her friends noted, it’s refreshing to see her walking without a limp.
Key Takeaways:
This case study underscores the importance of holistic treatment in achieving whole-body health. By understanding and addressing the full scope of a patient’s needs—both physical and nutritional—significant progress can be made. Persistent support and a thorough, patient-centered approach are critical in driving lasting results.
The Synergy Team has been vital in my long recovery journey. Their knowledge and skill got my mobility back very quickly after 2 operations… they genuinely care and keep in contact to check how I have been doing as well as dealing with my insurance company and making contact with my doctor and surgeon ensuring I have had the best care possible. They have gone above and beyond in their care for me. [I recently started sports massage] which has provided me with a lot of pain relief.
Find out how the team at Synergy Physio can help you by booking an appointment here: https://www.synergyphysio.co.uk/book-online/
