I was diagnosed this week with tarsal coalition. Ive had the symptoms for nearly a decade. I went to the doc early on and was told I had chronic tendonitis and would just have to learn to live with it. I lived with it until recently, the pain had just become unbearable. Because I went so long without having it fixed I now also have arthritis in the subtalar joint. My doctor has put me on Lodine for now, while I decide whether or not to have surgery. If anyone here has had the fusion surgery Id love to hear from you.

My husband doesnt want me to have the surgery. He seems to think that once the medication starts to work Ill be able to get back to the gym, and strengthen my ankle. Will working out help this condition? Since it is a bone and not a muscle condition Im not sure if it will help or not. Plus, Im not enjoying this medication at all. Im still hurting, and now Im dizzy and nauseaus as well.

Are there any other options than surgery? Im a firm beleiver in chiropractic care, will that help at all? The way my doc described it..there are ways to "manage" the condition with medicine and shoe inserts, but it wont help fix it. I dont want to be stuck on medication for the rest of my life. Im scared theyll cause even worse conditions.

Im just not sure what to do here.