The story of Teresa
Surviving Tarsal Coalition: My Journey Through Pain, Perseverance, and Strength
From the outside, people often don’t see the battles I fight every single day. They don’t see the pain that radiates from my feet up through my body, making every step feel like walking on broken glass. They don’t see the struggle of trying to move through life with a condition that most people have never even heard of Tarsal Coalition. But I live with it. I endure it. And despite everything, I survive.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
I was diagnosed with Tarsal Coalition, a rare condition where the bones in the foot are abnormally connected, causing stiffness, pain, and difficulty walking. Unlike many other foot conditions, this isn’t something that goes away with time it is something I have had to learn to live with.
For most people, walking is something they never think about. But for me, every step is a challenge. The pain can be excruciating, and the limited mobility makes even simple tasks difficult. On bad days, it feels like my feet are locked in place, refusing to move the way they should.
Doctors told me what many with rare conditions hear: “There’s no simple cure.” Treatment options were limited. Some suggested surgery, but even that wasn’t a guaranteed solution. Others recommended physical therapy, orthotics, and pain management, but nothing could truly erase the condition. It was a reality I had to face this was something I would battle for the rest of my life.
Living with Tarsal Coalition: The Daily Fight.
Tarsal Coalition doesn’t just affect my feet it affects my entire life. Simple things that most people take for granted, like standing for long periods, walking around a grocery store, or even climbing stairs, become exhausting and painful.
The condition also led to secondary issues, including osteoarthritis and chronic pain that spread through my joints. Over time, I had to learn how to adapt how to pace myself, how to listen to my body, and how to push through.