About 7 years ago I developed a Plantar wart on my right foot. No big deal.

Over the next few months, one turned into quite a cluster to the point where I was hobbling. The pain wasn't that bad but I could no longer walk properly, play volleyball or baseball.

I sought medical attention and the first treatment was a caustic solution, applied once every 6 weeks by the doctor. The first 24 hours after treatment were fine. However, day 2 - 7 were quite painful. Almost like a time-released flesh eating disease. A few Ibuprofen over the course of that week kept things manageable.

Despite the treatment, more kept popping up. The doctor advised they could no longer use the caustic solution. I had more than when we started. They gave me three options:

Option #1: Topical 5% 5-fluorouracil which was described to me like topical chemo. That didn't sound great.

Option #2: They could refer me to a private clinic for laser treatment.

Option #3: Refer me to a surgeon. The doctor did say this would likely take me off my foot for several months as they would essentially remove part of my foot and it would have to be packed by a nurse twice a day and may never totally heal.

I opted for the laser.

I met with the doctor at the clinic who walked me through the process. He advised it can be pretty painful but they have had great results in many cases. He also said some folks don't seem to feel it at all.

Unfortunately, I was in the camp of the former. I have never experienced pain like this in my life. My first appointment required 16 shots. I guess I was fortunate as the tech said he had just done a guy who needed 40. Each zap felt like my foot was being shot off by a tiny, flaming hot bullet. The kind of pain where you immediate start sweating profusely, and want to be sick. Each zap was spread out by a couple minutes so the tech could apply some type of cold compress to try and limit the burning.

It worked though. My second appointment only needed 8 zaps, and my third appointment only 2. Plantar-free ever since.