I had an emotionally raw post that I was going to put up tonight. It was about being frustrated and worried and overanalyzing everything as I normally do, both in my head and here on this blog. Reading it just now after the events of today means I'm shelving that for now as these are new things that will need processing.
If you've read this blog for a while, you have heard me complain about my ankle. In March, I had pain in my left foot and ankle training for the half-marathon. I sought out help from a podiatrist, who put me in some insoles and told me to rest up. Diagnosis: Overuse.
Fast forward 4 months: the pain was markedly better post-half marathon, so I figured it was healed. The more I was active though, the more it started hurting again. I make an appointment for an orthopaedic surgeon I saw when I had knee issues at 400+ pounds. We did x-rays and MRIs and I was put in the boot for 6 weeks. Boot helped and I felt much better after.
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago: the pain in my ankle is getting worse again, and this time to the point it hurt to just walk. I put the boot back on for several days, but no relief. Made a follow up appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon and he wrote me a prescription for custom orthotic insoles and shoes after seeing the flats I was wearing with my work outfit. He said I had to get better shoes and sent me to a fancy shoe guy. He said to wear the shoes for 3 months, and if it was still bad, he would have to refer me to a foot and ankle specialist to consider surgery.
I had to cancel my appointment with fancy shoe guy due to a conflict, and after I did so, started thinking. I'm only in my work shoes for going from my car to my office (about 50 steps), and from my office to the bathroom (about 20 steps). How could that really make my ankle hurt so bad from poor support? Something wasn't right, and I really couldn't bear the thought of 3 more months of waiting and hoping… why not go ahead and see a specialist and get a 2nd opinion?
Fast forward to this morning at 8:20 when I am getting more x-rays and trying to stand on my tip toes (impossible on inflamed foot). The specialist explains that she and first doctor have come to similar conclusions, but she advised treating it differently due to the severity of my problem (posterior tibial tendon dysfunction where my tendon can't support my arch and is flattening my foot – phase 2). She explained that I needed a cast. “Like, a cast-cast?” I asked. She said “yep.” She went on to tell me that after 6 weeks in the cast, I will need 6 weeks in another immobilizing boot, and then physical therapy and prescription orthotic shoes.
This is what I felt like:
I had jeans on and they said they wouldn't be able to fit over the cast if they put it on then. I didn't want to walk out of the doctors office wearing a pair of paper shorts, so I returned in the afternoon with a skirt on to get my cast on. At least I got to pick a color…
I'm glad I have an answer and an aggressive treatment plan for solving the problem. I'm glad I'm able to walk on my foot. It's not ideal, but better than armpit pain from crutches. Still, I'm really, really frustrated.
Count this among another set up gut-checks I've had about my health this year. Thankfully, I'm still standing (literally) and it can only go up from here.
Now… who wants to come over and help bedazzle my cast?
Thanks for listening. xo
