“You like to go barefoot a lot,” he said. I nodded in reply. “Or else, you wear slippers, sandals, or low heels. But, that wasn’t always the case. At one time, you used to cram your feet into tiny shoes that you thought were cute.”
It was uncanny! How could he know all that? Well, because he was my podiatrist, and it was “written” all over my feet.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a “knot” in the arch of my left foot. It was a little painful, but not much … yet it was a lump! Lumps are scary, so I made an appointment with a podiatrist.
When he looked at the lump, he said, “Ah HAH!”
I said, “Does ‘Ah HAH’ mean it’s good or it’s bad?”
He said, “It means it’s not uncommon. You have plantar fasciitis.”
He want on to explain that the plantar fascia is a band of ligament running from the heel to the ball of the foot. Its purpose is to pull on the heel bone, raising the arch of your foot as you push away from the ground. When your foot moves incorrectly, that plantar fascia becomes strained and inflamed. It can cause that knot, which can grow over time and need surgery if you don’t treat it.
In my case, my foot was flattening too much. The podiatrist told me it was best not to go barefoot (crap!), and that shoes with a bit of heel would help the problem.
Heels? Really? I’ve avoided heels for years, because I thought they weren’t good for me! He also gave me inserts to put into my shoes that will lift my arch. Those inserts mean I won’t be wearing sandals or backless shoes, either (because the ugly blue will show). The good news is that it should reduce the swelling and it’s possible that the lump will go away entirely. If I’m not vigilant, though, it will come back.
How did he know that I used to wear tiny cute shoes? That would be from the bunion on my left foot. My big toe is headed “west” and is pushing the second toe out of place. The podiatrist told me that eventually it would require surgery, but I don’t have to rush into it.
However, he warned me with horror stories of one patient who was an 87 year old woman with a bunion. She had never done anything about it, until she found she could no longer wear shoes. At that point, her foot was so deformed that all he could do was amputate the second toe so she could wear a shoe!
Let’s see, she was 87? I’ve got about 32 years to decide on when to have that bunion surgery.
Meanwhile, leaving the house won’t be as simple as just slamming on some shoes. Here’s what I get to wear:
I thought I'd show them to you before I got them grungy.
Downer.
On the up-side, I won’t have to pay good money for pedicures anymore, because no one is going to see those cute little red toenails again!
So, if you like to go barefoot a lot, be forewarned. Running around without your shoes can be as harmful for your feet as wearing those six inch high heels!
Other posts you might enjoy:
- Something’s Afoot
- Not A Shoe In
- Stepping Back
- If The Shoe Fits
- Thursday Thirteen Number Thirty-Nine. The Game Is Afoot.
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{ 16 comments }
My sympathies – I got inserts last year (for high arches in my case) just in time for summer. Ick ick ick. I did eventually find a few summer shoes I could use them in, it’s just too hot not to have sandals here, but my friends had a field day making fun of my old lady shoes. Not much I could do about it though, other than sulk. They are in fact ugly and clunky but the alternative is to be pretty much crippled after about 20 minutes, so not really a good alternative. At least I did find a shop that was able to put a black cover on them so bye-bye ugly orthopedic blue. That did help a lot.
Winter’s a lot easier – Clark’s makes fabulous looking shoes that take the inserts, and I’ve found some others too.
Fashion nightmare aside, they’re worth it though. I’m able to use my feet again without crying in pain.
.-= Robin from Israel´s last blog ..Aaaaaaaaand the winner is… =-.
I specifically asked the podiatrist about my Clark’s, because I love ‘em, too. He said any shoes I wanted (with the inserts) were fine. However, my Clark’s are backless, so I’m gonna have to find someone to cover them with black
Fashion nightmare indeed. I can hardly wait for summer (not).
For almost 66 years, I have been losing shoes simply because they are horrid things that were never meant to be worn by human beings or we would all have little Gucci G’s stamped on our ankle bones. It is a standing joke with may children that the “great shoe hunt” had to take place every morning in order to get mom out the door to work because they always got kicked off on entering the house each night.
Therefore that 87 year old and I will probably have something in common one day. As for now, you have my sympathy while I type this even though my shoes are ……… well they are here somewhere …. I think.
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..Take This Tune – Some Things Never Get Old =-.
Well, don’t tell my podiatrist, but I kicked the dadgum shoes off! I’ll put ‘em on again in a minute, but this is irritating. However, I don’t have time for surgery right now
. I was kinda wondering why shoes were important, too. Did cave men have shoes? Heck no. They didn’t have podiatrists, either.
Also equally bad for your feet as heels (and I guess going barefoot, who knew?) are flip flops. Those things are deadly, dangerous, and actual damage your feet/legs/etc. And yet, I live in them all summer long, and in heels the rest of the time. Hmm…I’m setting myself up for trouble, aren’t I?
.-= Karina´s last blog ..popinjay – Photochallenge – FREE =-.
You are so right. My podiatrist dissed flip-flops (we called them “thongs” when I was a kid, but I guess that would give the wrong impression now?). I don’t wear them much because of the toe thing with the bunion. I don’t know if you are setting yourself up for trouble. I guess it depends on how your feet respond. But, I’ve got twenty years on you
Hi
Take your docs advice but don’t forget to listen to your body. if it hurts than don’t use it. I have plantar fasciitis myself for a few months now. My podiatrist prescribed me with Custom made orthotics which did not work at all. There are Taping techniques that I find very useful. There are a few more self care techniques that I got from this informative website-
http://www.plantar-fasciitis-elrofeet.com/How_is_Plantar_Fasciitis_Treated
That website is a great resource! Thanks for sending me there. My doctor had mentioned taping, but said no more. I had wondered (and forgot to ask) if there were exercises I could do to stretch it. I wonder, however, how I’m supposed to “lose weight” and “rest” the foot
The only way I can lose weight is exercise, but I figure I had better stop with aerobics for awhile.
Has yours gotten better with taping?
Taping has made the difference for me. since I started taping I started getting better. I have found it very useful. Taping will keep your foot from getting injured again and will help you get through your daily routine. Though I understood that treatment efficiency is very individual. If something works for one it may not work for the other. There are many treatment techniques that you can try.
Take care & Good luck
I think I’ll try taping tonight. I’m also taking time out to stretch my feet … and I tried some cold therapy on it. Can’t tell much change yet, but I guess it will take time. I’m not very patient. One of those folks who say, “Lord, give me patience right now!”
lol. this post made my day! when it’s cold and you’re having an S.A.D. episode, this is a good dose of smiles!
I haven’t have that yet, but I am very much a barefoot-sandals-flats-no heels person. Not that I hate heels because I love heels, I covet stilettos and more-than-2 inch heels because it would make me look tall and regal. duh. but i hate the burden it does to my feet and calves. not to mention i can’t wear it when I’m with my husband because that would mean I’ll be taller than him
. My mom and my grandmother has bunion, so I guess that runs in the family. I remember when I was younger, I used to trip a lot because I was flat-footed. I really don’t know how I got over it.
Sad that you can’t flaunt those red toes though. It’s always nice to show off pedicured nails, but, the good side, at least, you can save – and opt for a foot spa or a foot massage.
and your podia is exaggerating. My grandmother is 90 with a bunion and she’s fine. she likes to wear sandals that makes her bunion peeks out off the sandals, so there.
.-= abby´s last blog ..Optimism =-.
Hey you can wear those heels and be taller than your husband! Some men think that’s sexy. I’ll go for a pedicure … I’m betting, just because I like it. Maybe you will get away with never having this. I’m thinking that most people don’t. Who knows what I did that caused it to happen. I’m sure there was something.
UNLESS you have flat feet like me. Really. They’re so flat they suction to the tile floor. Flat, flat, flat. Mom had ‘em. So did Mamaw. I wear them proudly. Good thing: I don’t have to worry about fallen arches.
Oh, man! The visual you just gave me had me in fits of giggles. Sorry.
Shelly, Definitely check out the web site given above. In my experience, there are about four treatments for plantar fascitis and I tried three….ultrasound, orthotics and cortisone shots about 14 years ago. It’s a common affliction for lab techs on their feet.
What helped me was putting my foot right up against a jet in a hot tub. At that time, I was playing tennis 2-3x/week and after playing, I would go to the pool area and put my heel right up to the jet and that is what helped it. I don’t wear orthotics at all now. ( I even tried the boot at night to keep my foot flat) Are you sure it’s plantar fascitis and not a euroma? Plantar Fascitis doesn’t hurt until you put your foot on the floor after sleeping.
Either way, take care and watch out for those foo foo shoes. Me, I’m a clark’s clog person.
.-= Jennymcb´s last blog ..Bumpy square =-.
I’m pretty sure it is plantar fasciitis. It doesn’t hurt unless I’ve been sitting and then stand, or when I get up in the morning. I’ll have to go look for some more Clark’s. Dang, I wish I had a hot tub
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