My Left Foot
Sep 10, 2007 at 10:01 PM So how old do I feel right now? I had to see a podiatrist today. Yes, for the last eight months I've had an intense pain in my left heel and it won't go away. I'm not sure exactly what initially caused it, but I'm pretty sure it was these Michael Kors boots that I wore every day last winter:
They're cute, right? And they were actually comfortable, too, which is why I didn't expect them to ruin my feet. But I'm pretty sure they did.
Now, what would you expect to happen at the foot doctor? An examination? An X-Ray? That's what I expected. What I didn't expect was for the doctor pull out a two-inch needle and give me a shot in the foot, but that's what ended up happening.
A little background... I'm terrified of needles. TERRIFIED. Like I have a major phobia about them and have since I've been a little girl. (It all stems from having my tonsils out; a story for another time.) Because of this, I kinda freaked out upon seeing the needle, so the doctor called in an assistant to help me through the whole ordeal.
So a girl came in the room... she was young, nice... she stood next to me and let me hold her hands. I was a little relieved by her presence but still somewhat scared, so I buried my head in the crook of my arm which just happened to be resting over hers.
When the doctor began, I closed my eyes and held my breath. He told me it was going to be quick and painless but it sooooooo wasn't, so I'm completely tensed up and froze. The next thing you know, my mouth opened slightly and I began DROOLING on the girl's arm. Seriously. And the worst part of it was that I didn't wipe it off right away because the needle was still in my foot, so I was still afraid to move.
When the doctor (finally) finished, I apologized to the poor girl and wiped off her arm. She was really nice about everything and didn't seem too grossed out. (She works in a foot doctor's office, I'm sure she's experienced worse things than me drooling on her arm.)
Anyway, come to find out, I have a spur on my left heel or "plantar fasciitis." To correct it I have to get custom orthotics made. Thankfully my insurance covers them because they're like $400. I also have to sleep in a terrible contraption called a "night splint." If I wear these two things this thing should go away. For my sake and the sake of the poor girl's arm at the doctor's office, I hope it does.
Reader Comments (16)
Karyn, I feel your pain! I had a heel spur a few years ago and it really hurts!!! I have orthotics (that I still wear) and I ended up having physical therapy for 8 weeks because nothing else worked. Although the nice part of PT was that I had a foot massage 3 times a week!! But my foot doesn't bother me now - knock on wood!! Good luck!!
Steph
Karyn, those boots are totally cute...........however, i thought you gave up your old extravagent shopping habits????
hmmmm, those boots werent made for walking then.....?
I hope you'll be ok
Thank you! It's already feeling better from that terrible shot.
Kimberlie... I always thought something was a little off with the left one. So yes, they were made for walking, but I think I got a bad one.
And anonymous... I did give most of it up, but these were everyday boots that I wore EVERY day. And I walk everywhere so I invested a bit more in some good ones. ;)
My sister has planter faciatis too!! She just spend the week in Vegas with her new orthotics,,, she said they made all the differece!!
I had that last year....shot and all. The pain relief from the shot didn't last long enough to be worth the intense pain and nausea caused by the shot itself. I didn't get orthotics, and just got bettert shoes. Looking at those boots, I'd say they were not the cuplrit. Anyway, by the time I spent 10 days traipsing around Turkey, it was pretty much healed.
Good luck.
That sounds awful!
And don't feel guilty about the boot purchase -- you work hard for your money girl. (I just started reading your newest book -- finished the first 50 pages last night if that tells you anything! It's hilarious.) You deserve to splurge once in a while!
I think you're very brave! I wear orthotics for my crazy flat feet, and I have splints to PREVENT BUNIONS.
Good to catch this stuff early.
Nothing like being 30 and having old lady ailments, eh?
I know exactly what you're talking about. I had a shot like that when I had an ingrown toenail pulled. god, it hurt so bad!!!!
Karyn, I am picking up what you're putting down. I tore my plantar fascia several yrs ago jumping up and down during an Eagles game (asinine, I know). In any case, I never had the shot, but I know all about the night splint. Rest assured, it does work, but is the most annoying contraption in the world ... and takes some getting used to. And oh by the way, when I wore the night splint, I also was wearing a brace on my wrist for carpal tunnel syndrome, so I looked REALLY attractive when I went to bed. There were no boys sleeping over during that time ....
It does work though ... I don't have too many problems anymore except when I wear super-flat shoes for an extended period of time. It's always good when the podiatrist tells me I "have to" wear heels. Love it ...
Good luck!
Lisa
wow! that sounds scary AND painful. the part about drooling and too afraid to move made me laugh out loud.
hope you're feeling better soon!
:)
I am the same as you when it comes to needles. It is an understatement to say that blood work and shots send me over the edge! I could barely read your post just thinking about what you went through.
I am the same way as you with needles. I get terrified going to the dentist because of this, and i still have TWO upper wisdom teeth to pull out (i waited for them to come out rather than do surgery, that freaks me out more). I seriously tear up at the dentist =T Anyway i feel your pain and I hope your feet get better!!! Maybe some cute guy can give your tootsies a nice rub.
haha girl u R old! haha no girl, but a wooomaaaan, LOLZ!
2 things...
1. I had that shot in my big toe 6 times for an ingrown toenail and they would schedule me after hours because I screamed cuss words so loud it scared the patients in the waiting room!
2. Two years later I got a job as an assistant at a podiatrists office and trust me, that girl has seen much worse stuff than your drool! Whenever the patients with thick, yellow fungal toenails came in to get trimmed, I had to vacuum it up. They looked like Fritos all over the floor and if you didn't get right over them with the vacuum, the suction would work like a bullet and shoot them across the room. It was disgusting. Plus you'd inhale the toenail dust. It was brutal.