October 13, 2008
Magic Shoes And Ice
We have exceeded the capability of my podiatrist for what ails me, so I have moved on to a doctor I know who is on the US Olympic team, the medical side, not the competition side, and who is a tri-athlete.
I figured if he deals with REAL athletes all day long, and not just 43 year old Moms who have decided to do a marathon, then he can fix me.
He reiterated, I’m not in good shape, that he would normally recommend I not do this race, but he also knows I’m not going to listen, so he will get me through it.
That’s all I needed to hear.
So there was intense therapy today and it hurt like hell and at one point I quit breathing and I thought my heart might stop, but I lived through it and will be up for it again on Thursday.
This is what I think happened… as long as my foot was wrapped, courteous of my Podiatrist, I was fine. The minute it was unwrapped, last Wednesday, and I wore my regular shoes out, without the support I get from my Magic Shoes, my ankle gave way and it got re-tweaked.
I laid off of it on Thursday as it was too swollen, and ran on it on Friday, as it was less swollen, and decided, ‘Screw it, this is obviously chronic, I’ll keep icing and I’ll be fine…” and I trained on it for 12 miles on Saturday morning.
So.
Needless to say, it was not such a good scene Saturday night or Sunday morning.
And what was the probability that I would see the Good Doctor in front of the ice cream store? For 5 years I’ve never run into him or his family in public, and here I am at my near worst with my family, and there he is with his family… he looked at it and said, “Oh not good…” and I said, “Yeah, I’ll see you Monday…”
I like when a doctor doesn’t say, ‘You need to take these xxx drugs’. Drugs piss me off and make my eyes glaze over and I'll tune you out.
I like when a doctor doesn’t say, “You can’t run on it…” and then gives you no alternatives. If you’re going to tell me I can’t run/walk, then tell me what in the hell I CAN do.
I like when a doctor doesn’t tell you that it involves cortisone. I don’t do cortisone. Tell me that, and my eyes glaze over and I tune you out… and I’ll flat lie to you about how it feels, just to get the hell out of your office.
Needless to say… there are no drugs involved, no cortisone involved, and I have a LIST of cardiovascular training that I’m allowed to do until he gives me the green light for impact… i.e. running/walking.
So… as promised, a picture of my magic shoes, but first… this is what I look like three times a day, for 20 minutes.
Ice is my Friend
Here are my magic shoes… this is the INSTEP. This is the inside of my shoe, not the outside.
Magic Instep
Here is the outside. Notice how they look the same? Yeah, that’s what makes them look weird and chunky. I am now wearing the magic shoes everywhere.
Magic shoes outside view
Meanwhile, as I was going through my vanity cabinets looking for my Ace bandages (I was told I have to have the ice on my legs with pressure), I could not believe all the crap I have from all the sports injuries I’ve had through the years.
I’ve been in some sort of activity now for over 20 years. Running, walking, karate, weight lifting… I have knee braces, ace bandages, wrist braces, I’ve got just about everything.
I’m going to be a mess in my older years. I have had a great time, but I’ve been definitely riding this body hard. I’m getting my worth out of it… that’s for sure.
I strongly suspect my husband had no clue what he was getting himself into.
Oh good Lord, Bou! Be careful, and don't push it too far! Remember, you are going to want to walk on those poor feet for the next 40 or 50 years!!!
:-)
Posted by: Mary at October 13, 2008 09:22 PMFirst I wanna say I dig your website. Caught a thread to it off of one of my political sites and have dropped in from time to time, nice job.
Second I want to pass on to you wisdom I was given from my grandfather so many years ago, well the '70s anyway. He taught me that when it's time to go, if you've lived a full life, you should be dieing of a multiple of ailments NOT just one. If you are dieing of just one thing then you wasted your life. If you are dieing of just one thing then you spent too much time worrying and not enough time enjoying good food, good drink and good times. He believes that we are living TOO long these days and that all those things they say will knock years off your life should be enjoyed otherwise you last too long and you end up having to have other people wipe your butt for you and drool off your chin. He won't miss those supposed golden years when you smell like pee and have to wear a diaper.
Now take that for what it's worth. He lived to 93 yrs old, drank wild turkey pretty much everyday and I constantly got calls from his Adult Living Center because he was chasing girls around. In 2002 they finally had enough and started paperwork to kick him out but quite a lot of the single older ladies made a fuss wanting him to stay...he was such a man. I lost him in '04 when we found him gone, sitting in his lazy boy watching an old western, bottle of Wild Turkey next to him on the table. I miss him but he had a full and happy life. There was 3/4 of that bottle left and each year on his birthday
I take it out and have a small drink and think of him. It's ALL about the journey.
Take care of yourself . . . I am sooo not carrying you through any corn mazes in Tenn. *snicker* ;)
Posted by: oddybobo at October 13, 2008 10:22 PMHa - if you only knew... tonight I will not say one single word of what I think about the medical establishment.
But I am glad you know a doc who "knows you" and will work with you. That's entirely too rare.
Posted by: Teresa at October 13, 2008 11:12 PMyou weren't kidding about boxy shoes!
I have a toe tag just like that on my shoe. :)
Those aren't ugly! And at least there are no fluorescent pinks or blues! ;)
Posted by: pam at October 14, 2008 07:12 AMWhoa - take it as easy as you can on yourself!! And if Oddy won't carry you - I will. I hear your little bitty anyway... ;)
Posted by: Richmond at October 14, 2008 03:15 PMPet peeve - your = you're. God I hate typos...
Posted by: Richmond at October 14, 2008 03:16 PMIt's all good! It's all good! I went to the gym today and I'm working on it. I'm icing like he said and I'm doing EVERYTHING he told me to do. If anyone can fix me... he can.
MikeD- ahh... the only political blog I read and comment. ;) I know of which you speak. He's one of my faves. He and I are not completely politically aligned (I'm an Independent), but he is extraordinarily well grounded and steeped in logic. What a pleasure he is to read amongst so much... spewing of nastiness. Very classy guy... and even when I'm not completely at 100% with him, I enjoy hearing his point of view.
And I agree... I want to go out having fully lived my life. And to go out like your grandfather is THE WAY to go. Fight it until the end, and live it to the utmost.
Absolutely.
Posted by: Bou at October 14, 2008 08:54 PMHow do you get them on the correct foot?
Posted by: Angus of Arygll at October 15, 2008 09:02 PMDad- Funny you should say that. My gf doing this with me, Lola, said to me the other day that she said they looked like you could swap the feet on my shoes, which is why they look so weird. The instep is SO straight.
Posted by: Bou at October 15, 2008 09:26 PMHi kid. What you are doing with your foot is not fun.
Maybe you should look into some DME such as BlueArctic. I have been sleeping with one on my shoulder since the surgery last Wednesday and it helps quite a bit. I'll put the pictures up when I don't have to stand over the keyboard to type two handed.
Posted by: The Thomas at October 15, 2008 11:38 PM