I went to the doctor today. He asked questions, examined me, and then had x-rays taken. At first I got the feeling he didn't have clue what was causing the pain but I think I misread his lack of personality as lack of knowledge. Once he came in to read the x-rays he explained everything well and had good advice.
Basically we're calling it boarder-line stress fractures. I have a very high arch, which I already knew, but what I didn't know is that because I have a high arch my foot doesn't have a lot of "give". So each time I'm pressing down to take a step, my foot hits the ground harder than most. He said that what is causing me more pain is the fact that my Achilles tendon, the muscle in your lower leg and at the back of your foot is really, really tight. So it's making my range of motion even less. If I don't allow this to heal properly, it will result in a real stress fracture very soon.
He prescribed some an anti-inflammatory medicine for me to take a couple times a day. He gave me some stretches that I will be doing 5 times a day to help stretch that muscle. I'm supposed to be resting as much as I can for a couple weeks and when I rest, I'm supposed to ice my feet. (I'm wondering if William will let me rest! haha) I can only do exercise that doesn't put any pressure on my feet...either on the floor or swimming (which I can't do right now with the kids out of school) after a week I can try a stationary bike if I don't feel any pain. (Again that would mean going to gym so I doubt that will happen.) I go back to see the doctor in two weeks. If it's not almost 100% better, then he's going to put me in casts. (I think he said gel casts but I can't remember.)
Good news is...as long as this is what is causing all the pain, it's fixable! I may have to always do the stretching and invest in some different shoes but once I'm healed I should be allowed to get back into jogging if I take it slow and don't try and build up to too much too soon.
Thank you all for your prayers!
Ice, Icea, Ice! Does really work! Glad to hear you are fixable ;) Gotta' get back to that running girl..hehe! Looking forward to our girls night, soon, please!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you are having so much trouble, but yay that it's fixable! Praying you can get the rest you need to get better!
ReplyDeleteI've had plantar fasciitis too! I have a boot that I would wear to bed - it would basically help stretch your tendon while you were sleeping. The exercises do help too - I still find myself doing them automatically if I feel tight. My doctor also wanted me to only wear certain types of shoes, and get custom orthodic inserts for my shoes - those have helped the most! I still wear them daily. I only feel pain now if I have worn flip flops for too long (i.e. vacation, etc). Glad to hear it's not what you feared!
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