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Because I was due for another foot injury…

Yesterday I posted on my Instagram that I was heading to the doctor to see what’s up with my foot, and I’ve been getting questions ever since about what’s going on.

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Ironically, I was going to post a couple weeks ago about how well I was doing, but I had this awful feeling that if I declared victory over the finicky feet, I would be jinxing myself, so I kept quiet. Besides, I figured everyone is as sick of hearing about my trials and tribulations as I am of talking about them.

While I didn’t jinx myself, my premonition about something going wrong was evidently well-placed, because my left foot started acting up again last week. You may remember, or you probably don’t, because not even my husband can keep track, but I had plantar fasciitis in my right foot when I was running. I ran through the pain for a while, then I took some time off and tried a few different treatments including but not limited to physical therapy, a steroid injection, and a medical compression boot. I was just getting back to running last summer when I somehow sustained a stress fracture in the cuboid bone on my left foot. Yes, the OTHER foot.

I was back in the medical boot for about six weeks, and I was just getting back on my feet (ha! see what I did there?) when I suddenly had another set back in the form of a torn peroneal tendon. The tear was also in the left foot and had probably been there all along, but no one really knows which came first, the chicken or the egg… or in my case, the break or the tear. We still don’t even know what I did to sustain those injuries. Regardless, I was back in the boot (actually, a brace) for the better part of the winter.

I finally started resuming normal activities this spring. I thought I was being cautious and increasing my activity gradually to avoid any potential setbacks. I recently graduated from PT and started following a plan my trainer gave me to alternate walking and jogging and kept track of my total daily steps on the Fitbit. It’s only been during the past month that I started to feel “normal” again, and it seemed like perhaps there was a light at the end of this dreadfully long, dark tunnel.

Evidently my return to activity wasn’t gradual enough because my foot started acting up again last week. I knew almost immediately that something was wrong. By now, I can tell. I tried to wait it out, but finally I knew I needed to call the doctor, so I went in yesterday. He thinks it’s that peroneal tendon causing my current discomfort and predicts that this will be “a chronic problem” for me. Awesome.

All that to say, I am back in a medical boot for a few weeks. It’s pretty annoying, but I am trying to have a good attitude. I mean, at this point, it’s starting to feel like my normal routine. Every few months, I get to add a black medical boot to my wardrobe for a few weeks. Maybe I’ll start a new trend.

Of course, nothing can be easy, so my orthopedist wants me to get an ultrasound to get a better look at the situation. It is one of those needle-guided ones, which sounds so dreadful that I may just ditch the appointment and make the black medical boot a permanent part of my personal fashion statement.

To top it all off, I’ve been having chest pains, so I left my orthopedist yesterday and went straight to my family doctor to get that checked out. They ruled out a heart attack with an EKG, but that didn’t answer the question of what is the culprit. And because I’ve never had an easily diagnosable medical issue, they want me to see both a cardiologist AND a gastroenterologist to figure out what’s causing it. Of course, it is probably just stress, and I’m wasting my time chasing specialists, but I’ve got nothing better to do with my time, right?

Ahem.

So yeah, that is the latest with me. I swear, I couldn’t make this stuff up if I wanted to. As if I would want to.

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28 Responses

  1. You poor thing! I don’t get tired of hearing about your foot, because it makes the rest of us know that you are human too! With problems. Not perfect.

    And you know what, it is inspiring!

    In any case, I am praying that it goes away quickly. And stays away!

  2. That stinks! I feel your pain-since the birth of my second son I have broken the same bone in both feet six times! I have a collection of medical boots.

  3. So, so sorry to hear. I am coming up on a year of medical issues as well and can relate to the need to feel normal. Praying you find some answers.

  4. Oh no so sorry to hear you’re having all these issues! Sending prayers that things are resolved quickly!

  5. I have been reading your blog for sometime now. I am sorry to hear you are having problems with your feet again. I too, have had some similar issues with my feet. Of course, have had some of the same treatments as you. You have probably heard from others what works for them. For me, NEVER going without something supportive on my feet (with the exception of showering) has helped a lot. I wear Orthaheel slippers in the house. I even put them on in the middle of the night when I make a trip to the restroom! I wear custom orthodics in my shoes. In the summer, I wear Orthaheel sandals. It makes me sad that I can’t wear heels anymore (only for special occasions), but the pain is not worth it! Something else that has helped me significantly is chiropractic care. Surprisingly, if I keep my back in the proper position my feet feel better. I am no longer able to walk so, I searched for an alternative. I found Pilates. I love it! It keeps me off my feet and really does tone, etc. Saying a prayer that soon you are able to get out of that boot and move on!

    1. Thanks, Diane. I do all that with the slippers, orthaheels, inserts, etc. I did seek chiropractic care when I was running – he helped with my PF. It might be worth seeing him again to see if he has any suggestions for this torn tendon that keeps acting up. I wonder if my body is out of alignment in some way, which is causing me to keep getting injured.

  6. yep-getting old is not fun! If my ankle turns I fall and usually land on a foot….it breaks every time!

    1. Wow, that’s crazy. I have a theory that this boot isn’t holding my foot very securely. It feels too short. Should I go back in and get a taller one? He actually told me to wear the brace, but I have to wear a sock under that, and IT IS HOT, and besides, that is UGLY. So I just put the boot on. I wonder if I should make sure they’re interchangeable. Ugh. Such a pain.

  7. I’m wondering if those chest pains are GERD. Am I remembering that you weaned yourself off the little purple pill a few years ago? My only symptom is a chronic cough (like multiple times a minute), no pain or heartburn. After months of testing, I was prescribed 40mg daily and after 8 months of coughing, I was symptom free within 3 days of my first dose. I’ve weaned myself down to 23mg every other day. A few times, I’ve pushed it to 3 days. If I hold off for 4 days, I’m coughing when I lay down, so there’s no sleeping. It’s been 5 years.

  8. So sorry to hear about your foot/feet…ugh how annoying, and yes getting old stinks…AND WE’RE NOT EVEN OLD!! Hope you heel quickly.

  9. My husband had a discectomy last week and is still recovering. My 12-year old son has had over 20 cauterizations in the past month due to chronic nose bleeds. And my 8-year old son broke his elbow on the playground last week and is now sporting an arm-length cast. It’s safe to say I have wrapped my 10-year old daughter in bubble wrap until this whole thing is behind us. Feel better, this too shall pass!

  10. Sorry to hear about your troubles. I had chest pains when I was younger and the doctors couldn’t figure it out.I was in so much pain I couldn’t sleep, turns out my rib was out and pressing on a nerve. Praying you get some answers.

    1. Thanks, Sondra. That’s interesting! This isn’t that painful, thankfully. It’s more worrisome than painful, although since finding out it’s not a heart attack, it has lessened quite a bit. I’m still thinking anxiety, but I’ll follow up just to be safe.

  11. Sorry to hear about your foot – that stinks ! Do you think it’s from wearing some higher heels (or maybe too flat of a shoe) vs just wearing your Orthaheels ? I am a runner and 2 things I know for sure I cannot do probably ever again is #1 wear high heels and #2 wear a super flat shoe (with an insert it’s tolerable). Just a thought.

    Good luck with everything – I know how you feel about going to 20 appointments to find a diagnosis. It’s crazy time consuming.

    1. I’ve been living in Orthaheels and my Ecco sneakers. I have hardly worn a heel for any length of time. And the flats, also not for long. I doubt this has to do with shoes, although I’ve definitely over-analyzed every pair, lol. I think it was overuse, too much too soon. I thought I was adding on activity gradually, but when I started using that Fitbit, I was intentionally trying to get more steps in. That’s when I had the setback before as well. So frustrating. I feel like I have to resign myself to an inactive lifestyle.

  12. I can’t offer any suggestions or anecdotes but I can tell you that you are one of my favorite bloggers, I love the time and effort you put into this corner of the world and I’m praying for you….for healing AND peace of mind. 🙂

  13. Beautiful outfit, as always! So sorry to hear about more medical issues. God bless you in all this. Keep us posted. 🙂

  14. Oh my! My chest pains were GERD and hiatal hernia. Hope your’s are also pretty benign. It is scary. I have not been able to hear out of my right ear for over two weeks and can’t get into an ENT for another month. It is so frustrating.

  15. I’m SO sorry to hear about all of this! You still manage to look cute, put together, and are helping
    all of us! I hope u feel better soon and get some answers about your chest pain.

  16. I am just now seeing this ! Hope it al gets figured out…gahhhhh I know you just want to be normal again !

  17. I jinxed myself. I tripped over my sons shoes this am and sprained my foot. Back on boot for at least 2 weeks! Ugh!!

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