sigh

[alonewiththemoon]

In addition to the plantar fasciitis, I'm pretty sure I've developed sesamoiditis, inflamation of the tendons around the sesamoid bones at the ball of the foot. Same foot, of course. Most of the contributing factors apply to me, except for the bad shoes part, and I've had this dull ache in the ball of my foot for about ten days now. I'm pretty sure what brought it on was working on an intense choo-choo shimmy in the finale of the drum solo I did last week. One of the sites I looked at mentioned "repeated microtrauma" as a contributing factor, and that would be a choo-choo shimmy all right. I don't think I broke a sesamoid, but I guess if the pain doesn't go away in a while I'd better see a doctor. In the meanwhile, it's ibuprufin and ice for me, and I guess I'll get some kind of foot pad to go alongside my arch supports. Anybody else have any experience with this?

I would really like to be able to trade my foot in for a new one. Where's my cyber implants, baby?

Comments

[alonewiththemoon]

Sitting on your feet could definitely cause plantar fasciitis, which is what arch pain often is--it puts a very unnatural stress on the arch. Do a lot of calf stretches to help relieve some of the tension, and ice the injured area at least once a day. You can also pick up things with your toes to help build strength in the arch, and a week of anti-inflammatories (ibuprufin or similar) can help. Also, wearing shoes with a stable platform (no twisting) will make a difference.

If the pain continues or gets sharper, do see a doctor--this isn't one to mess with. :-(

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice. You know, I'm so bad at taking pain relief medications that it didn't even occur to me to take anything yet. I will do the things you suggested, in addition to working on breaking my many-year long habit of bad sitting postures (that's going to be the bigger challenge).

I think I'm getting to a phase in life where certain bad habits are beginning to haunt me and say, "No more". Hopefully I'll be able to get rid of this pain on my own. The probability of a doctor visit is low since I don't have any medical insurance. I once dealt with a completely broken right foot several years ago with no treatment at all... now *that* was pain. I guess that's why I right "smaller" things off :( Sad thing is, that was caused by falling on the icy steps (on Christmas eve, no less) outside our building when they weren't sanded, and the owner's insurance policy surely would have covered it. See, I'm not a very good American ~ it didn't occur to me to "sue", even though it would have been a definite case.

(And you'll be proud ~ I typed all this sitting like a "normal" person!)

[alonewiththemoon]

Here's an article that outlines some of the things you can do on your own to help with PF--my physical therapist had me doing all of these stretches and exercises (plus a few others with rubber band things, but these will get you started). The high cost of health care definitely sucks but your feet are the only ones you'll ever have and you need them to last you a lifetime. If you hit the excruciatingly painful stage of this, you should try to find a doctor who will see you.

I'm so glad that I started doing yoga. Age definitely begins to creep up on one at this point, with less healing and elasticity in the body, but the yoga classes are probably going to add much comfort to my life in the long run.