Praise then darkness, and creation unfinished

I saw a podiatrist yesterday, because of odd recurring ankle pain (which has been happening for a few hours at a time, but not every day).

They took x-rays of both ankles and my right foot (the pain has been worse on that side), and found no fractures. I do have arthritis in my right big toe, which affects how I walk, but doesn't seem to be the issue here.

The podiatrist confirmed the nurse practitioner's diagnosis of mild tendonitis, and said it's likely be cause my calf muscles are so tight. I came home with a pair of orthotics, which I am supposed to start by wearing part-time, and instructions for stretching.

I left the orthotics in my shoes longer than the suggested hour yesterday, because I ran a few errands and stopped for brunch before coming home. That seemed okay, and I'm at about an hour and a half so far today.

I am easing into the stretching: the instructions are explicitly that my shoulders and arms, not my legs or feet, should be doing the work, and I don't want to strain my right shoulder. (I'm supposed to do five minutes twice a day, and managed three yesterday and not quite four today.)

Also, if it's not better in two weeks, I should call, but I should keep doing the stretches indefinitely, though maybe not spend this much time on them when it's maintenance.

I have taken my podiatrist's advice and bought over-the-counter arch supports. ( Read more... )

I saw my podiatrist today. I told him that the heel is a lot better. He asked what I was doing, and I said ice and stretching. I also mentioned some other intermittent foot pain (arch of the right foot, the one that had the plantar fasciitis, and further forward on the left).

He told me to continue stretching and icing "indefinitely," that over-the-counter arch supports would help with the other problem, and that he doesn't need to see me again unless something else comes up, but that if it does, to call him right away. If it does, or if the heel gets bad again, the possibilities would be custom orthotics or physical therapy.

The stretching and icing is a bit time-consuming, and I sometimes need to balance it with the need not to strain my right shoulder, but I think this counts as good news.