I've finally gone back to the podiatrist. Back in Germany I was having major problems with plantar faciitis. At one point I could barely walk it was so bad. We went to the happy German podiatrist who made up some orthotic insoles and that cleared the problem right up. Then I did nothing else about it. 3 years later, I'm working at a job that requires a lot of being on my feet. My old arches and heels started hurting again, so I went to the podiatrist here. Unfortunately, I have the beginning of a heel spur on one foot and a flattening of the bone on the other. Neither is a good sign. He has prescribed orthotics again, except this time they will be a major, permanent kind. The ones I got in Germany, as it turns out, were really only temporary. The ones I'm getting this time are rock hard and look pretty intimidating.
On the first visit he did my foot exam and then watched me walk and announced that I had SomethingSomething, which was that my arches were fine while my feet were up, but as soon as I put any weight on them they completely collapsed. Yesterday I went back to have casts of my feet made as well as a lot of measurements for the Big Momma Orthotics. He was checking my flexibility and was just flabbergasted at my ankles.
"You don't wear high heels very often, do you?" he said.
"No, never. I hate them."
"I can tell. Your ankle flexibility is positively normal!"
He went on to say that he hadn't had a female patient in years with normal ankle flexibility. And throughout the appointment he kept coming back to it--"I can't believe how normal your ankles are!"
Since that seems to be the only normal thing about me, we'll just hold on to that. I should get my new orthotics in about 2 weeks.
Posted by Shelby at April 27, 2007 11:48 PMOMG! This is such a co-ing-kee-dink!!
I am now sporting a super sexy walking boot on my right foot because of plantar faciitis (I like to use the old school term "heel spurs" because it sounds more painful.)
If you will be at your mom's today -- you'll see it on me. Depending on what my podiatrist says next week, I may be wearing it to France.
Posted by: Katrina at April 28, 2007 08:37 AMMy plantar fasciitis hasn't bothered me in years but that's only because it got so bad that I had to stop working on my feet. After Christmas shopping or long walks, it all comes flooding back to me right quick. Definitely not fun at all.
However, I'm going to start calling you Normal Ankles now. "Hey, Normal Ankles!" See, it just sounds funny. Can't wait to see those sexy orthotics by the way. :-)
Posted by: Annastazia at April 28, 2007 09:06 AMEwww...been there. Heel pain is NOT fun. Check our Merrell's new line of shoes designed for the way women walk. I've been wearing them for a couple of months and I am OK without orthotics. They have more cushion in the heel. As for normal ankle flexibility...HA. Lucky you. I'll never have that again! With the titanium plate and a permanently torn ligament I should feel lucky to walk upright. Anything else happens to me and I'll be walking on my knuckles!
Posted by: Sherri at April 30, 2007 12:06 PM