Here We Go Again

Saw the doctor on Tuesday.

She put me back in PT for four more weeks, mostly to try to get rid of the pain I'm having. We are now doing more massage and ionto-something, it uses electrical stimulation to force dexasone (a steroid) into the inflamed area. Got a bit of short-term relief on Friday after my first session so perhaps it'll work.

She also wants me to discontinue my walks and herding training. I can continue to walk but only in my ortho boot. I haven't been walking yet but probably ought to even tho walking in the boot throws my knee and back out of whack. I'm just too fat and I need to get moving to get rid of the excess weight!

The doctor said that we need to be 'aggressively careful' with the ankle. Kind of a funny term but basically we are still doing all my exercises but then babying it the rest of the time, being careful not to stress it too much. She also said that my ankle was 'unique' i.e. strange, weird, not normal. Also LOTS of ice.

Then my orthotics came in and I saw her again on Saturday. After putting them in my shoes and walking a bit, she asked me how they felt. The right foot (the bad one) felt fine. The big toe wasn't sure it liked it but it's sore and bruised from me walking on it while not aligned properly (hence the orthotics). But the left one threw my foot out in weird directions. I mentioned this and the doctor said that she was doing some corrective measures there too as my left foot is in as bad a shape as my right one was and that it's amazing that it hasn't bothered me yet. I'm thinking 'leave well enough alone!' but hopefully this will prevent the other tendon from tearing and not cause other issues. We'll see.

So anyway, I am to 'ease' into the orthotics -- an hour a day for a couple days, then two hours, etc. Weird feeling going from having my feet settle into one position and then to go back to the 'old' way. Hopefully the orthotics will ease the pain in my fused toe joint as that is what I need from them most.

I am now chronicling each day's pain (or lack of) as it seems like each day a different part hurts. I'll tell PT that the toe feels fine and then see the doctor and it's hurting that day so I mention it. Seems like I'm not telling the truth or something. Thus the 'pain diary' will help them see the big picture.

I return to the doctor in two weeks for a followup.