Feet Stuff!
I felt nervous to ask the zoo a question. I needed them to know I haven't been in in a while because my feet hurt. But, like, I don't want to tell them my whole life story, and sound like I'm giving a sob story in order to give excuses about why I haven't been volunteering.
But "my feet hurt" does not give the severity of the story, either. I can get through a few hours of volunteering. But even one hour walking around the zoo will spell trouble for the following day, in which I'll be using a cane because my fucking feet hurt SO badly.
SO! I wrote the zoo and explained I have a foot tendon issue that I'm seeing the doctor for, and as I recover, if needed, could I borrow a wheelchair from the zoo? I've written the email in my head for weeks, but kept telling myself, no... I don't need to ask about a wheelchair, it's not THAT bad, is it? I don't want to take away from the zoo guests and be using a chair when someone else might need it more. Then I thought, dude, what if they just HAVE a wheelchair that no one ever uses, and it's sitting there, and they'd be like yeah sure, here you go. Like why am I torturing myself here?
So I asked! I wrote the email and hit send. That was yesterday.
This morning, they replied! They said they didn't have an actual answer for me, yet, but they're looking into it, and that this has been an ongoing discussion with the zoo about whether or not they should have wheelchairs reserved strictly for volunteer use. And then she said my question might help prove that there IS need for one!! OMG! I'm so glad I trusted that it was ok to ask, and just asked. Maybe it'll help others, too!! <3
Good news is today I saw my new podiatrist, and I LOVE HER. She took x-rays of my feet. And omg, I have bone spurs!! She said I have to do what I can to prevent them getting bigger. They won't go away, but they won't cause problems forever if we treat my symptoms and prevent them getting any bigger.
She took actual casts of my feet, like with the cement material cloth stuff in warm water, and pressing it into my feet to create weird little ballet slipper looking things that they're going to use to make me my new orthotics, which I'll get in two weeks. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Being in pain suuuuuuucksssssssssss, and this should help a lot.
The Plan: I will be using an anti inflammatory gel 3x a day, stretching 3x a day, taking an oral anti inflammatory once a day, heating my calves with a heating pad and then using a rolling pin on them once a day (10 min for heat, 1 min rolling), and avoiding walking uphill, downhill, or using stairs, as much as possible, for the next two weeks.
And then in 2 weeks, I have my followup appointment to get my orthotics and see how much things have improved.
All right. I'm ready. Project Heal These Dang Feet Already commences now!!
But "my feet hurt" does not give the severity of the story, either. I can get through a few hours of volunteering. But even one hour walking around the zoo will spell trouble for the following day, in which I'll be using a cane because my fucking feet hurt SO badly.
SO! I wrote the zoo and explained I have a foot tendon issue that I'm seeing the doctor for, and as I recover, if needed, could I borrow a wheelchair from the zoo? I've written the email in my head for weeks, but kept telling myself, no... I don't need to ask about a wheelchair, it's not THAT bad, is it? I don't want to take away from the zoo guests and be using a chair when someone else might need it more. Then I thought, dude, what if they just HAVE a wheelchair that no one ever uses, and it's sitting there, and they'd be like yeah sure, here you go. Like why am I torturing myself here?
So I asked! I wrote the email and hit send. That was yesterday.
This morning, they replied! They said they didn't have an actual answer for me, yet, but they're looking into it, and that this has been an ongoing discussion with the zoo about whether or not they should have wheelchairs reserved strictly for volunteer use. And then she said my question might help prove that there IS need for one!! OMG! I'm so glad I trusted that it was ok to ask, and just asked. Maybe it'll help others, too!! <3
Good news is today I saw my new podiatrist, and I LOVE HER. She took x-rays of my feet. And omg, I have bone spurs!! She said I have to do what I can to prevent them getting bigger. They won't go away, but they won't cause problems forever if we treat my symptoms and prevent them getting any bigger.
She took actual casts of my feet, like with the cement material cloth stuff in warm water, and pressing it into my feet to create weird little ballet slipper looking things that they're going to use to make me my new orthotics, which I'll get in two weeks. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Being in pain suuuuuuucksssssssssss, and this should help a lot.
The Plan: I will be using an anti inflammatory gel 3x a day, stretching 3x a day, taking an oral anti inflammatory once a day, heating my calves with a heating pad and then using a rolling pin on them once a day (10 min for heat, 1 min rolling), and avoiding walking uphill, downhill, or using stairs, as much as possible, for the next two weeks.
And then in 2 weeks, I have my followup appointment to get my orthotics and see how much things have improved.
All right. I'm ready. Project Heal These Dang Feet Already commences now!!