Medical Problems
So....
I went to another foot doctor today and he, unlike the guy who I'd been seeing for the last 9 months, was able to come up with a diagnosis for the problem with my toe.
Specifically, hallux limitus.
Since you don't want to click the link and read about it (and why would you), it's a problem where the joint of my big toe (where it joins the foot, not the one in the middle) like, doesn't bend right/enough. So you get these bone deposits that obstruct it even further. Great. And that it's caused by the bone that goes through the sole of the foot to the big toe (first metatarsal) being too long.
Now, what he said to me in the office was that I can get an orthodic insert to keep it from hurting, by preventing me from bending the toe by making the shoe sole really hard. OR I could get surgery, and he'd highly recommend the insert first.
I called him back, because I have insurance for 2.5 more months, and I don't want to just wear orthodics for the rest of my life, I want a properly functioning foot, darnit. He then told me that there are some physical therapy things I can do to restore range-of-motion. And that's really what I want; I want pain-free range of motion, so that I can have a normal foot again, and do yoga and walk around barefoot and stuff. Not an accomodation.
Anyway, the surgery looks to be highly successful, especially since I'm apparently still in phase 1-2 of this (degenerative) problem. But I'd like to correct the cause of the problem, rather than hoping I can stave off the cartilege loss until I'm 70 and would be arthritic anyway, because what is that... yes, yes, it's a conservative treatment that takes away the pain, but that's not what I'm in this for; I can avoid the pain by walking on the side of my foot for the next thirty years too.
Anyway, at least I have a diagnosis that (from all the independent research one can do on the internet) appears to explain my symptoms very well, which is better than what the previous doctor had said, which was basically "...WTF??"
Sigh. I don't want to have surgery, but I am excited at the thought that I might finally get this fixed. Then I can run again! And do yoga! And... play DDR!
I went to another foot doctor today and he, unlike the guy who I'd been seeing for the last 9 months, was able to come up with a diagnosis for the problem with my toe.
Specifically, hallux limitus.
Since you don't want to click the link and read about it (and why would you), it's a problem where the joint of my big toe (where it joins the foot, not the one in the middle) like, doesn't bend right/enough. So you get these bone deposits that obstruct it even further. Great. And that it's caused by the bone that goes through the sole of the foot to the big toe (first metatarsal) being too long.
Now, what he said to me in the office was that I can get an orthodic insert to keep it from hurting, by preventing me from bending the toe by making the shoe sole really hard. OR I could get surgery, and he'd highly recommend the insert first.
I called him back, because I have insurance for 2.5 more months, and I don't want to just wear orthodics for the rest of my life, I want a properly functioning foot, darnit. He then told me that there are some physical therapy things I can do to restore range-of-motion. And that's really what I want; I want pain-free range of motion, so that I can have a normal foot again, and do yoga and walk around barefoot and stuff. Not an accomodation.
Anyway, the surgery looks to be highly successful, especially since I'm apparently still in phase 1-2 of this (degenerative) problem. But I'd like to correct the cause of the problem, rather than hoping I can stave off the cartilege loss until I'm 70 and would be arthritic anyway, because what is that... yes, yes, it's a conservative treatment that takes away the pain, but that's not what I'm in this for; I can avoid the pain by walking on the side of my foot for the next thirty years too.
Anyway, at least I have a diagnosis that (from all the independent research one can do on the internet) appears to explain my symptoms very well, which is better than what the previous doctor had said, which was basically "...WTF??"
Sigh. I don't want to have surgery, but I am excited at the thought that I might finally get this fixed. Then I can run again! And do yoga! And... play DDR!