Oh my little blog...I have neglected you; but I am here now. Ready to commit myself to you in this new year.
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Steven Tyler and me. No, I've never met the Aerosmith front man, but I watched him in an interview with Oprah yesterday. In several scenes, it looked as though he was unsteady, almost hanging onto Oprah for balance. I thought: hmmm, is he on drugs in front of Oprah? No, indeed he was not. It came to light during the hour's interview that he is suffering from a most debilitating foot problem that I share with him. Morton's neuroma.
I remember stepping down from my bed and realizing I could barely walk on my right foot. I'd had moments leading up to this morning that might have clued me in that I was developed a problem; however, as a former long distance runner, I was used to dismissing pain and pushing through it. I've had various pangs, such as a sore achilles and I had noticed a slight swelling toward the ball of my foot from time to time, but nothing was constant, so I chose to do nothing.
I had been volunteering at a thrift store for three hours, one day a week for several months, but my foot began to feel more and more weak and painful until I could not go on without some help. Finally, I made an appointment with a podiatrist and walked away with three diagnoses for my right foot (only my right foot): Morton's neuroma, insertional achilles tendonitis, and arthritis (which I thought was a bunion). The prescription for relief was not unlike that for any athletic injuries I had ever experienced: ice massages, ibuprofen, stretching, rest. In addition, I was supposed to roll a tennis ball up and down the arch of my foot, and purchase over-the-counter orthotics. It all felt good, but relief is a long process. I did avoid a cortisone shot...whew!
Today, my foot doesn't feel too bad, but tomorrow is another day. I will have to walk tentatively for the first 20 steps of the day and after sitting for any period of time. I know that any hope I have that my foot is finally healing will quickly disappear the next time I get up from sitting or laying down. It's better, but not healed.
Sorry, Steven. I feel your pain.
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