I think I'm falling apart!!! OT

[Guest guest]

Hi y'all,

There have been so many things going wrong with me these past couple

of years that every day that there ISN'T something wrong is a blessing!

It seems like all I'm doing these days is spending half my time in

doctor's offices. My latest problem started a couple weeks ago when I

noticed that my right foot was hurting, right along the edge and top

behind my big toe. I took my shoes off and saw that the area that was

hurting was red, and when I pressed on it, the bone and muscle was

sore to the touch. There's a place right behind both of my big toes

where the foot curves out, and it felt like I'd dislocated something

in that joint there where the big toe meets the bones in the foot.

Each day the area began to hurt more whenever I walked, finally

becoming so annoying that I'd have to change shoes several times a day

just to keep on my feet all day. I wasn't wearing any new shoes, or

doing anything differently that would cause the pain. So I finally

went to see a Podiatrist today, and after he looked at my foot and

took x-rays, he gave me the bad news.

I have bunions on both side of my feet. The smaller one on the

outside is called a tailor's bunion, and the area behind my big toe is

a Hallux Abductovalgus (HAV for short), where the bone is dislocated

and causing the big toe to lean inward toward the other toes. It's

often a genetic abnormalty, but in my case it's probably caused by

problems I had when I was an infant. I was born with such an inturned

curvature in that foot that I had to wear a cast for a year. Since I

was so young, I naturally don't remember it, but I can remember my

mother telling me stories about what a problem it, (I), became. I

would kick the cast against the legs of my highchair, and kicked it so

hard and furiously that it broke. My parents had to take me back to

the doctor to have it completely recast. Apparently, I did this THREE

TIMES - what a little tyrant I must have been!!

As a result of this abnormalty, and the way I place my weight on my

feet when I'm walking, this problem has increased to the point that

the bunions formed and the bone dislocated. The only remedy for the

problem is surgery. It's too advanced to be corrected by using

orthotics in my shoe. The surgeon said if I waited longer, the problem

would only get more pronounced, requiring more extensive surgery and a

much prolonged recooperation, with no walking, then with casts,

crutches, surgical shoes, etc. He also said that because of my

diabetes, there was more threat of complications with that if I waited.

The plan is that as soon as I can get clearance from my doctor, the

surgeon will do an Austin Bunionectomy. And while he's got me

sedated, he's also going to correct hammertoes that I have on my 3rd

and 4th toes. The surgery is done at his clinic in the hospital,with

local anesthesia and sedation, too. They get in there and cut off the

part that sticks out and put two screws into the bone to keep the bone

straight. Afterward, I'll be prohibited from driving for three days,

wearing a surgical shoe for a couple weeks, then sneakers for a few

weeks more. No crutches, casts or braces, thank heavens!

So that's the next adventure I have in store for February. All I know

is that it will be on a Tuesday, since that's their surgery day. I'm

going to ton next week to visit my daughter, so I know

nothing's going to happen until after the 13th. I'll let y'all know

when I hear more about it.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

South Carolina State Rep.

South Eastern Regional Rep., PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Note: All comments or advice are from personal experiences or opinion

only,and should not be a substitute for consultation with your medical

professional.