Thorn in the Foot

[judifilksign]

 Went to my podiatrist's yesterday.  I explained how I had maxed out my PT, but still had a home program, and could flex and bend and lift and walk and so on, but only if I wore my super-sensible shoes, either Birkenstocks or gym shoes with super-support.  Barefoot and any other shoe hurt.

Orthodics are not covered by my insurance, so he suggested a cortisone shot.  Not happy about shots, I thought I'd try it, because I do still hurt.  I sat up on the table, holding my left leg in place as he pushed a needle as long as my finger into my foot from the side.

"You'll feel some pressure," he said.  He injected a little, moved the needle up and pushed it back in at a different angle, moved the needle up, and pushed it in a different angle, and moved the needle, and moved it...about five times.

I sat, holding my leg with a grip of iron, and concentrated on just *breathing* in and out, yoga style as I watched him do this.

The observing doctor said, "I'm not sure you got the right place.  She didn't even flinch."

"Did that hurt?  You watched the entire thing," said my doctor, still looking at my foot.  " I'm not trying to be a sadist, but if it didn't hurt, we didn't get the right spot, and we'll need to try again."

I heard myself say evenly, firmly, lowly, conversationally, even:  "That hurt like fucking hell."

The doctor looked into my eyes, brimming with tears, and got the nurse in with water, and they made me lie down, because my normally ruddy face was *white*.

After I got up to go home, my foot started spasming on the drive back, so I ended up stopping at pondside 's so I could kvetch and moan about it, and for the foot to settle down a bit.

On the bright side, my foot did not hurt standing in the shower today, so it helped.  I'm not sure I'd go through that again, though.  It really, really hurt.

Comments

[needlewomyn.livejournal.com]

You might be too tough for your own good.... ;-)

[johno.livejournal.com]

I'm very trained in first aid, have had experience in dealing with actual injuries. I still can't watch as I get shots.

[billroper]

Ow. I'm sorry it hurt that much. At least it helped!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

It wasn't the watching of the needle. Since I am diabetic, I give myself shots all of the time. I usally watch when I am getting a blood draw or giving blood, too. I'm used to needles. Just not as big a needle, and certainly not grinding around in circles!

I was afraid that if I moved, the needle would break inside my foot, and *then* I'd really be in for it!

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

eep!

OW!

[quadrivium.livejournal.com]

*foot wiggles in sympathy*

[sheistheweather]

D: I hope it improves. :(

[callibr8]

So sorry it was so painful. Kudos to you for your iron discipline in enduring it. Hoping that the problem will now GO AWAY and *stay* gone!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I could stand barefoot in the shower this morning without pain.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It did help. I'm standing better.

Re: OW!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I can stand on my "bad" foot in Yoga on the WiiFit much better!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I hope it helps all of the way, because I don't want to do it again, that's for sure!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

But I did complain, which let him know what to fix. And I think he recognized that since I don't cuss much, I really, really meant that it hurt, however "calm" I sounded.

Thorn in the Foot

[mzwyndi.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the swelling will dissipate and another shot will nor be needed.