Most of you know I love walking and hiking. Weather permitting (yes, fair weather hiker) I love to go for long walks to explore new places.
So, why have I not been on any serious walk since Hamburg? As it turns out I have a heel spur. What? Yep. Not funny. I call it my 'shark's tooth'. It's the small pointy thingy on the bottom of my heel.
I had experienced some discomfort after walking around San Francisco the last week at home but I put it down to fatigue or old shoes. In Hamburg however things took a turn for the worse with my heel actually starting to hurt during and after walks. So on May 10th I decided to visit the ship's doctor. One look at and feel of my heel and he suspected a heel spur and decided an x-ray was in order.
X-ray was taken on May 11th and without a doubt confirmed his preliminary diagnosis.
OK. Now what: long story short: I will go see an orthopedist in Eeklo. Meanwhile: Stretching exercises and icing and anti-inflammatory meds.
And taking it easy on walking. Not funny. Talk about bad timing.
May 21st.
Talked to doctor in Eeklo today and got referred to the fysio department at the hospital. Managed to get an appointment for next Monday. Hopefully we'll be able to do something called 'ESWT Orthopace - Sanuwave' to try and reduce the annoying shark's tooth in size. Which should then reduce the 'discomfort'.
May 28th.
Yesterday morning I had my appointment at the hospital in Eeklo, with a doctor in the fysio department. She concurred with other doctors I had consulted that, in my situation, Shockwave treatment was the best course of action.
First she did an ultrasound of both my heels (to compare). Next I got an injection in my heel to 'lessen' the pain of the treatment. And then it was time for the shockwave treatment to try and blow that heel spur to smithereens. The doctor had said it was going to hurt, a lot, injection or not, and suffice it to say, hurt it did. A lot. But only during the treatment, there was no lingering pain.
Did it work? So far the pain that was caused by the heel spur seems to have gone. There is still discomfort; I mean, they did 'blast' a calcium deposit in my heel, so naturally that whole area needs time to heal (pardon the pun). But I can walk, just need to take it easy for a while.
May 31st.
Back on board m/v The World I had a follow-up x-ray takken this morning. And the little annoying 'shark's tooth' is still there. Grrrrrr.... And I felt it during today's walk. Because of a nasty blister on my little toe, that almost got infected, I cannot, for the time being, wear the shoes with more heel support....
June 24th.
That morning I had a follow-up appointment in the hospital in Eeklo. First to radiology for an up-to-date x-ray, which of course showed the spur still there in all its glory. Then back to the doctor for an assessment. The plantar fascia thick connective tissue , fascia, which supports the arch on the bottom, plantar side, of the foot) was still infected and swollen, slightly more than before (tell me about it...) and the spur still there, not really diminished. Staying just about totally off my feet would also have helped.... but really? While traveling? Me?! The doctor had explained to me the first time that ESWT is usually not (totally) successful on the first shot and it may have to be repeated. Normally the preferred time between treatments is 6 to 8 weeks, to give to tissue time to recover from and deal with the spur. But given my situation (ie.: being on the move) we she suggested an second treatment now.
So another 4.5 very painful minutes later the second 'shot' was finished. And now we wait again - and I'm supposed to stay off my feet.... mmmmmm .... I'm writing this on July 20 and can tell you that that has not bee very successful....
The plan is to have another x-ray done around August 24th (2 months after this treatment) and discuss progress (hopefully) and options.
To be continued...
So, why have I not been on any serious walk since Hamburg? As it turns out I have a heel spur. What? Yep. Not funny. I call it my 'shark's tooth'. It's the small pointy thingy on the bottom of my heel.
I had experienced some discomfort after walking around San Francisco the last week at home but I put it down to fatigue or old shoes. In Hamburg however things took a turn for the worse with my heel actually starting to hurt during and after walks. So on May 10th I decided to visit the ship's doctor. One look at and feel of my heel and he suspected a heel spur and decided an x-ray was in order.
X-ray was taken on May 11th and without a doubt confirmed his preliminary diagnosis.
OK. Now what: long story short: I will go see an orthopedist in Eeklo. Meanwhile: Stretching exercises and icing and anti-inflammatory meds.
And taking it easy on walking. Not funny. Talk about bad timing.
May 21st.
Talked to doctor in Eeklo today and got referred to the fysio department at the hospital. Managed to get an appointment for next Monday. Hopefully we'll be able to do something called 'ESWT Orthopace - Sanuwave' to try and reduce the annoying shark's tooth in size. Which should then reduce the 'discomfort'.
May 28th.
Yesterday morning I had my appointment at the hospital in Eeklo, with a doctor in the fysio department. She concurred with other doctors I had consulted that, in my situation, Shockwave treatment was the best course of action.
First she did an ultrasound of both my heels (to compare). Next I got an injection in my heel to 'lessen' the pain of the treatment. And then it was time for the shockwave treatment to try and blow that heel spur to smithereens. The doctor had said it was going to hurt, a lot, injection or not, and suffice it to say, hurt it did. A lot. But only during the treatment, there was no lingering pain.
Did it work? So far the pain that was caused by the heel spur seems to have gone. There is still discomfort; I mean, they did 'blast' a calcium deposit in my heel, so naturally that whole area needs time to heal (pardon the pun). But I can walk, just need to take it easy for a while.
May 31st.
Back on board m/v The World I had a follow-up x-ray takken this morning. And the little annoying 'shark's tooth' is still there. Grrrrrr.... And I felt it during today's walk. Because of a nasty blister on my little toe, that almost got infected, I cannot, for the time being, wear the shoes with more heel support....
June 24th.
That morning I had a follow-up appointment in the hospital in Eeklo. First to radiology for an up-to-date x-ray, which of course showed the spur still there in all its glory. Then back to the doctor for an assessment. The plantar fascia thick connective tissue , fascia, which supports the arch on the bottom, plantar side, of the foot) was still infected and swollen, slightly more than before (tell me about it...) and the spur still there, not really diminished. Staying just about totally off my feet would also have helped.... but really? While traveling? Me?! The doctor had explained to me the first time that ESWT is usually not (totally) successful on the first shot and it may have to be repeated. Normally the preferred time between treatments is 6 to 8 weeks, to give to tissue time to recover from and deal with the spur. But given my situation (ie.: being on the move) we she suggested an second treatment now.
So another 4.5 very painful minutes later the second 'shot' was finished. And now we wait again - and I'm supposed to stay off my feet.... mmmmmm .... I'm writing this on July 20 and can tell you that that has not bee very successful....
The plan is to have another x-ray done around August 24th (2 months after this treatment) and discuss progress (hopefully) and options.
To be continued...