Wednesday, November 18, 2009
DAMNED IF I DO, DAMNED IF I DON'T
I've been trying to walk more lately. Not only to lose a few pounds, but mostly to just get my heart healthier and build up my stamina more. Now I've developed a bone spur on my heel. I've had these before. One time I went to the doctor about it. He said you can do surgery but it will just come right back, so it's better to figure out what is causing it and fix the problem. Back then I quit wearing high heels and started buying sturdier shoes and it worked. Ok, so I already have sturdy and quite comfortable shoes, so now what? I bought a pair of gel shoe inserts for my tennis shoes and a couple of different heel cushions for some other shoes. Nothing. I stopped walking. Nothing. So now I said to heck with it and have started walking again. I guess I'll do it until I can hardly walk across the floor. Wait, I'm to that point now unless I put my shoes on. Oh well, too bad. But if I stop walking then I'll just gain weight and I'm 100% sure that won't help at all. So I'll just keep walking and trying to lose weight. I know I've posted these cartoons before, but I just think they are funny!
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8 comments:
I should ask Paul's Uncle about the bone spurs. He is a podiatrist. He might have some suggestions.
Oh, and by the way, since I quit walking the dog with the neighbor, I actually get more exercise. I noticed especially when I went to the temple that walking up three flights of stairs didn't tire me out like it used to. :)
Here is some info I found that might help:
Bone spurs do not require treatment unless they are causing pain or damaging other tissues. When needed, treatment may be directed at the causes, the symptoms, or the bone spurs themselves.
Treatment directed at the cause of bone spurs may include weight loss to take some pressure off the joints (especially when osteoarthritis or plantar fasciitis is the cause) and stretching the affected area, such as the heel cord and bottom of the foot. Seeing a physical therapist for ultrasound or deep tissue massage may be helpful for plantar fasciitis or shoulder pain.
Treatment directed at symptoms could include rest, ice, stretching, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. Education in how to protect your joints is helpful if you have osteoarthritis. If a bone spur is in your foot, changing footwear or adding padding or a shoe insert such as a heel cup or orthotic may help. If the bone spur is causing corns or calluses, padding the area or wearing different shoes can help. A podiatrist (foot doctor) may be consulted if corns and calluses become a bigger problem. If the bone spur continues to cause symptoms, your health professional may suggest a corticosteroid injection at the painful area to decrease pain and inflammation of the soft tissues next to the bone spur.
Sometimes the bone spurs themselves are treated. Bone spurs can be surgically removed or treated as part of a surgery to repair or replace a joint when osteoarthritis has caused considerable damage and deformity. Examples might include repair of a bunion or heel spur in the foot or removal of small spurs underneath the point of the shoulder.
If it continues you could always try something non-impact like swimming or biking. Even weight lifting helps weight loss because muscles require more calories. And the ibuprofen that Delirious mentioned is a good idea, too.
Thanks for all the great suggestions! Hopefully I can get rid of this thing on my own!
I had the same thought as Keira I think you should find an exercise to do that won't involve impact on your feet. Maybe another recumbant bike, or even one of those that is just pedals and you can sit in any chair to do it.
I'm sorry about the bone spurs, that doesn't sound fun at all!
Are bone spurs hereditary? :)
I grow one on the top of my left foot. I had it removed when Kaeli was pretty little and its growing back. He cut it off and sanded it down, and I had a huge cyst between the bone and the skin they also removed and the GIRL SHOWED it to me. Ew! It wasn't cheap, but I don't even wear tight or cute shoes these days, so I don't know what it is.
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