Well I went and saw an orthopedic surgeon.

I was ready to take the steps towards pain free running.

I was hopeful in that I wasn’t going to need any kind of surgery but something in the back of my head kept asking me, “are you ready for this? Are you really willing to have your feet cut on?” And then there was the recuperation period I had to consider. I wasn’t quite sure, but I imagined that an operation like that would require some time off your feet. Now, I’m a father of four boys, the only time I have a chance to be off my feet is when I’m asleep. The individual that coined the phrase “No rest for the weary” must have had four boys.

My appointment was at 9:30 a.m. I walked in the Bone and Joint clinic and was greeted by a waiting room full of men and women over 65 … a sea of blue… hair.

Now please don’t get me wrong, I totally respect that generation. But there was just something uncomfortable about being the only one in there without a cane or walker.

I immediately felt old. I kept reminding myself I was an athlete, athletes get injured, your not old. Okay your old but not THAT old!

The nurse finally called my name at 11:50 and I was in. A couple of x-rays, and was in the doctors office waiting again.

Dr. Thomas didn’t make me wait quite as long and I was grateful, it was cold in there and my little digits were exposed. He came in, reviewed the x-rays, and I explained the pain I was experiencing He squeezed, he poked, and he bent. Something weird about someone handling your feet. I knew they weren’t smelly but still.

Anyway, his diagnosis wasn’t Morton’s Neuroma it was Metatarsialgia. Basically my foot is not hitting the way it should and the metatarsals are becoming irritated and inflamed. His recommendation was being fit with some custom orthodic insoles. He told me he was going to make an appointment with an orthopedic therapist and I was to check back with him in a few months to follow up.

I think I spent a total of ten minutes with him. Two and a half hours of waiting for ten minutes of expert advise. Hmmm.

All in all I’m relieved at the diagnosis. I hope it makes my problem a thing of the past I love running too much to give it up. So I meet with the orthopedic therapist next week and we’ll go from there.

Baby steps.

I’ve kept you long enough so it’s time to…

SHUT UP AND RUN

Deano