It's My Foot!

This past Friday morning I finally decided to make a trip to the doctor's office. I had just been there about a week and a half earlier and received medicine for my poison ivy and discovered I had also acquired bronchitis. So I can't say that I was really looking forward to another trip. But this trip was for something entirely different...this trip was for my foot.

Amidst all the excitement of the Shabang (Fall Outreach at NMC) over a week ago, I managed to "mess up" my right foot at some point during the night. I figured it was just a strained muscle because it felt like something was pulling when I walked. However, I wrote it off as something that would simply go away in a matter of days. By the time last Friday came around, I was out doing some grocery shopping and felt like I was going to fall over from the pain in my foot. I quickly finished my shopping and headed back home. Once there, I soon discovered just how swollen my foot was. So...I did what any normal person would do, I spent the rest of the day sitting with it elevated with an ice pack on it. Again, I figured it was simply a pulled/strained muscle and I just needed to stay off it for a little while.

Saturday was spent doing much of the same- an ice pack on my foot as I kept it elevated. I must say, it was nice to have a weekend of taking it easy and it gave me a chance to catch up on some reading, journaling, and the like. My mom stopped by to look at it that evening and even brought me a pair of crutches to use, if needed. It was still pretty swollen but her diagnosis was the same as mine...just a strained muscle. So, I continued with the icing/elevating process.

Sunday morning came around and the swelling had gone down a significant amount. Annoyed by the crutches and how complicated they were, I opted not to use them and just spent the morning with a slight hobble in my step. No big deal. I made it through the morning and spent the afternoon with it up again...by this time, the swelling had completely gone down. So...I thought that was it.

I spent this week walking around on it pretty much like normal. It still hurt a little but the swelling had seemingly stopped, so I figured the annoying pain would eventually go away too. By Thursday, it was really starting to bother me and I noticed some swelling starting up again. So...that brings me to the reason for this post...I decided to see the doctor on Friday. And the experience in the office inspired me to share it with all of you (it's only slightly embellished)!

I checked in with the woman at the front desk, sat down and waited for them to call my name. A middle-age woman with tight curly hair appeared in the doorway and cheerfully called me to come back. With a bit of a hobble I followed her through the door and we proceeded down the hallway.

"So, what are we seeing you for today?" she asked pleasantly.

"Well...it's my foot," I replied.

"Okay, how about you hop up here on the scale for me and we'll get your weight," she said pointing to her left.

"Umm...ok," I replied and delicately climbed up onto it.

"Alrighty, go ahead and follow me," she said satisfied with our first stop.

She then proceeded to take me into a little room all mine own. "Go ahead and have a seat," she said while pointing to the table with butcher paper strewn across it. "Now, what seems to be the problem," continued her cheery voice.

"Well, it's my foot. I..."

"Alright," she interupted. "I see here you're allergic to sulfa?" she asked while staring intently at her computer screen.

"Yeah, so it's my foot..." I continued.

Again interupted, she began rolling up my sleeve and said, "Let's check your blood pressure, shall we?"

"Ok," I replied, "but it's my foot..."

"120/60 that's great," she interupted again.

"Great, so it's my foot..." I tried to continue.

"Open your mouth," she began as she shoved a thermometer into it, "and let's check your temperature."

"But itdsth my fuuth," I continued with the thermometer pressing against my tongue.

"Temperature looks good too," she interupted for the umpteenth time. "So, what are we seeing you for?"

Taken back by her question, given my conversation up to this point, I simply stared straight into those cheery brown eyes and replied with a slight grin, "It's my foot."

"Okay," came the reply, "the doctor will be in to see you in just a minute!"

Thankfully, I only had to tell my doctor ONCE what the problem was and he actually LISTENED and CHECKED IT OUT rather than asking about my weight, allergies, blood pressure & temperature. After a few short minutes, he sent me on my way to the hospital for an x-ray.

Diagnosis: I have a fracture on the side of my right foot mixed in with a bit of arthritus from when I broke the bone 2 years ago.

Doctor's Orders: No walking around barefoot or in sandals for at least the next 10 days. Wear sturdy shoes, ice it at night, take Tylenol or Aleeve for inflamation.

Fun times...fun times.