Today I went to see a Podiatrist, who had been recommended by my rheumatologist to see if anything could be done about my sore feet. Just another thing in the jigsaw puzzle of complexity surrounding my health and wellbeing. I have spoken to my GP, the Parkinson’s Nurse and had email contact with the surgeon’s team from my back operation. None of them seemed to be that concerned that I was having these issues. Then finally, I was able to see my rheumatologist – who supports me as needed with my arthritis issues – and he referred me to the Podiatrist that I saw today.
She was very thorough and got me to walk up and down and she manipulated my feet to see how they worked in various ways. She did explain, how the various bits of my foot had a certain job to do, but it went over my head, in one ear and out the other I’m afraid.
Basically, though she has given me good news. What I took from our discussion this morning is that the various parts of my feet are not operating as they should. She feels that my problems are mechanical, with some parts of my feet causing my foot to roll in, plus another part not operating properly to anchor my feet, so my toes think they need to grip the floor. She has given me some exercises to do and some insoles to try to make walking a bit more comfortable, but basically the best thing she gave me today was hope! Hope that I can at least get rid of one source of pain amongst the many.
So, I am on a gradual programme of getting my feet and body used to walking with orthotics, plus some exercises. She assures me that if I do the exercises and wear the orthotics, that I will be pain free and playing bowls in no time. I see her again in just under a month.
Hopefully, I am on the way to being a happy bowler by the time the coaching sessions come up in a few weeks’ time. I hope that my feet recover as she thinks they will.
I walked out of our session today, feeling more positive than I have felt in a long time. That there is a plan to address my pain issues and I am not just going to have to deal with it.
Recovery starts today!
My journey with Parkinsons 