Well, it's been a long time, since I was here, venting with
my never-ending 'plaints of a bad foot. If it wasn't one
thing, it was another. For years, the bad foot badgered me.
Tried every orthopoedic and podiatric (is that a word?)
'fix' in the book, and, it just kept getting worse. Surgery,
cortisone shots (many!), inserts, you name it. And, the more
I worked at it, the more I had spasms and pain. Eventually,
it went up my leg, and one day, into my hand. I awoke from
sleep, with a clawed hand. Went into the emergency room,
with the thought I was having a stroke.
I loved to run. Did it for about 26 years. Finally, just
knew I had to quit. Didn't even walk. Barely left the house,
even, for several months. Was in such severe pain that,
truly, the thought of living through it another day was
tough. It was like being inside a torture chamber, with
incomparable muscle spasms (now, I know they are not muscle
"spasms"...just, continuous movement of the muscles).
Today, after a five and a half month wait for an appointment
(the appointment was set by a neurologist), I saw a highly
reputed orthopoedist at a University hospital. His diagnosis
is that I have a motor-coordination dysfunction. I said,
"What is that?" He said... "Your muscle coordination is not
connected to the rest of your body, but for no apparent
reason." So, he said...do not let an orthopoedist try to
operate on this...on your back, your leg, or your foot (I
should never have had that first surgery). He is making an
appointment for me with at the University hospitals with a
Physical Doctor of Rehabilitation for assessment. He said
don't be surprised if I am referred from there to Mayo
Clinic. (by the way, I have had all the multitude of tests,
to rule out all those horrible "things" this could be).
So, that is my story. For a few years, I would come on here
and ask if anyone had what I had... if my symptoms sounded
similar to anyone's. And no, it clicked with no one. I know
now that that is because what I have is something very
unique... no doctor, including the one today, has said he
has ever seen this. I know that is hard to imagine. Why am I
such a sideshow? I don't have a clue.
If this is an experience that is similar to that which
anyone else has had, I would love to hear your story.
Thanks! And, hello to everyone! Keep running!
Mary