My Foot...Really?

An update from my last post...I went to my main doctor, Dr. K, on Friday morning.  He started out reminding me that pain showing up in other areas of my body is a normal thing.  What concerned him was the multiple areas it was showing up.  He told me he had a hunch what it was, but wanted to do the strength and balance testing on me to determine if he was correct.  After doing these tests, I was pretty sure that I knew what it was as well, based on my past experiences with him and this testing.  I have somehow re-injured my foot that we worked on early in the summer.  He asked me if I had pain in my foot, and like in June, I said "No."  Then he pushed his thumb into the same area and like before, it hurt quite a lot.  We are not sure at this point WHY it has been re-injured, and that is something that I will need to talk over with Dr #2, Dr. C, otherwise known as my "shot doc". It could be something as simple as the shoes I am wearing, or it could be the way I walk, or exercise...we don't really know.  He likened it to walking with a small stone in your shoe...you adapt to it being there, but because you are adapting, you walk a little bit differently, which in turn creates the issues in the hips and that spreads to the legs, and the back, etc...He put me back in a toe orthotic, basically a splint to keep my toes separated. I must wear this at all times until I got to Dr. C on Tuesday evening.  At that point I will more than likely get shots in my foot like before and need to have it taped all of the time like before as well.  The odds are also high that I will be getting more shots in my lower back/butt region. Ugh.  Although I dread the shots and the after-effects, if it will help...I'm ready. 

Dr. K was very supportive and encouraging to me.  He agreed this feels like a step back for me. BUT, he also talked about my other strength tests, which are showing that my jaw issues are remaining intact and strong.  His goal is that when I go back on September 30 for a full re-evaluation, that we will be able to start weaning off of my day mouth appliance.  The night appliance I will have for quite some time.  So, there is progress, even if I don't necessarily feel it.

Speaking of my appliances...I forgot to put in one of my last posts about how one night I was making sure I had all of the food out of my appliance once I put it back in my mouth and I noticed "something" right in the front.  I took it out and tried cleaning it to no avail...I had cracked the appliance right in the middle (front of my mouth).  I cried, couldn't eat, was so overwhelmed because I was going to have to replace it and it was NOT cheap to replace.  I was a mess. I had people praying about it and my own prayer was that SOMEHOW they would replace it for me for free or tell me I was to be done with it.   Luckily I was going the next day to see him, but I stayed a mess all that day.  When I got there and I showed him, without hesitation he said, "Oh, that's no big deal.  I broke mine completely in half right there and wore it in two pieces!"  he told me that the only way I had to replace it was if I broke it farther back.  I started crying and told him I sure wish he had told me that the night before! :)  God is good...I didn't have to replace it (no cost or new impressions) and it was no big deal even if it breaks completely.  God is so good! :)
That's all for now...shot doctor on Tuesday, the 23rd...Prayers that the shots wouldn't be as rough this time or in the recovery time...
By the way...I have no idea why the middle is highlighted and I can't get it to turn off...so think of it as added decoration for your viewing pleasure :)