I have seismoiditis. 
Basically - I have inflamed seismoids from overuse (running) and abuse (overweight). If your immediately going to thoughts of hemorrhoids or some other nasty disease - CEASE AND DESIST! I have added the token picture of the seismoids below - they are 2 pea-shaped bones at the bottom of your big toe (also known as the ball of your foot). They are embedded in the tendons that run the sole of your foot. Apparently, dancers, women (or men) who wear high-heeled shoes and runners (increasing their mileage too quick or running up hills) put a lot of pressure on this area of their foot. Once the tendons become inflamed (flaming mad at you for making them work so hard), the seismoids become tender and oftentimes, fracture.
Thankfully, I do not have a fracture (4 x-rays of various views of my seismoids have proven that fact). They are just inflamed.
So what does that mean? Well, for starters, no more running for awhile. In fact, I'm on limited weight-bearing activity until 7/7. I also have this fancy, snazzy foot pad that I wear when I'm awake that takes the pressure off the seismoids. It's nothing special, I have it taped to my foot in my sneakers - no one knows...
Thankfully, I don't have to wear any Dr. Scholl's-style orthopaedic shoes with velcro straps! That would just be wrong on so many levels...though, there's nothing wrong with them except that they make your feet look REALLY BIG!
For now, I'll faithfully attach my foot pad to the sole of my foot each morning and obey the Dr's orders - no running! (or any other weight-bearing activity). I can walk - which I do, because I don't yet own a segway, but then again, I wonder if I can get my insurance company to foot the bill on a segway!
WATCH OUT PAUL BLART!
Seriously though - can I be real for a moment? It seems that I keep getting these ailments in my knees, tendons and seismoids. Why? The doctors are trying to be P.C. and say it's my increased mileage over the past few months to prepare for some of the runs I have participated in. They have said it's the high-mileage I've put in. They've even said it's the short-time that I've ramped up the mileage. But you and I...Yeah, you and I know that it's more than that. Those may be true, but there's a lot of people doing just what I've done - and they're fine. They have no specialist visits or knee drains or special foot pads to show...And they're not overweight.
That's it. Maybe I've struck gold there. America, I'm overweight.
I've been running off and on over the past 10 years in order to lose weight. I've ran 100's of miles, maybe even 1000's on a regular basis to get healthy. Maybe I am healthy. My cholesterol is 171. My blood pressure is normal. All my other numbers are normal...except the number on the scale. It's not budging.
I've changed my diet, increased my activity, prayed ... yet the numbers don't lie - I'M OVERWEIGHT.
Here's my problem - I run to lose weight. I get injured running because I'm overweight. I can't lose weight without running (so I've decided). So I keep running - to lose weight - to get injured because I need to lose weight...and the cycle continues!
So where to next? I wait patiently for 7/7. That's the date of my follow-up with the Dr. Until then...I am going on vacation for the next week and my follow-up is on 7/7. I will report back then on where it's at!
2 comments:
OUCH...thanks for the anatomy lesson. The body is just amazing isn't it.
Hoping that the Dr. appointment goes the way you want onthe 7th. Till then give yourself a break. Take care of that foot....but most important.....DON"T GET DISCOURAGED!
Whew. It's not like hemmorhoids. Excpet that it kinda is. They are inflamed blood vessels. These are inflamed little boney things. So.
Anyway. Yes, I am with ya. Losing weight at our age just isn't as easy peasy lemon squeezy as it was back in the day. But you are a diligent, hard-working, focused woman. And you can overcome. I know you can.
And I will pray for you to do just that. While I sit my fanny on my MIL's recliner with my diet pepsi and chips alongside my laptop. On vacation too. :)
Hugs. See ya next week. And we WILL do lunch. A healthy lunch. Mmmm, big salad maybe?
Post a Comment