urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:oceandirt Random musings oceandirt 2008-05-20T02:59:55Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:oceandirt:50184 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z 2008-05-20T02:59:55Z I saw my doc today--my general doc. He wants to hold off on the orthopedist for now. He said the ortho would primarily be indicated if we end up needing to surgically correct this (I sure hope that doesn't become necessary). He is sending me for more physical therapy, looks like 4 weeks for 3X/week. At least once per week they are to do ultrasound with this special goo he prescribed, which he says will help the healing (it contains glucosamine, among other things). I'm hoping this helps. <br /><br />I showed him my taekwondo picture. He had been late to my appointment, and when he saw the pic he promised to be on time in the future. LOL He seems to think that while I probably CAN get back to taekwondo (although perhaps never pain-free), I probably shouldn't. He said (and this agrees with the info I've found online, unfortunately) that my injury is chronic. It may never fully go away. Even if it gets better, I could very easily tear it again, or even rupture it. He also pointed out that the same thing could happen easily to the other foot and then where would I be? He suggested I think about finding another sport I enjoy that I can spend just as much time on, such as cycling. Gee. He's a long distance cyclist himself. Wonder why he suggested that one? LOL He said that lots of runners take up cycling when their knees give out (note to self, suggest this to my brother). <br /><br />Anyway he pointed out that we KNOW my feet turn in. This has been a problem for a long time, at least 7 years now. It is getting worse, which is an indication that my feet are flattening, which contributes to this particular injury and may be an indication that I will have tendonitis and pain all my life there. He said there isn't a good way to wear orthotics while doing taekwondo and even if there was, it is still hard on the feet normally, and multiply that with my feet which are already showing problems. He also suggested I think about getting newer orthotics and recommended a gel kind made especially for diabetics. I pointed out that when I got the orthotics I have now (before I saw this doc), I had to pay for them entirely out of pocket because my insurance ONLY pays for orthotics if you are diabetic (which I'm not). He looked over my bloodwork again and agreed that I'm not, although he considers me borderline. He said there is a good chance that it is my amount of exercise which kept me out of that category in the tests I had done in the late summer (before my injury). He said he doesn't want to "make" me into a diabetic, but he would like me to consider having the bloodwork done again and see if cutting out so much of my exercise might have raised my numbers enough that I would qualify as diabetic. That's kind of depressing. No, REALLY depressing. I think I will call the store that made my orthotics and ask them some orthotic questions.<br /><br />I also expressed my disappointment with my cast, and how it is more painful to use than not to use. He suggested I try putting my orthotic inside it and seeing if that helps. He also said to talk to the PT about it and they may know tricks to make it fit better and stay more rigid. Good idea.<br /><br />Anyway I came away from this glad to have a "plan" but now even more leaning to the fact that I may not get back to taekwondo. Yes, I could do it halfway and still participate but I've found that halfway isn't good enough for me. If I'm going to do it, I want to participate fully.