Green Down
So for the last month or so, my right heel has been hurting. I barely noticed at first, because I'm so used to being in pain. Arthritis, fucking yoga, it doesn't matter what causes the pain - I just ignore it, and eventually it goes away.
But this didn't. And then it spread to my left heel. Still, I ignored it. I limped around, trying to pretend I wasn't limping. Then, a few days ago, I felt like my right ankle was sprained. So I paid a little attention, and realized what was going on. I was hurting my ankle by walking differently, to compensate for the heel pain. I decided I needed medical help. If this were a friend, I'd tell them to go to the doctor, and quick, before it turned into something worse. Before foot problems turned into ankle problems turned into knee problems. You know I hate doctors.
Today, I grew a set of balls and went to the doctor despite my fears. I brought a book, and arrived a half hour before my appointment. Promptly at 6:45 p.m., my name was called. By 7 p.m., I was standing outside in the cold, waiting for my bus.
I did not cry. While talking to the doctor I only almost cried once, but even people who know me well would have missed the tremble in my voice.
You may wonder why, when I have health insurance, I go to a walk-in clinic. Here's why.
1. I know how to get there (this is a big deal - I get lost easily and often, you'll see).
2. They have a good reputation, and are attached to a good medical school.
3. They have evening and weekend hours (a big deal for me, who has a hard time taking off from work).
The doctor called my name, welcomed me into the little room, and looked me in the eyes as we spoke. He did not interrupt me ever. He did not look at his watch. The two times I searched for the right words, he waited patiently. He asked lifestyle questions, like what I do for a living, if I drink, smoke, work out. How much walking I do at work. That shit means a LOT to me. It made me feel like I was really being listened to, and my overall lifestyle was being considered in relation to my health. It was almost an hour before this place closed for the night, and this doctor was still giving it his all. I'm tempted to write a letter.
The doctor then asked me to take off my shoes and sit on The Table. Strangely, he excused himself from the room. I don't know why. For privacy as I kicked off my kicks? Three or four minutes later, he knocked on the door, waited a few seconds, then came back in. Okay... He pressed my heels and the bottoms of my feet, asking if it hurt. It did not hurt. It felt good, but I didn't tell him that. He diagnosed me. He wrote me a prescription for a pain killer. He referred me to a podiatrist.
As is my way, I then asked a slew of questions.
Is this better than having heel spurs? Yes, it's what comes before them.
Does that mean I'm definitely going to get them? No.
I have severe learning disabilities, and am wary of taking pain killers and dulling my mind, since I'm already working at a deficit - is this just to make me comfortable, or will the pain killers help this heal, in which case, I'll find a way to take them? They're just for your comfort. Try taking one at night, see what it does to you. (I will. Friday night.)
Since you are covered by my health insurance, does that mean the people you're referring me to are covered by my health insurance also? Yes.
I am being laid off and will not have health insurance after May 31st - do you think they can have me on the road to recovery by then? Yes, but you should call tomorrow morning and tell them that.
Am I supposed to do anything differently than how I do it now? Don't do any recreational walking. Wear comfortable shoes. I guess Manolo's are out for now...
Do I need orthotics? Yes, probably.
Will that stop the problem? It can.
Will you write down what you said I had? Sure.
Are there any other questions you can think of that I should be asking that I haven't asked? No.
After thanking him, I went to the front desk to pay a co-pay. Once the doctor sees you, you can leave. Oh. Well ... okay. I'd be a fool to argue with them. Besides, they have my address - they can track me down if they realize they forgot to make me pay the co-pay.
The bus came and I hopped on. Later, I heard something about J-Church, but I was reading, so didn't pay attention. All of a sudden I looked around me - I was in the Castro! I was not headed home! I GOT ON THE WRONG FUCKING BUS! God damn it. I can't take myself anywhere.
I quickly hopped off the bus before it went any further away from where I was trying to go, and walked back towards Market Street. Fuckity fuck. And I *just* got told not to do recreational walking!
After walking a block, I went into Sparky's to grab dinner and digest what had just happened. Essentially, I got told to be lazy. Don't walk. This will be interesting.
But this didn't. And then it spread to my left heel. Still, I ignored it. I limped around, trying to pretend I wasn't limping. Then, a few days ago, I felt like my right ankle was sprained. So I paid a little attention, and realized what was going on. I was hurting my ankle by walking differently, to compensate for the heel pain. I decided I needed medical help. If this were a friend, I'd tell them to go to the doctor, and quick, before it turned into something worse. Before foot problems turned into ankle problems turned into knee problems. You know I hate doctors.
Today, I grew a set of balls and went to the doctor despite my fears. I brought a book, and arrived a half hour before my appointment. Promptly at 6:45 p.m., my name was called. By 7 p.m., I was standing outside in the cold, waiting for my bus.
I did not cry. While talking to the doctor I only almost cried once, but even people who know me well would have missed the tremble in my voice.
You may wonder why, when I have health insurance, I go to a walk-in clinic. Here's why.
1. I know how to get there (this is a big deal - I get lost easily and often, you'll see).
2. They have a good reputation, and are attached to a good medical school.
3. They have evening and weekend hours (a big deal for me, who has a hard time taking off from work).
The doctor called my name, welcomed me into the little room, and looked me in the eyes as we spoke. He did not interrupt me ever. He did not look at his watch. The two times I searched for the right words, he waited patiently. He asked lifestyle questions, like what I do for a living, if I drink, smoke, work out. How much walking I do at work. That shit means a LOT to me. It made me feel like I was really being listened to, and my overall lifestyle was being considered in relation to my health. It was almost an hour before this place closed for the night, and this doctor was still giving it his all. I'm tempted to write a letter.
The doctor then asked me to take off my shoes and sit on The Table. Strangely, he excused himself from the room. I don't know why. For privacy as I kicked off my kicks? Three or four minutes later, he knocked on the door, waited a few seconds, then came back in. Okay... He pressed my heels and the bottoms of my feet, asking if it hurt. It did not hurt. It felt good, but I didn't tell him that. He diagnosed me. He wrote me a prescription for a pain killer. He referred me to a podiatrist.
As is my way, I then asked a slew of questions.
Is this better than having heel spurs? Yes, it's what comes before them.
Does that mean I'm definitely going to get them? No.
I have severe learning disabilities, and am wary of taking pain killers and dulling my mind, since I'm already working at a deficit - is this just to make me comfortable, or will the pain killers help this heal, in which case, I'll find a way to take them? They're just for your comfort. Try taking one at night, see what it does to you. (I will. Friday night.)
Since you are covered by my health insurance, does that mean the people you're referring me to are covered by my health insurance also? Yes.
I am being laid off and will not have health insurance after May 31st - do you think they can have me on the road to recovery by then? Yes, but you should call tomorrow morning and tell them that.
Am I supposed to do anything differently than how I do it now? Don't do any recreational walking. Wear comfortable shoes. I guess Manolo's are out for now...
Do I need orthotics? Yes, probably.
Will that stop the problem? It can.
Will you write down what you said I had? Sure.
Are there any other questions you can think of that I should be asking that I haven't asked? No.
After thanking him, I went to the front desk to pay a co-pay. Once the doctor sees you, you can leave. Oh. Well ... okay. I'd be a fool to argue with them. Besides, they have my address - they can track me down if they realize they forgot to make me pay the co-pay.
The bus came and I hopped on. Later, I heard something about J-Church, but I was reading, so didn't pay attention. All of a sudden I looked around me - I was in the Castro! I was not headed home! I GOT ON THE WRONG FUCKING BUS! God damn it. I can't take myself anywhere.
I quickly hopped off the bus before it went any further away from where I was trying to go, and walked back towards Market Street. Fuckity fuck. And I *just* got told not to do recreational walking!
After walking a block, I went into Sparky's to grab dinner and digest what had just happened. Essentially, I got told to be lazy. Don't walk. This will be interesting.
Labels: I'm Hurt
posted by Green at 5/17/2007 09:02:00 PM
6 Comments:
Dang, that sucks. What bad timing. And I hope to God I never get that. That's all I need to blow up to whale proportions. Don't walk, be lazy? OKAY!
And once again, I'm wishing we lived closer to each other. Even if I did think to ask all those questions (which I probably wouldn't until hours later), I wouldn't have managed to find a doctor good enough to give me that kind of attention and/or I wouldn't manage to get over my shyness enough to ask.
But getting lost isn't usually a big problem for me.
Excellant job with the questions. You might have missed the most important one however. "are you married?" I'm already happily married, male and straight and I wanted to marry him!.
Oh, and I should mention that if indeed you grew balls, any mental/emotional deficits you might have, just doubled.
WTG, Green! Hope the pain lessens very very soon. I've had friends with Plantar Fascitis, and it can be a big pain, but it sounds like you're catching it early.
Now, be lazy!
1. sometimes the inbound N turns into an outbound train right before the tunnel. You didn't get on the wrong train, you only didn't listen to the train announcement. :)
2. When the doctor left the room for those few minutes, he was consulting the book. I know this because I went to UCSF once for a weird, pine-tree shaped rash that I had on my back and the doctor was so pleased to have found it in the book, he brought the book in to show me. I told him that that was something he should NEVER do again EVER. Dude, we do NOT need to know that you have to look in the book.
hi! so glad you found me and what a day for me to find you...i, too, have plantar fasciblahblah. it's a bitch. and a half. i have tips and what not to do ($2.50 flip flops from old navy...they ruin all the progress i make but i love them).
sorry it's claimed another victim because, i'm not gonna lie to you, it truly does suck.
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