In the beginning....part 1

I am performer, and my injury/condition is as a direct result of performing. The tipping point happened June 2009 I was performing as Ariel in an outdoor production of The Tempest. See the You Tube Video here. We rehearsed in this space as well. Needless to say my feet hurt, and they continued to hurt. With rest and care the deep ache dissolved to a barely present mild discomfort.

In July of 2009 I was performing in this same space again, and rehearsing another show. I would notice the sharp pain in the front of my foot coming back after a long walk or workout, but it always faded. I also noticed that my left foot would cramp on cold floors. I kept it in mind, but thought my feet were on the way to healing.

Going into September a sharp pain creeped into my walking until I was no longer able to walk without severe pain Columbus Day weekend. I was able to isolate the origin to the ball of the foot and had to visit the ER at St. Luke's on Tuesday October 13. X-Rays were taken and a break was not seen, but there was noticeable inflammation around the sesamoids and I was told I had sesamoiditis, at least, and needed to see another doctor. I was given an anti-inflammatory, codeine and a cane for support.

I was able to get an appointment Thursday October 15 with their podiatrist Dr. Werter who took me on as a patient. He said it was definitely sesamoiditis on the fibular sesamoid, and he saw maybe one case a year. I was to see him again in a week and we would see if it was feeling better after taking a different anti-inflammatory, icing it twice a day, keeping it wrapped with special pad and staying off it as much as possible.

Needless to say, walking supported only by cane was incredibly difficult and disheartening. I stayed as positive as possible. Thankfully I have a desk job (with insurance) when I am not performing, but the discomfort, fatigue and loss of energy presented new challenges.

The next week I went back to Dr. Werter and asked him about getting a walking boot because my foot was just not getting any better and I could barely hobble half a block supported by cane. For an active, social individual I needed to be mobile.

I got the boot, but I had to pay out of pocket for it, because the insurance approval process was long and had already been delayed and the co-pay would have been about the same.

I would need to wear this boot for three weeks, and then I could take it off and walk with a cane and special pad in my shoe for a week. Emotionally I was doing my best to not be deterred, stay as social as possible, tend to my new apartment and cat and started my Assistant Director duties. I missed being able to go for a run and walk around the city but I was able to be mobile and enjoy my Halloween, still see shows and go to birthday parties. I visited the Dr. once before the boot came off and after the week sans boot.

My foot felt like it was getting better. I now know it was just adapting to the new footwear. The first few days without the boot my foot felt weird, like the big toe was asleep, or the tendons were stretching. An injured sesamoid can affect a large arch muscle, so I was not sure if the pain and strangeness I was feeling was related to the foot being isolated for so long, or if it was just not healing. The Dr was suspicious and did an ultrasound on my foot and discovered what appeared to be a patch of fluid and fracture. Back to the boot for four weeks!

I was discouraged. Once I was back in the boot the pain came back full force, it eventually dulled away, but it was excruciating! And my good foot was also hurting! What was a gimp to do? Well, then we hit Thanksgiving.