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06 December 2015

A PAIN IN THE ... FOOT!


Following on from last week’s post about eyesight, I have another issue that I’d like to share. Not literally, of course, although...... no, perhaps not!

Every month I have my feet seen to by a podiatrist, once known as a chiropodist. Just like the opticians we knew and loved are now known as optometrists, and most physiotherapists as chiropractors. But I’m getting away from the point.

Friday was the day of the appointment so I went happily along knowing that pretty soon the feet would have respite, and so would I. Don’t misunderstand me, my feet aren’t bad, in fact, the podiatrist, oh to hell with it, let’s call him by his proper name, Steve. Steve often tells me the feet are pretty good for my age. I agreed with that until the following day when I woke with a chronic pain in the right foot. Pain, swelling and redness at the base of the big toe. And they were only seen to the day before!

By this time, of course, it’s weekend and no-one to consult. The pain got worse, and there was a certain amount of numbness in the toe. I could hardly walk. Well, I could, but a walk was more like a stumble, with arms gripping furniture en route. Laughable if you’re a spectator! Believe me, it went on all day and I was understandably fed-up as well as worried. On top of this, I had trouble getting a shoe or slipper on and that worried me even more in case I was making it, whatever IT was, worse.

(picture form internet)
It’s a bunion, I thought, and actually convinced myself of that. I checked with Google and found a site filled with advice on what to do. Separate the toes, it said, put a wad of cotton wool there to keep the toes apart. I did and I could swear I felt some relief. I remembered there was a family connection with bunions, my mother having had two removed, and that didn’t bear thinking about either. She couldn’t walk for weeks after the operation and had to wear black surgical boots which she hated. Perhaps it runs in the family, I thought, hoping against hope that it didn’t.

That night, I couldn’t sleep for the pain and in the end I swallowed a couple of paracetamol in the hope that they would help me get to dreamland. They did ... what a relief.

A friend who popped in on Sunday morning asked what Steve had done to the foot. Like me, she blamed the expert. The pain was even worse and I was really beginning to fret. There was nothing for it ... I had to go back to Steve.

8 o’clock Monday morning, I phoned and told him the tale. ‘Drive straight over,’ he said. Always assuming I could drive!! No worries there, I could drive better than walk. Actually the pain seemed to have subsided a little although the area of complaint was still an unhealthy red.

After a fleeting examination Steve declared ‘It’s not a bunion’ and then decided to keep me guessing which was, of course, impossible since my mind was hell bent on thinking only of bunions.

‘It’s GOUT!’

Gout? What the hell was he talking about?

Then he told me that without a doubt I’d had an attack of arthritis (which I do
get in other areas) aggravated by the very damp weather, and it had pinpointed the toe area. Hence the gout! He recommended a stiff course of paracetamol and ibuprofen for one day which should remove both redness and pain. ‘Go all out,’ he said, ‘knock it on the head.’ I couldn’t get to the chemist fast enough.

I have always associated gout with overweight, heavy drinking males, which I’m not. Just fancy, a slim thing like me afflicted with gout. Whatever next?!

In order to add a bit of colour to this post I looked on the internet for suitable pictures. I found some of bunions ... wowee ... so now I'm thanking the good Lord that my problem was gout!

18 comments:

  1. Feet can be suck a pain, literally. I've heard of lots of people who've had gout lately.

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  2. I do hope its a lot better now, good thing you had it diagnosed. Warm greetings to you and best wishes!

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  3. Hi Jenny. I do so agree. I suppose I've been lucky to get this far in life without a foot problem.

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  4. Blogoratti, it is better now... I'm praying it never returns but I guess it will at some point. Paracetamol at the ready, just in case.

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  5. Well I though bunion when you first wrote. Imagine gout. It is good that it can be treated so easily. but it still must hurt..be well.

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  6. Valerie, being a Foot Reflexologist, I know the important of feet and how much they can affect us (both physically and emotionally) when they are in pain. When your feet hurt, your whole body hurts.

    So glad your doctor discovered what the cause was. And you're right about thanking the good Lord that your problem was gout and not a bunion because my mother had issues with bunions on each foot and had to have surgery. Her mother also suffered from bunions.

    I hope you're feeling better and that the pain is now fully gone.

    Have a super Sunday, dear lady!
    X to you and Joe

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  7. Feet pain wouldn't be so bad, except it seems you use your feet a lot. So many things we take for granted. Hope it clears up soon and does not come back.

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  8. Yikes Valerie, you poor thing! Well, I hope you get relief and it goes away soon.

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  9. Hi Denise, thank you. I must admit I felt very sorry for myself while the pain existed. At the moment I am free of it.

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  10. Joeh, so far so good... not a hint of pain now. Mind you, I'm cautious because who knows when it will come back. Keep taking the tablets is what I say... smiles.

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  11. Hi BC, I always thought gout was difficult to get rid of... hopefully I'm wrong.

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  12. Good morning, Ron. Oooh I didn't know you were a foot reflexologist although I was aware that you were multi-talented.

    You're right when you say a painful foot affects the whole body. I remember how wretched I felt. At the moment I am pain free and I'm praying it stays that way.

    Have a good week, my friend.

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  13. I can thankfully say that I have never been blessed with gout. My husband had it in his knee once and had to use crutches for a few weeks. He loves the home remedies and ate/drank/popped pills of any type of cherries. He now makes it part of his daily pill regiment. I hope it steers clear from now on!

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  14. kden, I must get to the shop and buy cherries. Thankfully, I haven't had pain recently but I have tablets ready just in case.

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  15. Oh my.... What it rains it pours.

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  16. Oh wow...sorry to read this Val but I hope you are on the mend by now.

    Gout can be painful and reoccurring, or so I've been told. Something to definitely get under control, asap.

    I went to a reflexologist for years and found it sooooo relaxing and beneficial too. Maybe something to consider?

    Have a better week OK!!!

    Take care, G (and Mr. C) he liked your comment about his new book >^^<

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  17. Sorry to hear this, Val. Get better soon.

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  18. Sorry to hear about this. Gout was also the illness of the kings and queens, especially the former, due to their high meat consumption. I don't know if there's much truth in that. Maybe you have some royal blood in you! :-)

    Greetings from London.

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