What To Do When You Stumble, Bumble or Fall?

It's such a drag when things go wrong. I hurt. I don't know how or why it happened but somehow my leisurely walks in the woods resulted in swollen, painful ankles. After enduring the pain for about 2 weeks, I finally did some research and landed in the office of Dr. Rock Positano from the Hospital for Special Surgery. He is a non-surgical foot specialist in the Big Apple and has a list of credentials too long to list. He also has a huge heart and an engaging personality. Don't get me wrong, when it comes to medical care, having someone who knows what their doing is, for me, more important than bedside manner. However, it is sooooo refreshing when you find a professional who has both!

I have struggled with foot pain for large portions of my life. When I was a child and teen, I had to walk around on my toes for the first five minutes of the morning as it was too painful to put my arches on the floor. Eventually, I was able to move into the world of the walking. After several visits to the podiatrist at age 17, I had custom orthotics made for my shoes which helped my feet, and banged up my teenaged self-esteem. Hey - I admit it - the orthotics weren't cute, didn't fit into most of my shoes and were a pain in the ass! Still, knowing that my parents paid a bunch of money for them, I wore them most of the time, sometimes.

Fast forward 30 plus years, Dr. Positano did a complete evaluation. After fourteen X-rays, a walking test, physical exam and ultrasound of my feet, I was diagnosed with Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction. It can't be cured but can be controlled. What it boils down to: two pairs of custom orthotics (one for shoes, one for sneakers and hiking boots), ice, rest, anti-inflammatory meds, and physical therapy. It takes between 3 to 6 months to calm it all down. That's OK. After consulting with Dr. Positano, he assures me that I will recover, I will not limp for the rest of my life, and I will be able to hit the trails somewhat soon. I can handle that. I will handle that. I am committed to my health, myself and my life.

Funny how my 54 year old self isn't concerned with the fact that my sandals don't agree with my orthotics. Time and perspective. I just want to get better, feel better and get back to doing the things that I enjoy. If that means wearing orthotics in shoes that they can fit in, with the ever so fashionable compression socks as an added bonus, so be it. I'll do it because taking care of my health now is so important to living out life - my life.

So, if you have an ailment, get professional, expert advice. You are worth it, your life is worth it, and your dreams are worth it. It is so easy to be derailed. A huge shout out to East End Physical Therapy - these guys and gals are great. No whining allowed! You can find links to both East End Physical Therapy and Dr. Rock Positano in the Tips and Trades section of this website. It's your life - live it out.

#injury #recovery #physicaltherapy #EastHampton #Hamptons #confidence #courage #LifeLessons