:mad:
I'm not blaming the podiatrist. He was just doing his job. And he IS a runner, so he fully understands why I was less than enthusiastic about his diagnosis. But there it is. Not much to be done about it except go along with the expert's advice.
The diagnosis was this:
Advanced osteo-arthritis in the metatarsal-phalangeal joints and over-rotation of the talus, which is a result of splayed feet, causing premature patella degeneration and chronic anterior shin splints.
Orthotics may overcome this problem, but he wasn't as optimistic as I had hoped, although he was certainly keen to get me fitted with orthotics as quickly as possible and get me back out there running the streets, especially the hills. The only thing he suggested was definitely out of the question was any sustained
downhill running. Which is fine by me as I hate downhill.
Until the orthotics are ready (about two weeks) he has prescribed
zero running
I said, "
What do you mean, zero running?"
He said, "
Nil, nada, nix, none, N-O-N-E."
I said, "
What? You mean stop?"
He said, "
Yes, do not run anywhere, anytime, NOT AT ALL."
When I came to, they were waving an open bottle of stout under my nose. When I had revived sufficiently, he then told me the
bad news.
"The orthotics will seem very uncomfortable at first, and you'll have to go back to the start just running a kilometre or two and building up very, very slowly."
When I came to the second time they had opened a bottle of bourbon, and I felt much better.
Next week they make plaster casts of my feet. I'm hoping I get to keep them. The plaster casts, that is - I'm keeping my feet no matter what.
In the meantime, a total lack of running means it's open season on ...
Sweder Brew!
... of which I've already had two or three. Okay, four then.
But it's been a bad day.
Talus. Pfuh, it's a stupid bone.
:mad:
Murderous March
