A little flat footed

When I wake in a morning I don't assess whether I have any pain or not, I assess how much pain I have and where it is. It's rarely in just one place as it does like to move around my body. Recent months has seen an increase in the pain levels and it is now noticeably affecting my day to day life.

OK, time to see what can be done. I have read copious amounts of info on the internet, but maybe the doctors have some other advice that I can use. I asked my GP to refer me to the rheumatology department and my first appointment was yesterday.

The outcome of a long consultation is I have osteoarthritis in hands, neck and feet. The index finger on my right hand is showing signs of bone deposits and  slight deformity, the pain being manageable most days. 

I have cervical spondylosis in my neck, supported by my MRI scan of several years ago, which is getting worse, but I manage this as best I can as there is little I can do other than take painkillers and rest it.

None of this was new or a surprise to me.

What was a surprise to me is that I have flat feet.

Flat feet, fallen arches, whatever you want to call it... that's me, and this is contributing massively to the pain from the arthritis in my feet, from my toes, all across the balls of my feet making and distance walks very painful, (and sometimes some not so long walks are almost impossible). So, I am now waiting for a referral to a podiatrist, who no doubt will advise me I can no longer wear cheap, fashionable shoes, (something I am already well aware of) and need clumpy, sensible shoes with supportive insoles. 

While I wait for the appointment to come through, back on to the internet to research flat feet. I find these may be hereditary or it may be something I have acquired. Either way, this is news to me and so I am curious to know whether there is anything I can do to help control the pain while I wait for the appointment to come through, after all, I could be waiting upto 12 weeks.

So, apart from increasing the price I pay for good, sensible shoes, what else can I do?

Well, apparently I can do foot exercises to rebuild my arches. OK, I can give that a go. I don't need any specialist equipment, a can of tomato soup for 1 and a towel will get me started. Well, I say tomato soup, it could be any flavour, we just happen to have a cupboard full of tomato. 

First exercise, stand on a step with the balls of my feet on the step and the rest of the foot handing off, lift myself up slightly and hold, relax down slightly and hold, making sure not to go too low or it will turn into a calf exercise. 12 times... and rest. OK, painful, but manageable.

Next, spread the towel on the floor and using first one foot then the other pull the towel towards me by scrunching in my toes. OK, not so sure about my ability to scrunch towels with my toes, but here goes.  Now, that really isn't easy so lots of practice needed... or maybe a lighter towel, maybe I should start off with a tea-towel, progress up to a hand towel and ultimately onto a bath towel. 

And so it goes on, but now that I know part of the problem is my flat feet, I can at least try and do something about it... and hopefully, by the time I see the podiatrist, I will be part way to solving the problem.

So, hands... ok, I have some stronger ibuprofen gel to use, while I see if using chilli based gel will have the long term effect of numbing the nerve ends so they don't tell my brain I'm in as much pain as I am. Known as Capsaisin, (no, I'd never heard of it either,) it is a substance found in red chilli peppers that gives them their heat. As it doesn't contain any ibuprofen it means the capsaisin cream can be used in conjunction with ibuprofen if necessary. Rather ironic that I cannot abide chillies in my food, and maybe if I had been eating hot curries my level of pain may have been reduced as a side effect. 

So far, so good. 

Of, and there are my hips too. That turns out not to be arthritis, but something called trochanteric bursitis. My right hip is much worse than my left and so I been referred for a cortisone injection into my right hip, and if my left needs one at a later date, I can ask for that to be done too.

So, I have pain in my neck, hands, hips and feet... no wonder the other bits in between sometimes feel painful too, they are getting attacked from all directions. The good news is, there are things to make life more comfortable which don't involve steroids.

Now, me and my flat feet are off to roll my soup can.