“Are you bringing replacement parts?” my doctor laughed. When my shoulder was at its worst, I’d purchased an anatomical model of the rotator cuff and took it along to one of my appointments in hopes that the doctor would explain exactly what was wrong.
Apparently that’s not something people usually do.
So now, do I also purchase a foot? I’d love to know what’s going on with my feet. It would be awesome if this new doctor has ideas on making my feet feel better. I had some stretches and exercises that helped for a while, but things have gotten worse again.
It’s pretty frustrating. To someone who believes in cause and effect, haphazard occurances… argh! This is driving me crazy!
- The spread of germs, and subsequent illness are understandable.
- Sprains, broken bones, and pulled muscles all have specific causes. While not pleasant, they are understandable.
The body just arbitrarily experiencing pain when there was no injury is NOT understandable. I want a reason for all these things. I want to know why this happened, and what I can do to prevent recurrance. “Nobody knows” is a highly unsatisfactory answer.
Diagnosis and treatment aside, though, I’ve gotten pretty fascinated with anatomy. The way the body works (or is supposed to work) is amazing. I’d be quite happy to learn about various aspects of the human body without having to experience malfunctions with each and every system!
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Yesterday I phoned my rheumy’s office (apologized for bothering them – I know how busy they get) and asked if the doctor has a strong preference for the specific podiatrist to whom I’ve been referred. We like my son’s podiatrist, and I would like to see him instead of going to someone new — unless there’s a particular reason to see this other guy. Not a problem! What a relief to not have all that paperwork. This podiatrist is great. How can you not like someone who brings his dog to the office?!
∞ itis 
I feel for you and wish too they knew why this happens! Having had diagnosed RA for 10 years, I watched my feet painlessly change for many years. In the last couple it has become painful now, although I did have heel pain before being diagnosed. Now it’s in the forefeet and toes. The balls of my feet have spread out very wide. Although the toes don’t look too deformed yet, they are getting painful like the bones of the forefoot now that the fat pads there have all shifted out of whack. I also have a huge fluid filled cyst on the bottom of my big toe that is getting so big it’s starting to spread to the side of the base of the big toe. I only ever had brief bouts of shooting pain in that toe, for seconds at a time, every few months. I’m to the point now that it’s more painful for me to walk barefoot but I cannot afford specialized shoes, so am doing with store bought shoe inserts and having to jimmy-rig these as time goes by. Hoping I won’t get the point RA guy is at with crutches, as I currently work on my feet all day. I won’t be able to afford to take time off for surgery but I know I will need it in the next few years. Same for my wrists. I hope they will be able to get yours under control somehow.
It saddens me to hear about your pain. I love how you succinctly out into words how so many of us feel about pain unrelated to injury. I do not have RA but was told for a few years in my twenties that I did because of a certain type of pain I have. I busted out laughing about the anatomical shoulder. That is very much something I would do! I’m enjoying your blog.