Do Foot Doctors Hate Runners? Hmmmm...

Monday, March 21, 2011

How do you like that title? Just wanted to get the conversation started...right?!

I finally got the referral to see the foot specialist. Gotta dislike HMOs and jumping through a wasteland of hoops! During the afternoon of my professional development meeting at school, sans students, I snuck out for an appointment. Luckily the doc office was close, so I dashed over to Phoenix Foot & Ankle Associates at 17th Street and Thomas. I completed the new patient paperwork, paid the co-pay charge, and waited a reasonably short time for a doctor visit. Dr. Timothy Harlan, DPM/MS/FACFAS, strolled in after my brief intake with a male PA. Harlan checked out my feet (we know he has a foot fetish!), noticed the swelling, and based on my description of the last 5 weeks, dubbed it...plantar fasciitis. Ya think?! I doubted my running partner, my PCP, online literature. But as soon as Dr. H. said the words, I am hooked! Super nice guy, witty (almost as witty as JG). They took an x-ray of my L foot, thankfully no stress fracture. He recommended that I purchase arch support inserts for my running shoes. Then we got to the bad news.

Dr. H: STOP RUNNING!
Me: But I have a major race in 5 days!! (insert pleading sounds)
Dr. H: You can stop running until your foot heals or risk more damage.
Me: Well, can I at least run the 5K?
Dr. H: Man, I love runners, now we get to the compromise. (I am NOT laughing!)
Me: But I am taking runners from my Cross Country team. What if I just walk the course? (new tactic)
Dr. H: If you stay off your feet for the rest of week, you probably can walk the race. Be prepared to stop.
Me: (internal thoughts) Whew, crisis averted, money well spent. And yeah right, like I would stop and turn around once I started a race!

The other free parts of the 'prescription' are continued R.I.C.E. Then Dr. H. gave me a steroid shot in the bottom of my foot to bring down the inflammation and told me that the area would feel numb for 6 hours. I think I need a codeine scrip to make the woozy feeling complete! I asked if I needed to schedule a follow-up visit in a month or so just to check in since I surely would be cured. At one point during the interview, he said that he would not be in business without runners and I confirmed the addiction...hahahaha! :s See ya in 3 weeks, doc!

I DO NOT LIKE INJURIES!!