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Today is a GREAT day for my foot!

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

I have to report good things!  It is a good day.

I got the alcohol injection on Tuesday, it is now Thursday.  I am feeling things. But one of the things I am NOT feeling is pain.  I am not in pain.  This is remarkable.  I am grateful to this relatively new procedure.  I am grateful to my body for accepting it.  Like I said, I do feel the nerve weirdness at moments.  Mostly when I have been off my foot for awhile and then get back on it.  But I will take that any day over the other kind of feelings.  This means I am playa bound.  My campmates are happy as am I.

The other weirdness, the all over skin irritation /  Allergic reaction to something, well that is healing up with a quick and hefty dose of steroids.  I hate doing this to myself, but feel like it is necessary at this point.  I could not handle two kinds of extreme pain and discomfort.  Now I am down to none.  I got acupuncture the day after the alcohol injection and the start of the steroid campaign.  Mostly to nourish my body.  It was a good treatment!  My attitude has improved a million fold.

I am going to carry on taking this serrapeptase for pain.  I am going to continue taking more Vitamin B complex.  I am going to use the homeopathic topical cream for the toe.  I am OFF St. John’s Wort and am still not unconvinced that that wasn’t the cause of the skin reaction.  And especially since i am going to the hot hot desert, don’t want any St. John’s Wort in my system at all.

These steroids though, boy-oh-boy!  i can feel how they make me agitated.  And hungry.  but anything over excessive itching and weird body rash that hurts and oozes (sorry for the graphics).

And I hula hooped yesterday for 1/2 hour!  that is a step in the absolute right direction.

Big fucking YAY!

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New Day, New Treatment.

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Yesterday was a day I gave in to western meds.  And that is very difficult for me!  But the night before last, the skin rash became exacerbated and I barely slept all night even taking two benadryl in one night due to itching.  I woke up freaked out that the rash was going to get as bad as my underarm had been the last week.  I called my primary care physician asking for assistance thinking i might actually go to the emergency room for this.

I almost canceled the foot doctor due to the skin rash but instead, I had my third visit with the Podiatrist.  I have not been overjoyed with this doctor, Dr. Mah.  He has distinctly mis-diagnosed me, not listened to what I have said my symptoms were and has forgotten from visit to visit why I am there (actually noting the bone spur in my heel which is NOT why I am in there at all)

When he walked in, I asked him, “Do you remember why I am here?”  He did, He was serious and attentive.  Otherwise, I was going to fire his ass!  I started in a  matter of fact manner, ‘this is what I have been doing, this is what has been happening, no the steroid shot didn’t work at all, yes I have been in an inordinate amount of pain…’ yadda yadda yadda.  Then I started to cry.  I have been in so much pain and discomfort it is really unfair!

So he gave me an alcohol shot.  I have read up on these treatments, here is a link http://www.podiatrychannel.com/mortonneuroma/treatment.shtml.  We discussed orthotics and he seems to think that my health plan, Chinese Community Health Plan, will not cover that.  So he gave me thicker foot pads and told me where to properly put them on my foot.  He also showed me some cheaper orthotics that I can get at Sports Basement or the like in case my insurance does not cover it.  He was a better doc today.  And I have some old orthotics I think I will pull out and see if they help when I can actually wear shoes again.

Oh and to embrace my current situation, I went to DSW and bought a pair of fancy silver flip flops and some green ones too.

Next the doc called, the primary care physician, Dr. Eric Lim.  Well his secretary anyway.  I kind of demanded that they just let me go to the dermatologist who was also located down at 450 Sutter, which is where the podiatrist was.  With some cajoling, and threatening to go to an Emergency Room, Dr. Lim okay’ed me going directly to the dermatologist.  Thank god because I was starting to think that I was the freak of the universe.  Dr. Ng looked at my rash, asked me if I had started using any new products.  i explained about my St. John’s Wort theory.  She seemed to know about that herb and was not convinced.  I am still not unconvinced.  She put me on a 5-4-3-2-1 regiment of internal steroids.  Gave me two topical steroid creams, one for whole body, one for behind ears and underarms.  She mentioned that my excema behind my ears might flare up due to the steroids.  She also gave me a stronger prescription of benadryl for sleeping.  So now I am the Steroidal Woman!

I am feeling better with everything.  Sometimes a dose of the western meds is exactly what a body needs.  I will likely still try everything herbal first.  But I do know when I need to see a doctor.  And the aggravated skin was not helping anything I tell you.  Today is a new day!

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The Power of Hypericum (St. Johns Wort)

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Never underestimate the contra-indications of an herb.

Herbs are medicine and not meant to be taken lightly (no pun intended)!

I KNOW that the contra-indication for hypericum is sun.  I know that to my core.  But yesterday, I pushed it and I ended up being a bit too long in the sun while hanging out at Essence Court.  It was such a nice sunny day with friends and lovely pancakes and cocktails.  I forgot that I really should have only stayed in the shade as I have been taking St. Johns Wort tincture internally and externally.

Today, my skin has a rash over most of my body and it feels paper thin.  I remember that Rachel told me that she felt her skin was super sensitive and thin when she was on a regular regime of steroids.  Today, I completely understand how she feels.

Now granted, i did get that steroid shot two weeks ago and perhaps I am starting to feel that as well in my skin.  But I know this herb has affected me negatively but it is my own damn fault.  I have stopped taking the herb until this is cleared up and am waiting for this to go away.  It is slightly annoying and I have to remember not to itch b/c when I do, it feels like I am going to scratch my skin off.  oy!  if it isn’t one thing, it’s another.  But really, I have a deep respect for this herb and I will know fully that I cannot take it and be in the sun.  That is a big No No for me.

In other health news, something remarkable has shifted for me today with the Neuroma.  I don’t know how or why, perhaps it is the serrapeptase sinking in?  Perhaps it is all the nothing that I have been doing.  Or perhaps the St. John’s Wort and the homeopathic cream have sunk in.  Perhaps the st00pid steroid shot finally took affect.  I cannot say.  But my foot has been wonderfully amazingly painless ALL DAY!  I will take that thank you!  I want this Neuroma to stabilize so that I can start exercising and functioning again. i do want to go to Burning Man and enjoy my time out there.  I am tired of being so freaked out thinking that this is going to be like this forever.  Anyway, it makes me immensely happy.

also, the rash under my arm has gotten heaps better.  Could be that excema ointment that I got from Lynne, could be it just ran it’s course.  It is still sensitive and red but that could just be from the general rash b/c of the hypericum.  but I am so relieved that this is on it’s way out too.  The body is amazing in it’s capacity to heal.

I was able to enjoy a night out on the beach celebrating the birthdays of dear friends.

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life has been hard.

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

Call it aging, call it just a period of time.  I dunno.  But the last month has been brutal.  I have been diagnosed with something called a Morton”s Neuroma and let me tell you, it sucks.  It is not something that you want to find yourself stricken with because it strikes you down.  I have not been able to think of a single exercise that I can do that is not going to impact this nerve disorder in some way, shape or form. Sit-ups possibly, but not likely.  Swimming seems like it should work but knowing (or not knowing) the way that it will affect the nerves, I am hesitant to start.  And plus, with the rash under my arm, see way below, I am not going to jump in chlorinated water anytime soon!

I know that I need to become one with this neuroma, but I am having the damnedest time doing this.  I am utterly resentful due to my most recent life change and spate of activities.  Now in order to stay fit, I just have to eat less calories, and it was so handy to be able to eat as much as I wanted to, and then counteract it with a good hour of hula hooping or walking / running.  Now I cannot do that.  Call me bitter, I am.  But I will not allow the bitterness to overtake my life.

The following is what I have done to take care of and treat this excruciating pain in my foot:

  1. Got an X-ray
  2. Went to a Podiatrist
  3. Got a steroid shot that made my pain level increase.
  4. Started taking St. John’s Wort (Hypericum) internally (tincture) and applying externally (tincture and oil) 4-5 times daily
  5. Started applying homeopathic anti-inflammatory healing cream called Topricin 3 times daily
  6. Applying ice pack as needed.
  7. Started wearing flip flops
  8. Stopped exercising
  9. Stopped doing much of anything
  10. Found out about this panacea pain reliever called Serrapeptase which is a microrganism made from the silkworm intestine.  Supposed to relieve pain quickly and efficiently
  11. on Tuesday, I go back to the dam Podiatrist for another steroid shot and hopefully some orthodics.

So all of this and I am none worse for the wear.  I am not clear that I can go to Burning Man at all.  At this point, I cannot imagine myself being out in the desert for a week or more.  I think I would rather be home in the creature comforts of my home.  But if it improves vastly I might consider it.

There is this surgery called cryosurgery that is specific to this nerve that is located between the third and fourth toe.  But this is something that I will consider only if everything else does not work.

And to make matters worse, I have gotten this extreme rash under my left armpit which has exacerbated and i probably really should go to the doctor for.  But i am hesitant to do so since I will have to go first to my doc and then (most likely) to a dermatologist.  Damn these 2 step process’.  Anyway, i am treating that with calendula and then anti itch over the counter ointment.  then I got an antifungal herbal spray – but that seemed to irritate it further.  I have been applying apple cider vinegar and olive oil, baking soda, and now corn starch.  Also I got a cream of calendula, echinecea and comfrey.  And my friend gave me a med for excema (which i think it might be since I have it behind my ears).  and it is red and angry, but the corn starch seemed to take the itching and a bit of the swelling down.  i will consider going to the doc for this one though since it is so so angry.

This is my life this month.  Yeehawwww!

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