Is it really worth it?

Almost every day I have a patient ask me....Is it worth it? To keep running when you wake up the next morning with heel pain, to continue a dance career when you keep getting sidelined with injuries, to wear heels when those bunions are killing you. To be honest, its a question only each patient can answer for themselves.

Take for example Dancing with the Stars. More than a third of the contestants this year have foot issues that either took them out of the competition or are requiring over-the-top treatments to continue dancing on the show. Now for the ones who drop out, obviously we know the answer...but for those who feel the call of the mirror ball trophy...No pain, no gain.
http://www.examiner.com/x-21681-Anaheim-Celebrity-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m11d22-Dancing-with-the-Stars-Final-week-has-celebrities-nursing-injuries-Osbourne-may-need-surgery-asap

Most of my patients ask these questions in regards to running. Take me for example: I have been nursing a nagging hamstring injury which lead to some plantar fasciitis due to compensation this fall. My stance, its worth it to remain active, keep up the cardiovascular, fight the holiday weight gain....I could go on and on. So what did I do?

I began using biofreeze, a night splint, and a Tens unit, which I will happily sing the praises of if you lend me your ear, cut back my mileage a bit, and did the unthinkable...started cross training! It worked like a charm, after 2 weeks of heel pain I'm not 100% but I am really close...and still running.

So when people ask me if I think its worth it, I say...see you on the Path!

My first Blog

A few months ago a patient told me I should do a blog on foot issues. I laughed because I had no idea what a BLOG was. She was shocked as our office is full of techy type things...electronic medical records, digital x-ray, computers in the treatment rooms. After talking to many people, apparently this blog thing is quite popular. So, make room for me...here I am...jumping on the bandwagon. In the weeks to come you will see me putting up everything about feet: heel pain, bunions, athletic injuries, ankle sprains...just little bits of wisdom about feet. If you have a suggestion for a topic, something you'd like to hear my view on let me know and I will be happy to cover it.

I will also try to cover local events, running, charitable, you name it...if my patients are involved in it...if its about elmhurst...it might just be in here. If you ever crave more, you can find us at elmhurstfootdoc.com!