Skip to main content

Another Setback

It's been awhile since I blogged on this topic. First of all, I am still happy with the stem cell treatment. However, new issues have again waylaid me.

One morning in late October, I awoke to pain in both feet. Each step hurt, with my right foot hurting the worst. The pain lessened a bit after walking, but by evening it was bad again. Up to this time, I had been walking to work several times a week. I was conscientiously making effort to maintain my health physically and mentally. I do not feel I was overdoing it, but I was aiming for a minimum of 6,000 steps a day.

After a week or so or nursing my sore aching feet, I went to my doctor. She referred me to an orthotic specialist and had x-rays taken of my feet. The x-rays showed significant spurs in both feet.

In December, I met with Dr. Gurgul at the Saskatoon Foot Clinic. He examined my feet, and noted that the present orthotics I was wearing had worn out. He arranged for a new "casting" to have a custom built pair of orthotics. In January, I had the new casting with the expected date for the orthotics to be in February.

Breakfast at Playa Los Arcos
 In January I took a trip to Puerto Vallarta - my favorite location - and stayed at my favorite hotel, Playa Los Arcos. I had an absolutely wonderful holiday, but was not able to walk the distances I wished too. Luckily the hotel is right on the Malecon so I could still enjoy the holiday without too much walking.,
Evening in Puerto Vallarta

February, I got my orthotics. The changes in walking affects the whole body. I started having pain in my hips and knees again. The pain in my feet was not significantly reduced. Twice I had the orthotics adjusted with very little improvement.



I have become fearful that the benefits I have received from the Stem-Cell therapy is now failing.

I went back to my doctor and asked what can we do? She then told me about a new treatment - at least new in my community - Radial Shockwave Laser Therapy. I decided to give it a try.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shockwave Treatments

I have had great successes with what may be considered non-traditional medical treatments. I was disappointed after my first shockwave treatment that I did not feel any benefit - even though I fully understood that usually one treatment is not enough. I had a second treatment and then a third. After the third I had to wait for three weeks before a subsequent treatment could occur. After the second treatment, I had no pain one morning, but this lasted only a brief time - by noon, everything felt the same. However, after the third treatment, both feet were very sore - much sorer than normal. This I was not expecting!!!!! I feel that this extra pain lasted for approximately 10 days, and then everything was back to the normal level of pain. During this time, I had an appointment with Dr. Gurgal - Podiatrist and shared with him my frustrations. It is already May - both feet have been hurting since October. Sometimes, the pain keeps me up at night - I can't walk any distances, I
Post a Comment
Read more

The procedure

My appointment is at 9:30. I went to the same location as the previous day and was told to go to bay one, just a couple doors down the small mall. The door at bay one lists five the doctors names and the Kinesiologist. I got there at 9am and was taken into a treatment room almost immediately. In my brief time in the waiting room another couple emerged from a treatment room. The man was moving around, pacing and making statements about being stiff. I said "you are making me nervous I didn't think the stiffness was to occur for a few days ". He responded that it wasn't bad, but he had five joints done - and didn't take any laughing gas. He had a 9 hour drive ahead of him. In the treatment room the RN Linda took my vitals signs and explained what would be happening this morning. She answered all the questions I had. Linda was very warm and friendly and it was easy to share all my concerns.  She indicated that the pain usually is not too great for most people b
Post a Comment
Read more

Four months

It's been four months since the stem cell injections. I think there is still improvements happening. I still don't have any pain on the top of my left foot or right knee. My pain in my hips has continued to be reduced.  My pain in the left knee is still significantly less than it had been before. I am still leaving my name on the list for a left knee replacement.  But I'm still hoping I can get another couple of years with reduced pain. I did not do well with the excerises- I rarely did them. I'm still attempting to walk as much as possible and never less than 3,000 steps a day ... aiming for 6,000 steps. My mobility has increased, but frustratedly I still have difficulty getting up from the floor. Kneeling hurts my knees. My ankles, and the soles of my feet hurt. Most of the pain in my feet can be alleviated with the use of orthotics. I haven't found a suitable send me as yet so I live in my runners and wear birkenstocks in my house at all times - NO bare fee
Post a Comment
Read more