Got high arches?...

*warning* If you are not a foot person and don't like seeing other people's feet, then move along.

...I know I sure do. I've always known I had high arches, but going to the podiatrist last week confirmed that even more. I've been having so much pain in my heels, specifically my left heal, since last summer when I started running. I wake up in the morning and am literally hobbling around because it hurts so bad.

So, I decided it was high time to get to the Dr.

Doc walks in and says "do I know you? You look familiar." "uh, I don't think so" I said. And then we got down to business. I sat in the chair that felt and looked like a dentist chair. He examined my feet and the first thing out of his mouth was, "wow, you've got high arches". "Yes, I know." I said. "No really, they're really high!" he exclaimed. "Yep, they sure are." I concluded.

So he pushed around the heel asking if it hurt here, or here, to which I yelled in the affirmative.
He decided to get an x-ray of my feet so we could see if I possibly had a bone spur on my heel. A few minutes later the x-ray was done and he came back with the slides. He walks in and says, "You're the proud owner...". Not just one but TWO bone spurs. One on each heel. Then he went right back to the arch thing.
"I just can't get over how high they are, how are you even walking young lady?"

I just laughed it off, didn't quite know what to say. Then he came back with, "you must have walked pigeon toed where you were a kid." "nope, I sure didn't. I walked normal", I said.
"You see this bone here and the bones on top, and how they stick out? That's going to be an issue for you when you're older."

"What are you saying Dr." I said in shock.
"You're going to need surgery. We're going to have to de-arch your feet"

SAY WHAT?!?!?!?!

For those of you who know me you know that my feet are my favorite part of my body. Growing up my Dad had always told me that I had very dainty feet. I have always taken great pride in that. The arch has always made them look pretty, as pretty as feet can get, I guess. I like my arches, but gosh darn-it. I don't like how they're hurting me.

So, he told me of a few things that can be done in the mean time....

-Fit me for Orthodics: Check! I pick them up in 2 weeks
-Take a prescription strength Ibuprofen each day: Check!

-Do stretching exercises each day: Check!

-Get a Cortizone shot in each heel: ...umm...no thanks!

He didn't understand why I didn't want this. Hello! It's a needle going in my heel...that ='s PAIN my friends! He even said it would hurt.

Yes, I'm a wimp! I know! He said that once the orthotics are in and after a few weeks if there is no improvement in the pain, or bone spur then he's going to give me the Cortizone. "FINE", I said. You can do it then, but not now.

I'm not looking forward to the surgery, and recovery. Oh arches, I have loved you, and I will miss you come surgery time. Never fret, for we will meet again at the Resurrection.