I’ve mentioned the foot problem I’ve had for a couple of years. It has continued and, in some ways, deepened, so in the interest of being open that I need to discuss it in more detail as it will be affecting my life for a while.

My left foot is completely flat, and this configuration has pushed my big toe up against my shoes and even my orthotics. This has created a significant callous on the right side of the toe.

It has been trimmed and treated a dozen times. It keeps coming back despite the orthotics I have been wearing.

It’s time to focus on it and treat it more intensely and directly. I need to try some different things. The callous doesn’t grow when I wear a surgical boot. I can’t walk much while wearing that boot or put  pressure in the toe, so my ability to take walks and exercise has been curtailed for now.

The surgical boot is a poor substitute for a shoe and can cause problems.

The callous triggered what the doctors call an ulcer on the bottom of my toe. This happens when the hard callous rubs against the toe and opens an interior wound.

These ulcers are not uncommon and usually treatable. Still, they can quickly become infected if the callous continues to grow and resist medicine, even surgery, or the cruel is not treated and contained.

They are especially dangerous for diabetics, a circulation disease; if they become infected, the toe itself could be in danger.

The callouses were treated with special antibiotics and minor surgery. But they are keeping the ulceration going and recurring. For a person with diabetes, it’s Russian Roulette.

I’ve seen a podiatric surgeon regularly for two years; she even suggested surgery to remove a bone spur on the toe to help the ulcer heal. I had the surgery, and it worked for a while.

The ulcer has come and gone for nearly two years now and has never been infected. It is not infected now. But for the past few weeks, we’ve changed the bandage and applied antibiotic cream every morning.

I need to get to a better and more secure place with it.

Dr. Daly, the surgeon, suggested I see a clinical orthotics and prosthetic specialist to get a special brace and orthotic made to lift the flat foot and keep the toe away from the shoe or boot.

Maria and I went to see him today in Saratoga Springs.

His name is David Misener.  I liked him very much and felt comfortable talking with him.

He is very experienced and is also a dog lover who met me some years ago. We had fun reconnecting.

He recognized me right away, but I did not remember meeting him.

We talked dogs, of course, and he showed me a photo of his much loved Brittany, a character, and he permitted me to put a recent photo of Keel on my blog. He lights up when he mentions the dog.

 

We had a good and thorough talk about the foot, and he believes he can help by designing a unique orthotic ($1,200) and adjust it as necessary. He says there is no guarantee about any outcome, but there is good reason to think we can resolve this and resolve it.

He thinks it can help. I am worried about the toe, and I want to keep it. Maria and I were both impressed with David, who is honest and easy to speak with. We have a much better understanding now of what is happening.

I’m seeing the surgeon on Tuesday – the ulcer seems to be healing very well at the moment and is not infected. I intend to keep it that way.

Maria insists on accompanying me to this foot and helping me with the necessary casting, walking, and dressing. I appreciate her very much and am grateful for her presence.

So that’s about it.

This will continue for a while, perhaps for the rest of my life, but I’m hopeful we can get a good grip on it. Braces like this will need monitoring and experimenting, and change.

I don’t plan to write about it too often, but I think this process of  getting a brace is worth sharing. I didn’t want to hide it.

This new chapter in the never-ending road to health promises to be exciting and will apply new technology, and I’m confident it will help.

David will also be fun to work with. He has a great sense of humor and loves his dogs to death.

And he knows what he is doing.