Maria and I went to Saratoga this morning, which was a good and possibly game-changing thing for my embattled foot. We’ve been trying to heal a wound in the foot for more than a year, and stubborn and recurring callouses keep it from happening.

Plotting a new way through this – I felt we were stuck –  I got a custom-made orthotic brace by David B. Misener of Clinical Prosthetics and Orthotics. It cost $1,500, and my insurance paid for most of it, but it was worth every penny.

It fit beautifully on my leg, helped my foot walk straight again, and has a good chance of keeping my callous prone big toe out of trouble. We hope this new chapter will allow this stubborn world to heal.

I will probably be in a brace for the rest of my life. It’s okay by me.

David knows his stuff, and is a pleasure to work with. He also has a great sense of humor. I love learning from doctors who can laugh; it improves the whole process.

Whatever happens, I will be walking again and soon. I already am. I was bad.

I went for a walk this afternoon when we got home. Maria was pleased to see me walking. She forget to yell at me.

David sensed I had some obedience problems.

You can see what he wrote on the instruction packet in large letters: Listen To Maria.

I was impressed that he noticed that.

Everyone seems to be giving me that advice these days. Something about me makes people think I won’t follow orders. But I will, mostly.

There are no miracles here. It will take a while for the wound to heal, and I will have to be very aware of my foot and how it responds to all this activity.

It might help, but it is possible that it can’t help or can’t help much.

We’ll see.

This is a great and hopeful chance to turn this frustrating problem around.

If I pay attention to the foot, and I will, there is no chance of losing a toe; we think the brace could allow the ulcerated wound to heal fully and, at the very least, stay under control. My toe is an inch from the side of the shoe.

The problem has nothing to do with diabetes unless something gets infected; that will not happen if we pay attention.

It’s all about the toe going its way.

 

 

I am pleasantly surprised that the new brace is so easy to slip into the new shoe I bought – a size or two larger than my average foot. Friday, I’m going back to see David and make some adjustments.

David says I should take my time walking around in the new orthotic, one hour today, two tomorrow, three the next day, up to four to six hours a day.

He urged me several times to take it slowly and give my feet time to get used to it. I’ve taken it off for the day.

Taking it slow is not my strength, but I want to get on top of this foot problem, and I hear what he is saying; I loved walking today, even if it was short. That’s important to me.

David Misener is another warm and encouraging person who joins the people who are involved in my health care and who I like and respect. He knows what he is doing. He wants to work with me to ensure this brace works how we want it to, and he has made me very hopeful.

I’m all cranked up to work hard.

Our first adjustment will be at the end of this week.

This will take a while and involve several changes and some experimenting.

I’m committed to this with focus and commitment. I’m going to be taking my walks very soon. Maria says not yet. I’m listening to her.

After we saw David, we went to see Dr. Daly, the podiatric surgeon treating my foot for more than a year. She loved the new brace and told me she believed it would help a great deak.

Health care is about accepting and finding doctors and providers who will talk to and listen to me and who I can trust.

I appreciate that David figured out I am mule-headed and forcefully reminded me to listen to her. She reads the rules, and I rarely do and remember them.

I’m also happy to report that since I followed the new diabetes regimen my nurse practitioner recommended, my diabetes numbers are just about average and well out of the danger range.

This kind of caring and communication has been such an essential factor in my work to stay healthy and deal with getting my foot healthy and me out and walking again every day.

David is eager to work with me to get this somewhat daring move working. He is honest but also encouraging. I feel hopeful about it and very grateful for this chance to be whole again.

And I’m ready to get to work and take responsibility for my body and my health.

It’s on me

.