Good morning! As usual I woke up with something on my mind that I am most happy to share with you. Today it was time ill spent in a specialists office waiting room. This was probably 4 years ago since I was referred there by my friend John, who has now been deceased almost 2 years. I had an incident about 5 years ago where I actually went to my primary care doctor because I thought I had a needle in my foot. He of course scoffed at me, but since I was insistent, he sent me for an xray. When he came back clear he dismissed it as my active imagination. In hindsight, I should have been more insistent, but I wasn't. Maybe it was my imagination.
So, after due time and the pain was still in my foot, I learned to ignore it. Then one morning I noticed that my second toe was a tiny bit shorter then my big toe. I thought that was weird, but therein again was my active imagination. It kept getting shorter and I could no longer ignore the "needle in my foot pain" so I called my primary and told him I needed a referral to a foot doctor. Since John had an amputation I asked for a referral to his doctor that he thought highly of as a very qualified doctor. So, I called that office. Sadly, his doctor was not taking new patients, but his colleague was. The appointment was made.
The office was downtown and the day arrived. Being the anal retentive person I am, I arrived early. With the paperwork done, I set back to wait. After about 45 minutes I was called and sent back to x-ray. That took probably 3 minutes. Back in the waiting room I looked for a magazine I had not already seen. I looked at the walls. Time finally passed and I was called back into the office of Doctor "I-walk-on-water." He handed me a pair of arch supports and told me I had a "morton's neuroma." When I asked him why he did not even look at the x-ray, he told me he did not need to because it was classic and the x-ray, which he would look at later, would confirm his diagnosis. He added that the arch supports would take care of the problem. They cost $90 which my insurance, of course , did not pay. He also gave me a prescription for some sort of pill that would clear "it" up. And we made an appointment for 30 days. Three hours and I finally had an answer and saw my car waiting for me. Good car.
I came straight home and googled Morton's Neuroma. "First manifests as a feeling of a needle in the foot between the 3rd and 4th toe." Bingo! Treatment called for was the prescription for the pill I now had in my possession. So, I started my regimen of pill taking and waited for my next appointment.
If I thought the first appointment was slow, I was in for a real treat on the next one. I arrived early, as usual, paid my $50 co-pay and set back to wait. This time I was ready and had brought my crocheting and a book I was reading. Should have brought a pillow! After one hour I approached the desk. The waiting room had completely emptied and a whole new bunch of people filled the space. I was told that doctor would see me very soon. The waiting room emptied again. By this time I was beginning to feel like an unwanted step child at a family reunion. I approached the desk a second time. The third time the waiting room emptied and refilled, I lost my patience. I demanded my $50 co-pay back and left. So much for referrals from friends.
The next time I have a health problem, which is rarely if ever, I will first google it to find the treatment. Then I will self medicate with herbs from the friendly Natural Health Foods or Amazon and keep my money at home.
So, here I set with 2 feet that have the second toe shorter. I have learned a lot about this condition the last few years and I have this advice for anyone who is unlucky enough to think they have stepped on a needle. Google it. Tell your doctor what it is. Get a cortizone shot in the bottom of your foot before it is too late.
I expect that some day I will either have to have something done about it or die of old age. I am betting on the latter!
So, after due time and the pain was still in my foot, I learned to ignore it. Then one morning I noticed that my second toe was a tiny bit shorter then my big toe. I thought that was weird, but therein again was my active imagination. It kept getting shorter and I could no longer ignore the "needle in my foot pain" so I called my primary and told him I needed a referral to a foot doctor. Since John had an amputation I asked for a referral to his doctor that he thought highly of as a very qualified doctor. So, I called that office. Sadly, his doctor was not taking new patients, but his colleague was. The appointment was made.
The office was downtown and the day arrived. Being the anal retentive person I am, I arrived early. With the paperwork done, I set back to wait. After about 45 minutes I was called and sent back to x-ray. That took probably 3 minutes. Back in the waiting room I looked for a magazine I had not already seen. I looked at the walls. Time finally passed and I was called back into the office of Doctor "I-walk-on-water." He handed me a pair of arch supports and told me I had a "morton's neuroma." When I asked him why he did not even look at the x-ray, he told me he did not need to because it was classic and the x-ray, which he would look at later, would confirm his diagnosis. He added that the arch supports would take care of the problem. They cost $90 which my insurance, of course , did not pay. He also gave me a prescription for some sort of pill that would clear "it" up. And we made an appointment for 30 days. Three hours and I finally had an answer and saw my car waiting for me. Good car.
I came straight home and googled Morton's Neuroma. "First manifests as a feeling of a needle in the foot between the 3rd and 4th toe." Bingo! Treatment called for was the prescription for the pill I now had in my possession. So, I started my regimen of pill taking and waited for my next appointment.
If I thought the first appointment was slow, I was in for a real treat on the next one. I arrived early, as usual, paid my $50 co-pay and set back to wait. This time I was ready and had brought my crocheting and a book I was reading. Should have brought a pillow! After one hour I approached the desk. The waiting room had completely emptied and a whole new bunch of people filled the space. I was told that doctor would see me very soon. The waiting room emptied again. By this time I was beginning to feel like an unwanted step child at a family reunion. I approached the desk a second time. The third time the waiting room emptied and refilled, I lost my patience. I demanded my $50 co-pay back and left. So much for referrals from friends.
The next time I have a health problem, which is rarely if ever, I will first google it to find the treatment. Then I will self medicate with herbs from the friendly Natural Health Foods or Amazon and keep my money at home.
So, here I set with 2 feet that have the second toe shorter. I have learned a lot about this condition the last few years and I have this advice for anyone who is unlucky enough to think they have stepped on a needle. Google it. Tell your doctor what it is. Get a cortizone shot in the bottom of your foot before it is too late.
I expect that some day I will either have to have something done about it or die of old age. I am betting on the latter!
