One shock after another: it’ll do a body good (hopefully)

The last couple days have been busy ones, health-wise; I just hope I’m going in the right direction, because right now I’m a bundle of nerves.  Unfamiliar ones.

Yesterday afternoon, I returned to my new dentist for 6 ‘deep fillings’ and a lower front tooth restore.  I was expecting a laid back session, as I was there 2 weeks ago and he gave me one of the best & relaxing teeth cleanings I ever had.  This session was a lot more intense though.  He had my lower mouth propped open for 2 1/2 hours and I think he gave me one too many shots of novacaine (because of all my flinching).  I awoke this morning with a VERY achy face and weird ‘stiffness’ around my mouth & chin.  Not a great feeling.  It died down this afternoon but returned after dinner.

(My bill was also $1,086.00—that’s what happens when you have no dental insurance!)  Anyway, I’m just hoping the soreness in my face ends in the next day or two.

Today was my appointment with the plantar specialist, Dr. Bill.  He did a thorough examination of my calves, ankles and feet.  I explained to him my sedentary routine for 16 months from long covid, then “getting back out there” with 2 mile walks to the senior center and back, 2-3 days a week.  Then a month ago I began experiencing burning sensations in my calves, then a week or so later, my feet.

He did tapping, twisting & pressure point tests, and diagnosed me with plantar fasciitis.   He told me he could work manually on my feet and calves alone, which my insurance would cover (minus a $32.00 copay), or I could also receive shockwave therapy.  He said he’s treated many people with plantar, and the shockwave patients usually recover in half the time his manual-only patients do.  I believed him, I’ve been reading up on this shock therapy a lot these last couple weeks. 

Unfortunately, my insurance does NOT cover the shock therapy and he told me it would be an additional $100 for a 30 minute session, or I could pay ahead and get 5 weekly sessions for the price of 3.  So that’s what I went with, not including the session I got today (which didn’t cost me extra besides my copay).

He had me lie on my back, while he rubbed ‘conductor goop’ on my right foot first, then my left.  It was cool & soothing.  Then he begain running that machine—“tik tik tik tik”.  I told him I didn’t feel anything.  He told me that the healthy parts of feet wouldn’t, there would only be pain in areas with damaged fascia or scar tissue.  Sure enough. I soon began having some very painful reactions.  He kept track of my responses, and came up with a pretty good map of where things are not good, numbered 1-8 for pain.

Dr. Bill thinks I’ll be in better shape in 5 weeks time, but told me no more ice; cool or lukewarm foot baths only.  He also told me no NSAIDs for 48 hours following a session, Tylenol only.  My next one is next Wednesday. 

I’m sorry for all this health stuff, I promise my next blog is going to be a better one—it’ll be all about food.