The journey continues for me. Since my knee is doing so well, I've been able to be more active. In being more active I've gone out walking several times a week 2 1/2 miles each time. But...there is a glitch! After walking and during walking after 2 miles or so, my back hurts sooooo much!! So much that after I am done, I can't been down or stoop down to even pick up the dog dish to feed my dogs, can't sit down in a chair without pain and can't roll over in bed at night...
The culprit is my leg length difference created by the doctor who did my 1st revision knee. Back then in December 2013, I was told by my doctor that the leg length different was within the acceptable range. Acceptable to who??? I have struggled with it since December 2013. After 6 months of hip and back pain I sought out a podiatrist who made me orthotics to raise me up on the left side. The orthotics had to be tweaked 3 different times. I don't believe they were ever right. I was told by my 1st revision doctor and my 2nd revision doctor that I could have my shoe modified. I replied each time..."What shoe?" I have so many shoes...I work in a running speciality store and own 75 or more pair of shoes!! "I can't wear just 'one' pair of shoes!"
Well pain trumps fashion! I've spend a couple of hours last week with a Pedorthist who specializes in orthotics and shoe modification. Boy...what an eye opener!! The orthotics that the podiatrist made me that I have been wearing the better part of two years raise up my heel. but not the front of my foot. Essentially I have been walking around in a high heel and a flat all of this time. Throwing off my gait, causing back and hip pain. I picked out one pair of running shoes and had the left shoe modified. Instead of just raising up my heel, my entire foot needed to be raised up by 3/8 inch (almost 1 cm). I also bought a pair of Birkenstock sandals and had the left one modified. As I never get to wear sandals, always running shoes and socks to accommodate the orthotics which ended up being wrong for me all of this time.
Yesterday I picked up my Asics shoe and my Birkenstock. I wore the Asics all day yesterday and the Birkenstocks so far today. It feels so much more comfortable to have both feet flat on the ground instead of the left wearing a heel and the right wearing a flat!!
I am supposed to wear only these two pair of shoes for a couple of weeks till it is determined that this is indeed the correct height. Once that is determined they will made me a flat insert that raises my entire foot from heel to toe the same amount, that I can put into the shoes that I don't want to get modified. Since I have so many shoes, I will get more modified too once it is determined that this is the relief that I have been looking for. The real test will be for me to go walk my 2 1/2 route and see if I have back/hip pain or not.
So its not over until its over. Always keep searching for answers until you get the answers that make you feel good and happy!! Never give up!
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