Aa
Another waste of time & money at the VA
Yesterday I went to the VA ER in Nashville for right foot pain. I have been having a lot of pain in the area of my right heel for almost 2 months and then started having pain in that ankle as well so I decided it was time to have it checked out. I had been holding out for my PC appointment but that isn't until the end of the month.
I already knew what the heel pain was from research on the Internet (Plantar Fasciitis) and it turns out I was correct. But as usual for me it doesn't present in me like every one else. With everyone else it is most bothersome in the morning and gets better during the day. With me it is just the opposite and by bedtime it is killing me.
It actually didn't start out bad on this trip and was on the Trace by 6AM a perfect time to see deer on the move. What surprised me was that as soon as I got on the Trace every window in my car and my outside mirrors fogged up completely in an instant. Since it takes about 1/2 hour to Trace from my home it kind of spooked me out a little. but after turning on all of my defrosters I settled in for the 2 hour drive up the Trace. I ended up seeing 9 deer in total including a large buck. I got very good look at some of them because they refused to get out of the road and forced me to come to a complete stop.
Things even looked like they were going to be good at the VA when I got there at 8AM. I checked into the ER and a nurse was seeing me within 5 minutes. After taking my vitals see then took me to the ER exam room and the nurse there was talking to me within 4 minutes. After that the doctor was in talking to me and examining my foot with another 3 minutes. At this point I figured I might have everything taken care of by 10AM and be on my way home.
It was at this point things starting getting strange. I had explained that I have MS and that I felt it was muscle spasms in my foot and leg that were causing the basic problem. She asked me if I had steroid IV infusion for my MS before I I said no. It was like she knew that an Steroid infusion would help but since I had not had one before she didn't want to give me that. Instead she ordered that I be taken down to have X-rays done of my foot to make sure there was no bone damage as I had fallen several times due to the pain in my foot.
It took over an hour before someone showed up to take me down to X-ray where they took 12 different shoots of my foot and ankle. I've had my foot X-rayed several times before but never anywhere near this many images. After another 1/2 hour someone finally showed up to take me back up to the ER and another hour before the doctor came back in to see me. She told me everything was fine in my foot as far as the bones but there is some slight calcification seen around my heel and that it is important that I get PT right away and was sending a note to my PC to have her set up the PT.. The last time a doctor from the ER sent my PC a note she didn't read it until my next appointment. So much for right away! She also gave me an Rx for my usual pain medication (3 days worth even though this is a long weekend). She also said I should get a night splint for my foot. Normally for something like that the VA gives them to you. But I don't think I will get those splints anyway since my problem isn't presenting like normal which is what the splints are for.
To top things off on my way home I started getting spasms in my left foot with the same pain as my right foot. So I suspect soon my left foot will be as bad as my right.
I suspect this problem is due to not getting any movement of my foot during the day because my AFO don't let my feet move at all. If the VA had given me those Walk-aides like other VA centers my feet would be moving around during the day like normal and I probably wouldn't be having these issues.
Dennis
I already knew what the heel pain was from research on the Internet (Plantar Fasciitis) and it turns out I was correct. But as usual for me it doesn't present in me like every one else. With everyone else it is most bothersome in the morning and gets better during the day. With me it is just the opposite and by bedtime it is killing me.
It actually didn't start out bad on this trip and was on the Trace by 6AM a perfect time to see deer on the move. What surprised me was that as soon as I got on the Trace every window in my car and my outside mirrors fogged up completely in an instant. Since it takes about 1/2 hour to Trace from my home it kind of spooked me out a little. but after turning on all of my defrosters I settled in for the 2 hour drive up the Trace. I ended up seeing 9 deer in total including a large buck. I got very good look at some of them because they refused to get out of the road and forced me to come to a complete stop.
Things even looked like they were going to be good at the VA when I got there at 8AM. I checked into the ER and a nurse was seeing me within 5 minutes. After taking my vitals see then took me to the ER exam room and the nurse there was talking to me within 4 minutes. After that the doctor was in talking to me and examining my foot with another 3 minutes. At this point I figured I might have everything taken care of by 10AM and be on my way home.
It was at this point things starting getting strange. I had explained that I have MS and that I felt it was muscle spasms in my foot and leg that were causing the basic problem. She asked me if I had steroid IV infusion for my MS before I I said no. It was like she knew that an Steroid infusion would help but since I had not had one before she didn't want to give me that. Instead she ordered that I be taken down to have X-rays done of my foot to make sure there was no bone damage as I had fallen several times due to the pain in my foot.
It took over an hour before someone showed up to take me down to X-ray where they took 12 different shoots of my foot and ankle. I've had my foot X-rayed several times before but never anywhere near this many images. After another 1/2 hour someone finally showed up to take me back up to the ER and another hour before the doctor came back in to see me. She told me everything was fine in my foot as far as the bones but there is some slight calcification seen around my heel and that it is important that I get PT right away and was sending a note to my PC to have her set up the PT.. The last time a doctor from the ER sent my PC a note she didn't read it until my next appointment. So much for right away! She also gave me an Rx for my usual pain medication (3 days worth even though this is a long weekend). She also said I should get a night splint for my foot. Normally for something like that the VA gives them to you. But I don't think I will get those splints anyway since my problem isn't presenting like normal which is what the splints are for.
To top things off on my way home I started getting spasms in my left foot with the same pain as my right foot. So I suspect soon my left foot will be as bad as my right.
I suspect this problem is due to not getting any movement of my foot during the day because my AFO don't let my feet move at all. If the VA had given me those Walk-aides like other VA centers my feet would be moving around during the day like normal and I probably wouldn't be having these issues.
Dennis
I love seeing all the forest critters on my drives to and from work. :) Sounds beautiful down there where you live.
I'm sorry you're having so much pain in your feet! I get foot spasms, too, and they're no picnic! I've also had plantar fasciitis - ugh! The way I got them back together was daily exercise, stretching, and massage. The exercises were:
1. Picking up marbles with my toes and putting the marbles in a cup (seated position).
2. Scrunching up a towel with my toes, starting with one minute, and working up to 5 minutes (seated).
The stretches were:
1. For gastrocnemius, standing about 2 feet from my kitchen counter, I put my hands on the counter, kept my legs straight, and leaned into the counter.
2. For soleus, I stood with my feet shoulder width apart, and bent my knees forward, keeping my heels on the ground.
Both these stretches started at about 15 seconds, each, working up to 1 minute each.
Good luck with this, Dennis! It takes a long time, and a lot of patience (like what in this stupid disease doesn't?).
I'm sorry you're having so much pain in your feet! I get foot spasms, too, and they're no picnic! I've also had plantar fasciitis - ugh! The way I got them back together was daily exercise, stretching, and massage. The exercises were:
1. Picking up marbles with my toes and putting the marbles in a cup (seated position).
2. Scrunching up a towel with my toes, starting with one minute, and working up to 5 minutes (seated).
The stretches were:
1. For gastrocnemius, standing about 2 feet from my kitchen counter, I put my hands on the counter, kept my legs straight, and leaned into the counter.
2. For soleus, I stood with my feet shoulder width apart, and bent my knees forward, keeping my heels on the ground.
Both these stretches started at about 15 seconds, each, working up to 1 minute each.
Good luck with this, Dennis! It takes a long time, and a lot of patience (like what in this stupid disease doesn't?).
First I would have to remember names and places before I could change them! :)
I wear my braces almost all of the time. Otherwise walking could be hazardous to my health.
Dennis
I wear my braces almost all of the time. Otherwise walking could be hazardous to my health.
Dennis
Dennis
Ok, you win on the wildlife count!
I think you could write a book on the VA and just change the names and places! I have a neighbor with that problem, will have to discuss it with her and see what she does for relief.
Do you wear your braces all the time?
Ok, you win on the wildlife count!
I think you could write a book on the VA and just change the names and places! I have a neighbor with that problem, will have to discuss it with her and see what she does for relief.
Do you wear your braces all the time?
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