Trip to the Ortho

Today I went to see the Orthopedic specialist my doctor recommended. Most of my youth was spent in Dr. Dingley's office, and it was always a miserable experience. If the appointment was at 2, I usually saw him at 3:30 or 4:00. He was not a pleasant man, very sterile feeling and looking.

This was the man my parents entrusted to help me walk as normally as possible. He had me go through braces on my legs, orthopedic shoes(which are not cool when you are a kid), and I had to undergo a surgery which radically altered my right foot. I will tell you, I was never 100% convinced that surgery did anything.

So as I waited for Dr. Patel to come in, I flashed back to all those horrible times. I especially remember Dr. Dingley telling my I would not be able to walk when I was in my 60s.

Dr. Patel could not have been nicer. I explained the pain I had in my foot a few weeks ago, and he explained that yes I do have Arthritis in my foot, and the pain was a nerve. I had stretched my foot pretty bad and it triggered the nerve pain.

We talked about my running. Yes, I can keep running. Three times a week is fine. Water running is a recommended cross train. He wants to keep an eye on how I do after the marathon. He doesn't think orthodics would help me at all(good). He also told me my suspicions about how the surgery in my teens probably did not do much was right on. He indicated it was probably the best they could do then.

So all is go for Portland...I just have to get the runs in.

Charlie