Thursday, August 25, 2022

Booted and suited?

 Nearly 20 months ago I was walking....and walking....and walking......on a daily basis. It was 
Covid times, I live alone, and via a network of good friends, I was able to walk in a beautiful place, almost daily. Those days out walking were partly responsible for me maintaining my sanity through tough times.
Yet on one of those last walks, something happened to my left heel/ankle. I thought it would calm down with some rest, but in fact the pain increased and the last 20 months have seen my ankle swell/go down/be hot/just bloody hurt. So 'limping Lil' I became. As there was a lot happening in my life last year, I put dealing with my ankle to the back of a long list, and when she was lucid, my Ma said to me 'you're still limping ..promise me you'll get your foot sorted' So I promised. A GP looked at it and referred me for an xray, which showed a possible fracture, some tendon problems and some bone spurs...it was recommended that I have a course of pain killers...tick.....have a course of extra corporeal shock wave therapy..tick...rest it..tick...don't rest but exercise....tick......most recently I was referred to an ankle and foot consultant who organised an MRI. Which showed a piece of bone sticking into my tendon...he said 'that looks angry..which is why it hurts' ......anyhoo. He has suggested that in couple of weeks I have an injection and be fitted with a 'boot' for six weeks. I'm guided by him of course but don't see how this will fix the problem....and yet he stresed he really really doesn't want to just go in and remove the offending bit of bone.
I am a 'sheeple' person....a follower not a leader...so I obey orders. Has anyone worn a boot and/or had the same problem? My nephew is a medico and looked at the MRI too...he also stressed that I 'shouldn't have the operation' Is it because I'm old? or NHS resources are stretched enough and I should go away and not bother them? or that the bone spurs are likely to reappear?.
Whatever......I'll take the consultants advice.

Monday, August 22, 2022

Recommendations?

 I'm planning to go to Belfast with a school friend for 2 nights at the beginning of November.

We are two 'ladies of a certain age' who have been friends since school, and both have a November birthday...so instead of meeting for a meal and drink as usual we thought we would take a flying visit to somewhere we haven't been to before...to walk and be touristy and have a drink.

Having never been before we don't know the areas.....does anyone have a Hotel they can 

recommend?