I’m sure by now you have heard the expression, “The 40’s is the new 20’s”. Well, why I believe that I don’t look a day over 25 and I don’t feel like I’m in my late 40’s I am going to go ahead and say, my feet disagree with that saying all together. I mean, let’s face it, I’m young but I’m not that young.
Well, I have to share with you my experience that I had recently. For the last two months I’ve been on a serious, and I mean serious weight loss and fitness journey ( I will talk to you more about that when I’m closer to my goal) anyway, because of the intense cardio workouts like sprints, walking on a very high incline, running, jumping rope etc.. it has put some additional pressure on my feet and my knees. Now, please understand I’ve always been working out, but if I’m honest with myself I was just doing enough to maintain. Now, that I’m even more serious about making a body transformation, my cardio game and intensity had to pick-up. So, because of that, the bottoms of my feet and my knees were getting to me a bit. I mean I stretch I bought like three types of tennis shoes that have great support. I got Nike’s, Asics and Ryka’s. Don’t get me wrong all three brands of tennis shoes work pretty good but I was still having issues with my feet and my knees. Therefore, since I am not a doctor and I didn’t need to self-diagnose, I decided to go to the podiatrist.
The Visit
This was actually my first time ever seeing a foot doctor because I always felt like, well I didn’t need to see one. My feet were good. Because I was a new patient, they had to take x-rays of my feet. They took the x-rays and boy did I get a rude awakening. Like I said, my feet are not in their 20’s.
After reviewing the x-rays, the doctor first told me that I have flat feet. And then she said that I have Plantar Fasciitis. Apparently, I’ve had this condition for a long time. When I first heard that I was like “ok…wow.” Then she went on to show me the X-rays and said, “You also have a few bunions.” I almost fell out the chair. All I could think about was the scene in Boomerang when Eddie Murphy was sleeping with Lela Rochan and he pulled back the covers and her feet were HORRIBLE. And then the next day he told his friends about his experience and said, “When I pulled back the covers, it was like hammer time on her feet!” To the naked eye my feet are pretty, even the doctor said so. I said, “Bunions? Are you serious? I thought only people in their 80’s got bunions.?” She said, “Um…no. You have flat feet so you have all of the aliments of a person who has flat feet, but don’t worry there are things you can do to help treat your feet.” As she went over the various things that I can do, like taking Turmeric, using a special inflammatory cream called Voltaren Gel, taking ibuprofen, stretching exercises and soaking my feet, I was just in a daze listening to her. She also recommended that I get some insole inserts for my shoes. Ok, now I need inserts to go in my shoes? What is happening at this moment! After we went over my treatment plan, I asked her why my feet would get numb after I run or walk on the elliptical after about 30 minutes? She said, “Oh that has to do with your circulation!” I wish you all could have seen the look on my face when she said that. “Circulation?” She said, “Yes. Now what you do for that is get some compression socks.” This is when I almost fainted. “Compression socks! So now I’m 80? I’m really old now!” The doctor started laughing and said, “Kim you are not old. I have on compression socks (she’s in her 30’s) and the nurse has them on too (she’s in her 20’s). They will help with your circulation when you are working out.”
I was officially DONE! Let me get this straight, I have flat feet, Plantar Fasciitis, bunions and poor circulation when I work out? I can’t!!!!!! Before I left the doctor’s office, I got fitted for inserts and paid for the one’s that they had in stock. However, I plan on purchasing custom fitted inserts for my shoes. Seriously, I’m glad that I went to the doctors because I didn’t want to really injure myself to the point that I couldn’t work out for a bit. Now, I know what to do for my feet. However, I’m sorry folks the 40’s is not the new 20’s. You know what they are? They are just 40’s and that’s it. What ailment have you discovered now that you are in your 40’s?
Your 40's Shaken but not stirred! 