Last week I saw my PM&R Doctor. Typically I don’t mind these appointments, and sometimes actually look forward to them, however I thought about canceling this one. Then I remembered how much planning goes into just one visit and changed my tune, although somewhat reluctantly.
The plan for this appointment was to see where things stood post Botox. The last round wasn’t successful so I needed to wait for it to fully wear off before deciding what to do, if anything, from now on.
Since October a lot has changed. I’ve pretty much stopped going to the gym regularly. I’m lucky if I’m there once a week, unlike my usually scheduled 3 times a week. It’s not something I planned on doing long term, but it’s becoming that way. The weather hasn’t been very cooperative. Cold has never really been my friend but we’re better friends than myself and daily drastic temperature changes are. Add to that the fact that I’ve had a cold and I’m not in the best place, at least right now.
Not surprisingly my right leg is incredibly tight.
I thought I’d ask the (becoming) important brace question again, since the answer wasn’t clear to me last time. It’s not that I want a new brace. I’d rather go without one, if possible. But I asked for two reasons, the first being I’ve never had a brace last longer than a year (and this one is 3+). The second reason being Botox is off the table.
When my right side gets tight enough I walk completely on my toes, even with my brace on now. I can’t feel my toes so I’m not in any pain by doing this; however it’s pretty hard to balance (never mind walk) when you’re toe walking with one foot and heel-toe walking (or standing) with the other.
I’d rather not change my brace since I know the alternative probably means a brace with a hinge. I hate braces with hinges, or more accurately I hate what hinged braces do to my pant legs (rips them) and shoes (stretches them out). But I’ll side with “team function” over “team fashion” (at least this time) if it means I don’t feel like a drunk duck.
“I think we should try Botox one more time”
Now please reread the last sentence of paragraph 5.
“…Botox is off the table….”
…or not.
In keeping with the “less is more” treatment plan we’ll decrease the amount of Botox. In fact the amount is so low my doctor took a shot and tried to see if I was still approved for Botox before I left the office. (I wasn’t.) Typically things wouldn’t happen so fast but my insurance issues are legendary so why not try.
There is one little caveat to trying Botox again. He wants to wait 2 months.
(Wanting to do it in the office last week was purely an insurance based decision.)
My right leg is so tight he wants to see what it looks like when I devote time to stretching it. Which I never do. I never have. Any stretching of any of my parts happens at the gym, by someone else. It’s one of the areas in my life where I am completely non-compliant. He would like me to stretch twice a day (everyday). We settled on once a day (everyday)
We’re giving it a try one more time for the 5th time, but who’s counting?
In an ideal world the 5th try will be like the 3rd.
Who’s going to call me twice a day to tell me to stretch?
That last part about stretching made me laugh. If I were writing this, it’d say exactly the same thing. I have an alarm on my phone, but I still don’t really listen to it. But being compliant in everything else has to count for something right?!
I wear an AFO on my left leg only and it has done wonders! The care I received at Gillette Lifetime was awesome! I hope you can find a treatment plan that works for you!