For the past two months' I have been suffering from tendonitis in my right heel. I had to stop dancing, which was the main source of joy in my life, and then give up long walks, a second source of joy. I tried to minimize aggravation, but as time wore on and I walked less and less and iced more and more, the pain did not go away.Last week I tried acupuncture without much success. I have also tried myofascial release, which helped with some of the pain but my heel was still burning and aching when I walked too far, or uphill. Yesterday a pediatrist gave me this boot to immobilize the tendon entirely so that it can heal. I need to wear it all day long, everywhere, for the next two months. I am doing it gladly.
The greatest happiness for me since I started antibiotics for Lyme Disease has been to exercise again. After seven years of barely being able to stand up, to then feel my heart working and my body in motion was a joy that had no comparison. A few months into the antibiotics I started Lindy Hop classes-- during those hours I was happier than I can describe. As my strength built gradually over the months, I took more classes and spent more time each week dancing. No matter what else was going on in my life, if I could make it out to dance I could count on being immensely happy for the evening.
So in January when my heel started to hurt, I stupidly kept dancing, until I simply couldn't anymore. I rested it and tried again in a week-- only to make it worse. When I saw my naturopath, Amy Derksen, she said the Lyme Disease was further aggravating the injury and making it difficcult to heal. I started a second antibiotic to put the Lyme in check, and now, with the boot and a little patience, I am hoping this will do the trick. If I were the praying type, I would pray. I want to dance again.
11 comments:
hi，Naomi，i admire you brave spirit.this article makes me could feel your pain.are you writing poetry and stories now?that is an interesting work.
i suffered from Ankylosing Spondylitis（强直性脊柱炎）since 1999，when i was a senior high school student,i can feel the intolerable pain everyday，now i am a graduate student,i play taichi quan(太极拳) everyday，but the pain still bother me. if you like you can go to a school to learn taichiquan.
i am a chinese student!
that is not an advertisement,i am in Tianjin China.
Hi Naomi,
You're not alone. I don't hear much talk about lyme and tendonitis, but it certainly affects me. Periodically I'll have pain in a forearm or somewhere, and thinking back realize that I did "something" a couple of days ago. "Something" as strenuous as opening three jars in succession. The problem with tendonitis is that it requires *so much* non-use to fix. I find that it can come right back months later over the smallest thing. Sounds like your cast should help quite a bit. Just take it slowly afterward.
Hi Joe:
Yes, I am sure this is related to Lyme! The MD I went to said tendonitis is due to "normal wear and tear." I spent seven years of my adult life in bed, two after that walking about 4 blocks a day. Now that I am a little more active for 1 year I've got tendonitis!
I'm finding myofascial release helps. More about it in my new post, and I will let you know how it goes.
Hi Lotos:
How nice to have someone in China reading my blog! I have heard that Taichi can help. It is a beautiful exercise. Thanks for reading!
Naomi
:),i can send you some books or pictures of how to play taichi ,if you wish.
Hi Lotos: Thank you so much for your offer! I think this is too much to ask of you, especially since there are books and many other ways to learn taichi here. It is very popular in the US. I will learn it if I get a chance.
Naomi
I started dancing last year after a 9 year hiatus, 2 of which were Lyme related. Like you, I was overjoyed to feel alive again! Then, last night at rehearsal, I felt a pop under my toe. I'll probably be getting the same cast tomorrow. The situation is so unfair, but I'm trying to find ways to keep my spirits up...
Hi Kush--
Follow up to this fairly out-of-date post: I am dancing again without problems. (I am also riding my bike and running.) I spent nine months getting myofascial release and the tendonitis is gone now. Yes, the Lyme creates adhesions which create problems in muscles, and tendonitis. But there is a cure!
I don't know if your foot issues are the same as mine.... My myofascial therapist says even plantar fascitis can be treated this way. If you are in Seattle I can give you her info.
I know how hard it is to stop dancing up! I hope you get better soon.
Naomi
Thanks, Naomi. I'm in Washington, D.C. Turns out it is a sesmoid fracture. Will get PT, orthotics and bone building supplements.
Good luck! I hope you heal quickly!
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