Trip to the podiatrist

So, I went to see the podiatrist today about my left heel, which still has some kind of sensation that should not be there.  I told him that the orthotic he prescribed for me was fine for short runs, but when I ran between 8 and 12 miles, I would feel shooting pains going up the back of my heel.  He must be an optimistic person because his response was "hey, great, we've got you able to go 8 to 12 miles, wow."  I guess when he saw that I wasn't enthused, he settled down and told me about "how the orthotic process can be a long one, but we'll keep at it and when we eventually get it right, it's right for a long time."  He then went over my options: taking the lift on the insert down, a shot in my heel, continued icing, stretching, and rest.  Being that I wasn't too keen on keeping the orthotics anyway, I decided that we could try to modify them again.  I assured him that I was stretching everyday and had been resting for a solid 2 1/2 weeks now.  As for the shot in my heel--NO, not today.  He tried to push the shot on me last time I was there also, to which I also turned him down.  He then tells me that I could take a series of pills over six days that would do the same thing as the shot--sign me up!

So, away I went to get my orthotics modified again.  The orthotics guy, came out into the lobby and asked me what the Dr. wanted him to do--not a good sign.  I explained to him and he basically told me that that wasn't possible--at this point I don't really care because I'm now 100% going with the NB insert anyway.  He does what he can, and I leave to drop off my prescription.  I get to the pharmacy and hand over the prescription.  The pharmacist quizically looks at it.  She asks me, "Is this a Z-Pack?"  I don't know what a Z-Pack is, so I say, (in my best Forrest Gump voice) "The Dr. told me it was a bunch of pills."  She looks at me and says in her soup nazi voice, "You come back in two hours".  I avoid eye contact and shuffle out.  Not wanting to upset the nazi (pharmacist), I don't come back for four hours.  I get my prescription home and open it up to see what magic beans it holds?  Lo and behold, It's a 6 day steroid program.  Immediately, I have visions of playing second base for the Yankees.  Jerked back to reality like Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, I see that I must take six 4mg tablets for the first day and one less every day after.  Perhaps, I should have opted for the shot.  It's not that I'm afraid of needles.  I've had needles put into my eyes while awake and watching thinking about the old kid's rhyme--something, something, something, stick a needle in my eye.  I forget how it goes, but everyone remembers the last part because a needle in the eye was the worst thing imaginable.

I'll start the roids tomorrow morning.  I volunteer at my kid's school every Tuesday and Thursday morning for an hour.  I help two 2nd grade kids who are struggling to read.  I must say that most days I feel a high that is indescribable when I leave the school.  It really is fulfilling to teach young kids and see them improve.  Anyway, I hope I don't get all roid-raged and go Serena Williams on the kids when they make a mistake.  I think I'm going to wait and see how the steroid treatment feels before I start running again.  If it works as advertised, Comeback 1.0 (Sorry Lance) is in sight.