Next steps

Remember the issues I’ve been having with numbness in my big toe? I’ve gotten all the test results back and they don’t show a reason for that numbness. To recap, here’s what's happened:

Late February, the top of my foot hurt. Being my mother’s daughter and knowing that the tincture of time often cures aches and pains, I waited a couple of weeks, and also retied my running shoelaces so they didn’t cross that spot on my foot.

But over the next two weeks, I got pins and needles down into my toe and then a bit of numbness plus the pain on the top of my foot. I got it checked out by an NP who ordered an X-ray. Nothing showed so I shrugged and moved on.

Two months later, the numbness, pins and needles worsened, and then my foot broke while on a training run.

Obviously, I didn’t run for a while and I figured if this numbness etc. was caused by running, then the time off should give my foot time to recover. Nope, that didn’t happen. 

I went to the podiatrist both for the break, which I will say took ages to heal, and this numbness and pins and needles. She had me go back to the orthopedist; several x-rays and an MRI later, everyone agreed that my bone was very slowly healing, and no one had any clue on why I had this numbness and pins and needles in my big toe.

In December, the orthopedist referred me to a neurology consult on the off chance that the numbness etc. was caused by a nerve impingement. I saw the neurologist in April, and he ordered two tests (nerve conduction test and an EMG, both of which were very, very unpleasant). Neither test identified any issues, so he ordered an MRI of my spine to rule out any issues there. As expected, that also came back absolutely fine.

So here I am with this numbness and pins and needles and no idea what’s causing it or how to get it to stop. But I’m tired of waiting, I have fitness goals I want to work on. Today I booked my first session with a personal trainer—he and his wife are experts in fitness for people who’ve had cancer, and I'd checked out their gym right before COVID shut everything down last year.

I have two goals:

• Prep for and run the Grandma’s Marathon next June. This is the marathon I’d registered for last year only of course, it shifted to virtual (ugh) and I broke my foot. I have a discount code for it that has to be used no later than next summer’s race. I’m bound and determined to be there.
• Prep for staying as physically healthy and strong as I can during my older years. After watching how fast my mother-in-law lost all her strength, I’m committed to doing everything I can to avoid that kind of frailty. Sure, it’s not always avoidable but often it is.

More to come after my first session (which is next Wednesday).

Well this is confusing

 From my MRI report:

There is a non-displaced fracture involving the third metatarsal neck. There is no acute bone marrow or soft tissue edema. The findings may reflect a fracture nonunion. 

From my x-ray report a week later (and I promise you nothing has changed in my foot):

A band of sclerosis is present involving the distal diaphysis of the third metatarsal. This is felt to represent a healed stress fracture.

Those are pretty different diagnoses. I've got a note into the super duper specialist (the one who actually ordered this x-ray last week) to see which one is accurate. Because honestly if the x-ray findings are accurate, not only will I be ecstatic I'll also go running. 

Bonus kitty picture to spice things up.

And here's the reply from Dr. R's nurse:

I spoke with Dr. R and he said the xray is what gives us the most up to date information. So I would say the Xray is gospel!  He said basically you are producing a band of sclerosis in that area which is your body's way of trying to heal the stress fracture.  He said that this could be an area of what is called hyperostotic non-union or is an area of bone formation in the face of a non-union.  He explained that typically those situation do go on to heal but they may require surgical intervention.  He encourages you to keep your appointment with the foot specialist.  

An MRI of a different sort

Yesterday, I had what I called a super-duper fancy pants MRI. This was different from any I’ve had before (and I’ve had several) because it was face down with my breasts sort of hanging down in two openings.

I was extremely anxious about this MRI, in a way I haven’t been for previous ones. I realized it was because of the face-down position—that provoked a huge fear response in me. So when the Care Bear team mentioned a sedative was an option if I were claustrophobic, I said yes. Now, I’m not claustrophobic but honestly that fear response was pretty intense.

As directed, I took a dose an hour before my scheduled time. Once we got there—since I’d taken the sedative, Kent had to take me there—I learned they were running an hour behind. I was thankful they’d prescribed two doses and asked that they give me a heads up on when to take it so I’d be covered.

I was a little surprised that they got me back to the changing area immediately, had me change and then started the IV so soon (this was a contrast MRI). I sat there with Kent for a good 90 minutes just hanging out in my fashionable gowns (I wore two for warmth). I spent the time reading and texting Ben--sent him this picture to show him his fashionable mom.

The poor woman ahead of me had terrible veins and it took something like four or five tries to get her IV going. I was so grateful that while I’m terrified of needles, usually the IV goes in on the first try. As promised, they did let me know about 30 minutes before when they thought they’d get me into the MRI to go ahead and take the second dose.

The set up reminded me a little bit of a massage table because it had one of those head rests with the open spot for your face. Of course, no massage room would ever be that cold or loud!

They took a series of scans, then injected the dye for the next series. I wondered, though, how the dye gets to the other side? My IV was in my right arm and I could feel the dye moving up my arm (not painful, just a little chilly). But how does it get to the left side?

Anyway, about 45 minutes later, we were done, I got changed and we headed home. Between the sedative and the anxiety, I was beat and in bed with the lights off by 7:30.

I should get the results in 24 to 48 hours and then we’ll see if my dense tissue is hiding anything else in there.