Since June, I have been struggling with my own personal feet issues. Plantar Fasciitis is what they tell me it’s called. I describe it more as a feeling of walking on rocks when I first awake in the morning, get up from sitting for a while, or after driving for a bit. I thought we had it managed with frozen water bottles rolling under my feet and stretches for my calves and hamstrings, hoping that would relieve some of the tension. I feel like I’m gumbo… as I can stretch until I can’t stretch anymore, and still no relief happens. I bought different types of shoes. Barefoot shoes because walking barefoot was actually really comfortable. But long days on my feet (even when taking time to slowly adjust) made it almost more unbearable the next morning walking after getting out of bed. So I tried another boot; it helped slightly, but now my hips ached because the break-over was too far forward, which strained my hip flexors. My feet still ached just as much as before. So another pair of boots was bought. Some relief was had for about three weeks. I thought I had figured it out. Sweet, sweet relief being able to walk with no pain and being able to manage it.
The great thing is that I have an amazing team that keeps me physically capable of doing my job. My massage therapist does an amazing job of keeping my muscles loose. Working on me has helped give some relief. My physio/chiropractor has been a major help in keeping me physically able to do my job. He keeps my hands in working condition with shockwave, blading, nerve gliding, and so much more. So we talked about possibilities to help my feet. I did the stretches. I rolled my feet. I even worked on loosening the shoulders. I basically became my own client… I just had two feet and not four.
.The break for the holidays seemed like the perfect time to finally dive deep into letting my physio/chiro/body magic worke,r work on my feet. Shockwave was our plan. When we first started shock-waving my hands, it was achy for a day or two. So I knew I was possibly going to need a break. Let’s be honest, try telling an equine professional, farmer, and active human to stay off their feet.... isn't going to be easy.
So here I am sitting with feet that are achy, but for the first time in months I can load my feet evenly. Not just loading on the outside of my feet. What amazed me, when I received the shockwave on my feet, I was so thrilled that as my feet were releasing of the tension so were my shoulders. I could feel the relief all the way up my body. So it started me thinking was it my shoulders that started this foot problem or was it being on my feet all the time in poor fitting shoes the cause. Was it all of these things that caused it?
So here I am a day later….. my shoes now cause my feet to hurt worse. So do I switch my shoes out for a different pair? Do I keep going with what we have been doing and see what shockwave helps?
How many times have I sat with clients discussing a very similar scenario with my clients?
How many times have I sat frustrated, because we can’t seem to figure out why a horse isn’t sound?
So, what do you do? Do you stay the course or change?
I guess I will do what I tell my clients.... one step at a time.
Comments