For the past several months I have had a great deal of pain on the bottom of my right foot. The pain started in the ball of my foot and then traveled to my heel. I blamed it on dancing I had done at a wedding back in June followed by more dancing at a birthday party a month or so later. After several more weeks with no relief whatsoever (time heals all wounds??), I decided to go see a podiatrist.
The reason I waited so long before seeing a foot doctor was a lousy experience I had with one such doc during my high-school years. The guy had diagnosed me with gout, gave me a shot in the most painful part of my foot, and then told me to stop being such a big baby and to stop crying. Talk about a lack of bedside manner!
Nevertheless, this time I asked my wonderful “regular” doctor for a referral to a podiatrist who wouldn’t make me want to smack him or her, and he quickly gave me the contact information for Dr. Pedram Aslmand.
I am happy to report that after just three appointments with Dr. A, my heel feels about 75 percent better. On my first visit in, he gave me a shot in the heel (not as painful as it sounds), wrapped my foot with adhesive tape, suggested I ice it often and wear a boot-like contraption to bed. I did as he requested and felt a bit better. During my second visit, Dr. A once again wrapped my foot, told me to keep icing it, keep wearing the boot, and suggested I stop wearing shoes that were not supportive or flexible. Before I left his office, he told me I should get my husband to rub my foot every night to help with the circulation and stretching of the affected area. I knew getting Steve to even touch my foot would not be an easy task— since he’s not exactly a “foot guy.” So, after telling Dr. A that getting the rub would be nearly impossible, he quickly pulled out a prescription pad and wrote “husband to rub heel for 10 minutes every night,” signed it and handed it to me. Now that’s what I call having a great bedside manner!
Since that visit, I am getting my foot rubbed regularly and am feeling about 80 percent better. Hmmm; I wonder what other kind of “prescription” I can get. Maybe a back rub or breakfast in bed! I’ll keep you posted on my progress. I have a feeling this won’t be the last of the story! Check out Dr. Aslmand at footadvice.com . His office is over on Long Beach Boulevard near Spring Street.
