Obligitary New Year’s Resolution Post
In 2012, I lost 30 pounds with diet and intense exercise and the help of a personal trainer. I don’t lose weight unless I exercise a lot.
Then I developed Morton’s Neuroma’s between my toes. Extremely painful and they made work, let alone exercising, hell. The treatment? Either surgery that would immobilize me for weeks (not an option while working and attending college) or cortisone injections between my toes. They were excruciating. With my doctor’s encouragement, I purchased a $400 pair of orthotics, only to have them blister and bruise my feet. I had them adjusted multiple times and they never fit right.
An effect of the neuromas is that they can cause the muscles of your inner foot to break down, so now I have severe plantar fasciitis, another problem that plagues any population of people who work on their feet.
After multiple treatments by a podiatrist, I was only getting worse. I also had some issues with the doctor, who pushed surgery on me heavily, even when I told him it was really not an option for me. It would take me a year to save the sick time needed for such a procedure, and I do not want to delay my BSN any further.
I switched podiatrist’s and went to one recommended by my primary care doctor. I really trust my primary care. We have a good relationship and I trust him. My new podiatrist is really nice and much more gentle. He prescribed physical therapy and I’m shelling out even more money for new orthotics. I really hope they work. I also got cortisone shots in my heels, OW, and that has helped the pain somewhat.
Tomorrow, while a large part of the country is waking up, I’m going to my first visit with a new personal trainer, as my beloved trainer left my gym. I only have 8 sessions left, but I’m going to use it to kick start exercising again. I want that weight back off and I want to feel good in my body again. Ultimately, it will also help my feet.
Weight loss seems like such a lame goal for a New Year’s Resolution, but I also want to get back into the shape I was before my feet gave up on me.
Other resolutions: Read more books. I read about 20 non school related books last year, and I want to read about 30 this year. I have 4 new books on feminist history and current feminist theory to kickstart me.
Next Resolution: Graduate. I’m due to graduate in August with my BSN, which will grant me a WHOPPING raise. *sarcasm* But if I want to move on to study for my NP, it’s a necessary step.
Additional goals: After Graduation, I’m going to learn to play the guitar and apply to the NP program to start in 2015. I’m going to keep my house cleaner (if possible) and I’m going to work on being kinder to others and being kinder to myself.
Last, I’m going to write more. It is a good coping mechanism that helps me deal with my stress without unloading too much on my husband, friends or coworkers. I’m going to write a few more poems, maybe a story, but I’m going to write.
Posted on January 1, 2014, in Uncategorized and tagged New Year's Resolutions, Personal. Bookmark the permalink. 7 Comments.
ofcourseitsaboutyou 
Best wishes for your suffering feet! And hope you enjoy your reading in 2014 = )
Hang in there. I have the same neuroma issue. It so happens I am also a podiatrist. I have many excellent orthotics. And also different shoes but it seems surgery may be necessary. I recommend certification by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. ABPS.org can be checked online. Another helpful treatment is alcohol neurolysis injections. Good luck.
After my first bout with plantars fasciitis I checked out the info at Johns Hopkins Hospital. They recommended stretching the Achilles frequently and even before getting out of bed. I only had one shot in the heel and swore never again. The stretching made all the difference in the world and has become such a habit I don’t even notice that I am doing it consciously. Pain free for seven years now!
Good luck on reaching your goals! Happy New Year!
Hi GrimalkinRN!
I found your blog through my good friend and colleague- she is now (like me) a psychologist, but she worked as an RN for 15 years before returning to graduate school to get her Ph.D. in psychology.
Everything you say is something to which I think many people in “helping professions” can relate.
And people, please- TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF A PROFESSION DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD SWITCH PROFESSIONS! It is attitudes like the aforementioned that make it difficult and shaming to speak about the realities of our work. And when we can’t speak about it, we burn out and leave the profession.
I will be giving a talk at the Torrance Memorial Medical Center (in Torrance, CA) in May 2014 at a conference for Nursing Professionals. I will be addressing the very topic about which you speak- compassion fatigue and burnout in Nurses.
I would like to use portions of your post in my talk.
Please contact me privately at jenniferkromberg@yahoo.com to speak further about this. I won’t use anything you have written without your permission.
All the Best to you!
Jennifer Kromberg
I think the most important resolution in there is kind of buried. You definitely need to be kinder to yourself. *Hug*
I feel your pain! I have been a nurse since 1967 when I graduated from a 2 year program. Have worked full time since then. Got my BS with major in nursing in late 80’s. I figure I’ll work maybe another year, then can retire without a mortgage payment. I won’t be sorry to retire. Seems many hospitals are out of touch with what their nurses do and what they deal with. It became obvious especially the last couple years. Can’t say what I do for compassion fatigue but have taken an occasional day off so I didn’t go to work and blow my top. Have been on BP meds since age 40 and am not overweight. So maybe I’m not handling it as well as I would like to. Good luck!