Megan:

I'll never forget (years ago), when I got up in the morning, planted my right foot on the floor and when I tried to walk, I almost died. I said "Alan, I can't walk, there's something wrong with my foot".

This was over 20 years ago. I didn't even get to the podiatrist. We had our doctors within driving distance to our home, so we just drove there. I limped in and said "there's something wrong with my foot". He took an x-ray and told me "you have a heel spur". I was QUITE obese at the time, so naturally I said "well, if I lost weight, would that help"??? And the guy said 'it would make absolutely no difference".

I have never forgotten that conversation.

He put me on the table and gave me a shot. (Back then, there were no ultrasound treatments with the shot (maybe in the podiatrists offices, but not in my primary care guy's office).

Then he said: "you need orthotics". Thank god I had insurance because I remember they were a lot of money. Well, weeks passed by, the orthotics came in, I wore them and felt much better.

Then as the years flew by, we moved, I got a podiatrist and the heel spur thing came back. This time I saw the x-rays and I said 'oh my god, what the heck is that on the x-ray". The podiatrist said 'that's a double heel spur, you can hang a coat on that one". I just looked at him. I came in there not able to walk one bit. I had misplaced my original orthotics over the years.

So he did new impressions (and I remember asking him "if I lost weight, would it make a difference?? " and he replied "no, it won't".

So I had my second pair of orthotics.

I wore them every day. I also lost weight. S L O W L Y. That's how I do it. I wish it could do it like Alan does, but my body works in it's own way.

Two or so years ago, the heel spur thing hit again. I could not walk. That's when I got another shot, and did the ultrasound. I remember asking the doctor "can't you just go in and snip this sucker and get it out?"

He replied "no, we don't do that". I have always wondered why.

Well, to just make a long story short. I lost a tremendous amount of weight, AND I NEVER HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH MY HEEL SPURS (OR DOUBLE THINGS), again. I have no idea why. I no longer wear any orthotics. I'm sure they are in the closet somewhere but I haven't worn them in years.

I do however, wear my CROCKS every day.

I have no heel problems whatsoever.

So, whether it's the crocks, or the fact that I lost weight, who on earth cares?? One less pain to deal with is how I look at things.

take care,

Melody