Let Me Watch You Walk

Full-Length Orthotics Gives Me Hope

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 30 seconds

As Dr. Limido stepped into Curalta Health‘s examination room, I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you finally,” I said, feeling a rush of anticipation after four long days confined to slow, diminutive walks. The thought of getting a proper assessment from a podiatrist was like a glimmer of hope for my foot health. The anticipation was palpable, and I was ready to take the next step towards recovery.

She chuckled, admitting that she usually doesn’t receive such a warm welcome. I seized the moment to share a bit about my situation: the nagging pain, my love for long walks, and how she was the first name that jumped out from Dr. Subramanian‘s list of recommendations, not to mention the fact that she accepted my insurance. It felt good to be taking a step towards recovery, finally!

Dr. Limido asked me questions to clarify my situation while examining my feet. “It looks like you have plantar fasciitis,” she said. Noticing the concern on my face, she added, “It is treatable, especially since you have a high arch.” When she mentioned the arch, my mind wandered to images of high-arch railroad bridges. She brought me back to reality by saying that she needed to take some X-rays and wanted to observe my walking. She picked up my shoes and asked me to walk barefoot down the hall. Her diagnosis was a relief, but the thought of a treatment plan was daunting.

As someone who is used to looking at dental images, I found it interesting to see X-rays of my feet and toes. Dr. Limido explained the pictures and emphasized that, aside from the plantar fasciitis, my feet were in good condition. She pointed out a small bone spur but clarified that it was not the cause of my problem. I wanted to ask a question, but I hesitated. Would that have granted me a draft exemption?

She asked for my foot size and said she would be back shortly with a pair of full-length orthotics from PowerStep. Picking up my shoes, Dr. Limido explained that I would need to remove my current insole inserts and replace them. I nodded in agreement, and before I could count to three, she had taken out the old ones and put in the new ones. She then showed me a few exercises I needed to do daily. Then she instructed me to “Walk down the hall while I prepare the prescription for the physical therapist.”

My feet glided down the hallway as I felt pain-free for the first time in a week. If there had been a door at the end of the hallway, I would have walked around the block while Dr. Limido finished the paperwork. When she caught up with me on my fourth or fifth lap, she said, “If you want to keep those, they are $60.” I smiled and agreed to the purchase, as it was the first time in a week I felt confident I could walk again.