Footwear is a serious issue, I tell you

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a lump on my right ankle and Speedy brought me to the doctor a few days later. An x-ray was taken and, pending a reading of the x-ray, on Facebook I was joking that I had developed an Achilles heel from watching Troy too often. If you’re a relatively new reader, read this so you’ll understand the Brad Pitt angle.

Anyway, the lump… I hadn’t noticed it until a few weeks ago but the nagging pain on my right ankle started around December. I didn’t think much about it then. Probably fatigue, I told myself, the way things usually go around Christmas time. And we were still fixing the house at that time. So, it might even have been double fatigue. But when I noticed the lump exactly where the pain is usually concentrated, I stopped being so dismissive. Alex said all I needed were socks. She thinks the lump would never have formed if I weren’t so adamant about not wearing socks.

The doctor said the lump wasn’t attached to the bone and that was good news. It appeared to be a mass of hardened skin — fibrous — that most probably developed over a long period of time from constant friction with shoes. The mass of hardened skin has probably been there for a while but I never noticed it until it formed into a lump because it had become swollen which explains the pain. I’m supposed to place a hot compress on it twice a day, apply lotion then an ointment to soften it then go back for another check-up in two to three weeks. If there is no improvement, it will have to be surgically removed although the doctor said the chance that surgery would be required was rather slim.

Now, here’s the thing. I was advised to avoid any kind of footwear that will bear more pressure on my heel. Good thing I use nothing but Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers these days (not since the days of espadrilles have my feet known anything so light and comfortable and stylish too). If I have to wear anything heavier or thicker, I should place a foam padding between my ankle and the shoe. Me being me, I told him it was a good excuse to get rid of my old shoes and buy more Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers. I wish. I have to admit though that Alex was right in a sense. Socks would definitely help when I wear sneakers.

So, if parts of the skin on your feet are thickening, don’t think it’s a small price to pay for being able to wear fashionable shoes. I wore leather pumps and lovely sandals during all the years that I was working and never realized that I’d pay the price someday. The funny thing is, I am so against wearing pointies and spiky heels and anything that wasn’t too friendly to my feet no matter how sexy they looked. I always went for comfort so I chose shoes with rounded or open toes. You know, so the toes could wiggle. And I never bought shoes that were too narrow for my feet either. Who would have thought that trouble would strike at the ankle? Sometimes, even when you’re careful, you’re still not careful enough.