Mystery Diagnosis

 

You don’t have to know me really well to realize that one of the things I’m really good at is worrying.  Chief among my worries is . . . what medical condition is now afflicting me.

In the past couple years, I have been diagnosed with GAD, GERD, aneurysm, blepharitis, herniated esophagus, laryngospasms, tendonitis, herniated disc, and the list goes on.  Now, I’m not sure how many of these actually count, as they were all diagnosed by me.  I am not a medical professional, nor do I play one on TV, and I have not stayed at a Holiday Inn Express; but, two of my favorite shows are House and Mystery Diagnosis, so I figure this must count for something.

Of course, there is a method to my madness.  I don’t just decide one day I have the Hantavirus.  It is a process.  Here’s how it goes. . . .

• First I notice a symptom and mention it to me.  “Becky, there is a pain on the left side of your left foot – what could that be?”
• Second I periodically check in on the symptom to see how it is developing.
• Third, when it doesn’t go away after a week, two weeks, a month, a year (really it just depends on how often I decide to check in on the symptom) I form an opinion . . . a diagnosis if you will.

Currently, I have self-diagnosed my very own bunionette or Tailor’s Bunion.

Here’s an interesting fact . . . Tailor’s Bunion got its name because centuries ago tailors sat cross-legged all day with the outside edge of their feet rubbing on the ground. This constant rubbing led to a painful bump at the base of the little toe. Today, it is known that a bunionette develops at the base of the little toe when the long bone that connects to the toe bends away from the foot.  Then the little toe bends inward and the joint swells or enlarges.

Self-diagnosis, of course, can be a concerning habit.  Medical professionals tell you all the time “STAY AWAY FROM THE INTERNET” (naysayers).  Let’s throw caution to the wind and see if I truly have a bunionette.

First I will check to make sure I have “most” of the common symptoms.  The Internet of course is so helpful for that (my rule is you are allowed to use any site as long as it is written in fairly good English).

Let’s check out what FootDoc says:

1. Bump on side of foot – check
2. Inward bending of small toe – check
3. Redness, swelling and pain at the site of the bump– check, check and check
4. Secondary pain in the legs, hip, knee lower back – I don’t really have this, but I’m sure it’s coming

Now to research treatments:

1. Stop wearing all those pretty shoes (Oh No!!!)
2. Reduce the pain with Ibuprofen, ice packs, steroid injections, orthotics
3. Surgery that entails doing work on the soft tissues surrounding the area, then cutting the bone, realigning it, then holding everything in place with screws, wires, plates or pins. Recovery – 3 to 4 months

One more essential step – hit the discussion boards.

A discussion board is an online bulletin board where you can leave a message and/or ask a question and expect a response either from a professional or any other Joe Schmo who happens to be reading the board that day.  In the online medical universe, there are discussion boards for EVERYTHING!  Many are truly eye opening.  Here is where you get both the best and worst case scenarios.  Possible example:

FootGirl1:  Hi, I had bunionette surgery 4 months ago and am hoping someone can help me out.  When I first had it, my foot swelled to three times its size and the incision oozed pus and blood for about 3 weeks.  The doctor said this was normal.  That finally stopped and I thought I was supposed to be back to normal by now but every time I put weight on my foot my left ear starts to ring and I began to sneeze uncontrollably.  Does this sound right? (Posted 1/15/2012)

Starry-ize (Reply):  Dear FootGirl1, that does not sound right at all.  I had the surgery as well and was back up and doing my daily runs 2 months after surgery.  Definitely go have it checked out again. (Posted 1/17/2012)

ScoobySnax3 (Reply):  Dear FootGirl1 – Not sure if you have gotten an answer yet.  Don’t listen to Starry-ize.  I read somewhere about this kind of reaction to surgery and it became a permanent condition.  Try drinking some apple cider vinegar. (Posted 7/1/2015)

You get the idea.

In the end, it is best to mull it over for a couple days (or months), ask friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, the checkout girl at Whole Foods (you know, whoever looks qualified) what they think, then perhaps go to the doctor.  But if you are like me you will most likely choose to ignore all advice and just live with it.

Epilogue – In this instance, I did the sensible thing, I went to the podiatrist last week.  She confirmed the bunionette by an x-ray (and gave me a foot shot – OUCH).  YES!  I have been vindicated once again!