“I’m not going to lose my leg! I’m not going to lose my leg”! That is what was repeated in my mind over and over again earlier today.
It started about 3 weeks ago when I began having pain in my lower right leg. I didn’t do anything to injure it so it pretty much started out of the blue. It trickles down to my ankle/foot area at times. The pain is at its peak when I walk. It’s not to the point that I cannot walk but it does hurt something fierce. To some people, this may not seem like a big deal. Some people may be able to grin and bear it. But I have diabetes. And there are so many things that can go wrong with my legs. I first went to a walk-in-kind-of-place to have it looked at last weekend and they sent me to the ER where I waited hours and hours to have a Doppler test to check for a blood clot. That test came back okay thank goodness. But it didn’t explain the pain. Since I wasn’t sure what type of doctor to see, I listened to my hubby’s suggestion of seeing an orthopedic doctor. I had been to an office already 2 years ago when I had my trigger thumb surgery so it’s not like I had to find a new place. So today I went.
Although I had been to this office before, I was seeing a new doctor. They brought me in to the exam room and gave me paper shorts to wear. (And yes, I looked really sexy! 😉 ) When the doctor came in, I immediately liked her. She was so pleasant and I can actually see her listening as I described my symptoms. The first thing she did was feel my leg and she knew exactly where to touch it that hurt the worst! She said she knew exactly what it was. Shin splints. After finishing my exam, she sent me down the hall for x rays. I was sitting there in my bright blue paper shorts and Ugg boots. An older woman came out of the x ray room, looked at me and said “boy don’t you look cute!” We exchanged some laughs and nice words and she was on her way. After she left, I sat there by myself and the thought of all the pain I’ve been having being from shin splints weighed on my mind. And the notion that this was something treatable, not life threatening and most importantly not something that was going to put the life of my leg in jeopardy, brought tears to my eyes. I still tear up thinking of how scared I was. How I was thinking there was something seriously wrong with my leg. That is was the start of diabetes complications. That it may lead to me losing my leg. And the relief I feel that it is not what I was imagining, is indescribable.
The x rays didn’t show anything which is good. She said there is a very slight chance I could have a stress fracture but she doesn’t think it’s likely. I need to limit my activities (bummer!), take some pain relievers and begin physical therapy. This is going to be a pain in the a** but definitely something I can deal with. And hopefully the therapy will help the pain let up so that I can get back to normal. This is one doctor I really, really liked and one visit that I really, really appreciated. There is something wrong with my leg and it does hurt. But the fact that it is only shin splints, is great news.
The Girl with the Portable Pancreas 
So glad to hear that everything’s going to be okay! And that you found a good doctor. There’s a special kind of optimism that comes from finding someone who “gets it.”
Thinking of you and your shins!
I’m glad to hear it’s nothing serious. Shin splints are a biotch though, for sure. I first started getting them as a teenager, and pretty much any kind of prolonged walking causes them. I already hate exercising, and as someone who isn’t really good at sports, walking seems like the obvious go-to activity, but the stupid shin splints don’t exactly make me want to lace up my sneakers and hit the sidewalk. So I empathize, and hope the treatment you receive helps 🙂
I had a bout with shin splints when I was an active fencer — it’s something pretty much all fencers have, pretty much perennially. Stretching exercises and athletic tape were constant companions…
It’s always better to confirm it’s not too serious, as it relieves one major unknown which can cause stress and wreak havoc with d-management. Let’s hope that with the new year, your leg will be back to normal and you’ll be out of pain.
Oh Stacey, while I understand you’re in pain and its going to be a pain in the butt to do PT, I’m SO very happy that it wasn’t bad news! Your fear that is one of my worst fears, being a diabetic. *HUGS*
I am so sorry you were going through this fear. Sure we all get it at some point, but you are my friend and I hate you to hurt :(. I am so relieved you found someone who had some answers and was able to quiet your fears. I started have shin/ankle pain last year and my rhuemotologist told me my shoes were too flat and that I was probably get shin splints. I just wear better shoes now. Take care and tell me if you need anything
I said it already but I’m going to say it again… I’m so glad you have shin splints. 😉 I know how horrible that sounds but you have no idea how glad I am that it wasn’t something else. I shed some of my own tears with worry for you. I know going for pt will be a pain in the arse and it’s not like you don’t have enough to deal with but hopefully you will see an improvement quickly and can put this behind you. Love you!
Glad to hear that Ugg boots complement paper shorts – LOL. AND…great news on the the shin splints (OK that sounds wrong)! I don’t really know what it is like to worry about that sort of stuff yet. Joe has only had “d” for 4 years and he is only 7…so it is hard to know when he is complaining of ailments if they are “normal” complaints OR “d”-related complaints.
Happy Holidays!
Waaahooo!!!!! While I’m not glad that you have leg pain, I’m so thrilled that it isn’t anything too serious and that you found a wonderful doctor to help get you back on track. I had shin splints in high school when I tried to run track and I know how much they hurt!! (I quit the track team after a week because of them.) Hope you are back “on your feet” soon!
What a relief and a blessing. Sounds like you met a great doctor along the way. I hope the PT works well and isn’t too painful. Happy Christmas.
Oh my gosh, Stacey. Yet another thing that diabetes inflicts – worry! I’m so sorry you had this extra heavy burden weighing on your mind. And so, so, so pleased that it’s not as serious as you thought it might be. I hope you have as much relief physically in your legs as you mentally from this news.
I love wordpress snow! Brilliant!
Yay! I’m sorry you have shin splints, but I’m glad it’s nothing worse. I understand your mindset. I worry more than I probably should about some things just because you never know what can go wrong with diabetes.
Stacey – I’m so glad your OK!!
The diabetes “what ifs” are so damn scary – I’m so glad that you got great news!
Now, for the question everyone is dying to ask: How come you didn’t post a picture of you in your sexy paper shorts????
Kelly K