Art jogs once a week for about 5 miles. That's what he tells me. I suspect it's farther and he's just keeping it from me. The cardiologist once recommended he only do 3 miles and no longer do marathons or even half marathons. We also walk every morning when it's not raining or drizzling or threatening to rain.
Since I am basically lazy, I can't understand why he likes to run so much. He talks about a Runner's High. Seriously?
Anyway.... here I am going off on a tangent again. Where was I? Oh yes...
For the last year or so he's been dealing with a hard lump of skin under the ball of his foot. Since he is not as flexible as I am, he can't see the bottom of his foot so I was in charge of dealing with it. Our primary care physician had recommended salicylic acid (Compound W). Therefore I've been applying it and peeling off the dead skin regularly. However, it just keeps recurring over and over again. We suspected it was actually a wart because it had a little dot in the center.
Finally, Art was referred to a podiatrist. I went also since I am the primary foot caretaker and it was quite interesting. We learned a number of things.
* It's not a wart. Warts have a cauliflower look to it. It's actually a callus.
* The callus should continue to be treated with the Compound W, but I should stop applying and peeling off the dead skin when it gets too close to the more sensitive layer (I don't know what you'd call it).
* Art needs to change his running shoes every 500 miles.
The doctor then cut off more of the skin on the callus and it looked quite nice.
Art will now be on the market to look for more running shoes. He usually has a tough time of it because he's got super wide feet.
Hmmmm... you know I haven't had this problem with my feet and I don't have to change shoes so often. For some reason I don't get these calluses.
Art is rolling his eyes. 🙄
Why is it just on one foot? Does he pound the pavement harder with that foot?
ReplyDeleteHe must run unevenly, I guess. I actually have one of those calluses on my left foot only, but mine is tiny compared to his.
DeleteSue tends to get calluses or at least hard soles. I don't. It's a strange life.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that your lack of calluses has something to do with the fact that you feel no need to get high. Like some. (ahem)
ReplyDelete🤣
DeleteDuring this pandemic I have adopted walking 1-2 miles per day. If I cannot walk outside, I walk inside. It is making some problems with my feet and I dread the thought of going to a podiatrist.
ReplyDeleteI feel guilty for smiling so much at this story, but I think it's cool Art has a PFC--primary foot caretaker! It's amazing how well that cleaned up, but equally amazing Art manages to run so much.. he LOOKS like a runner. :) Hey, I too have extra wide feet. It can be hard finding shoes that really fit, until last year when I found a selection of Skechers running & walking shoes on Famous Footwear website (sold in Extra extra wide). I ordered 3 pairs and they all fit PERFECT.
ReplyDeleteArt like New Balance for EEEE running shoes. Not many companies make EEEE.
DeleteSure looks better after the podiatrist. I hope he can find good shoes that won't cause this problem again.
ReplyDeleteI used to wear my shoes way too long. It is hard to get out of the mentality that if they aren't falling apart they are still good to wear. These days I swap out my shoes once a year. I get new shoes for walking and my old walking shoes become working around the house shoes and the old working around the house shoes get thrown away. My feet have been a lot happier with me since doing that.
ReplyDeleteHope this improves with new shoes.
ReplyDeleteI envy him his runners "high". These days any high would be fun. Never could run distance, was more of a sprinter. Short attention span maybe? So glad he has you as his PFC.
ReplyDeleteI run on an elliptical (not as often as I should) and find it is much nicer to elder joints and has much lower impact. You might also get one of those stationary bikes that have videos of trails all over the world and Art might enjoy that.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed. New shoes are in order. When he finds what he needs maybe he could buy two pair. My eldest son still won't buy more than one pair at a time. Whatcha gonna do? My running days are over and I never did over 2 miles. I'm with Tabor, an elliptical is gentler on us older people.
ReplyDeleteThat looks way better! I love my Brooks Ghosts and I think they come in three widths. I do the middle, but there is an even wider one. I don't get a runners high but I do like the thinking zone I go into while running. Right now I have the beginnings of a shin splint so I'm not doing anything high impact.
ReplyDeleteArt is a lucky man. So glad you were the insistent wife! LOVE your certified title of Primary Foot Caretaker. Every family should have one. It's an important job.
ReplyDeleteMy son has runner friends, and they're always changing their running shoes. A professional running shoe store might be able to give Art some timing tips and have correctly fitting shoes. We have Gary Gribbels shoes in K.C., but I think it's regional.
I've had many home-bound patients, and no podiatrists will come to a home. In facilities, I've seen wheel chairs lined up down the hall, with folks willing to skip lunch: all to get a chance to see the podiatrist who comes once a month. He sits in the floor, and the patients roll in to him. He's rich; doesn't need to go to homes.
The podiatrist I go to for any little thing is an absolute gentle angel. Linda in Kansas
The podiatrist gave Art a couple of places where he might find the EEEE size shoes for running with a 20% coupon off the manufacturer's price. We shall see.
DeleteHello Kay:
ReplyDeleteI am a new visitor who is also a teacher, who found you by way of Margaret's blog.... she commented on my post, and with her blog not being active, I read the comments and found your comment to her interesting.
It is rather fortuitous that I happened to start reading on today's post.... I am a "newcomer" runner who is an old codger.... only been running perhaps around 5 years... long story. But, I have had a very similar callous issue like your husband for around 35 years. Mine occurs regularly on the center area of the ball of the foot only on my right foot. 35 years ago I was told it was a Plantar's wart. But had it treated and it was/is gone. But... ever since then, slowly a callous (round, ball-like corn) develops in that same exact spot. Every 4-6 months or so, it grows to a point where it is uncomfortable to walk on and I have to do the same Compound-W treatment. I acutally use a toenail clipper to "pinch" off the whitened, looser skin after the Compound-W treatment and eventually a small round translucent "corn" of tissue pops out. Then my foot feels wonderful for several months.
Your husband speaks of a "runners high".... but from what I have read, that typically only occurs through a dopamine surge in the brain that typically is occurring in marathon runners and usually occurs around the 20 mile mark or so. My own running has grown quite a bit during my time hoofing around... I now average 9 miles a day, with usually hitting 53-54 miles a week (I take one day off a week from running). For me, I can state that I do not experience a "high" of any sort.... BUT... what I DO experience is a tremendous decrease in STRESS. As a retired teacher, I know you understand how stressful being an educator can be. And, for me, running is now a true medicine for me to manage stress.
Why is your husband restricted in his running if he would want to run more (I suppose it may be in an earlier posting, so perhaps I will figure it out.). Is it because of a cardio issue he may have had? I hope not.
Hah, like your husband, I am not fond of changing shoes with running (I am a penny-pincher). My wife gets a bit irate at me for typically going ~1500miles on a pair.
Well, thank you, I enjoy your blog and plan to be back regularly!!!!
Sincerely,
PipeTobacco
Hello, Mr. PipeTobacco,
DeleteThank you very much for your visit and wonderful comment. I always love meeting another teacher. Art is restricted in his running ever since they detected a slight arrhythmia. Not dangerous, but they want him to be cautious which he's not happy with.
He's obviously running his way. Perhaps he can do what G does with his shoes...buy 3 or four pair at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI was plagued with what I called a corn, but it might have been a callus Treatment didn't help much, but changing walking shoes did.
ReplyDeleteOkay I ran until I was 71. I stopped because my back was giving me proplems....no foot problems. the biggest problem was my dropping hemoglobin. You do get in a groove and you keep going. Try it!
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time finding ones that fit, too (because of a weird ball/heel width ratio). I'm not a runner, but over the year I walked so much I wore through two pairs of shoes. When the first pair hit the dust I was able to find another pair EXACTLY like them.
ReplyDeleteThat was a good doctor visit!
ReplyDeleteNow those are some wide feet! If you are able to get the shoes, I'd buy several pairs at a time. The shoe companies love to change things out constantly! His foot sure does look a lot better now! His PFC must be doing something right. :-)
ReplyDeleteThere is such a thing as a runner's high. Anyone who runs can get that "high". It's even addictive.
ReplyDeleteFeet are important and good to take to the doctor, too.
ReplyDeleteI occasionally get calluses. They are a nuisance.
ReplyDelete