L. Kallman's Story
L. Kallman
- Physical Therapy
- Podiatry
I’m grateful for the advice and excellent care I received at Hennepin Healthcare.
I’ve always been a runner. It’s the only activity that really makes me feel like I’ve had a good workout. But after a long run around the lake, I started to get a pain in the arch of my left foot. I thought maybe I needed to do more stretching, and I checked runners’ websites to see if other runners had similar symptoms. I did find information about a number of possible running injuries, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I had.
I finally went to my provider to see what I could do to get some help. Kathryn Hoffman is my practitioner. She really takes the time to listen and find out what needs to be done to solve the problem – she’s not the kind of provider who has her hand on the doorknob, ready to exit the clinic room. She did a full exam, answered all of my questions, and recommended seeing a Podiatrist, and follow-up with a Physical Therapist.
I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Kimberly Bobbitt. She examined my foot, asked where I was having pain, and gave a diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis. I found out that Plantar Fasciitis is a painful condition that affects 10-11 percent of the population. It happens when the plantar fascia – a thick band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes to support the arch – becomes inflamed. I realized at this point that I had to put away my running shoes for a while.
Dr. Bobbitt recommended several stretching exercises, icing, wearing “sensible” shoes with special orthotic inserts, and taking non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. She also stressed the importance of not walking barefoot. In more severe cases, like mine, she suggested a night splint that would keep my foot flexed and physical therapy. Fortunately, I didn’t have to have a cast or surgery! Surgery is a last resort if a year of treatment options have been unsuccessful at reducing symptoms.
My foot felt better after the first night of wearing the splint, but I wanted to be sure I was doing everything I could to avoid further injury. So I decided to get measured for shoe inserts at HCMC.
Looking back on my injuries from running, including tripping on a root by Bde Maka Ska and skinning my shin, I most likely had two other cases of Plantar Fasciitis. I’m grateful for the advice and excellent care I received at Hennepin Healthcare. I had a number of follow-up visits with two physical therapists who gave me additional exercises to prevent any future issues with my feet.
