Heel Spur - will it ever go away?

I have a heel spur. The above is not my actual x-ray, but that is what a heel spur looks like on x-ray. It is also known as Plantar Fasciitis which is the long tendon running the length of your foot. Don't really know how I got it, but I suspect it was coming and going for a few months and then, in March of this year, I stood for 4 1/2 hours in very high heeled shoes and it came back with a vengeance. The pain, as described by a fellow sufferer, is like an ice pick tearing thru your heel and the pain shoots right up your entire leg. Very descriptive and completely accurate.

There were some mornings that I could not walk when I got out of bed until the tendon was stretched and supple. Most days I walk with a limp, which throws off my gait and causes pain to the knee and hip. Wonderful.

Finally, I went to a doctor. He confirmed the above, advised me to wear shoes the moment I got out of bed - tennis shoes! and to stretch, take his prescribed anti-inflammatory and get some orthotics for my shoes.

Orthotics?? Now I feel OLD!!! I bought the new pair of tennis shoes - the ones with the support and cushioning. They don't really seem to help. The orthotics I have yet to get. When you work the same hours that the stores are open, you have a tendency not to want to take off work for this sort of thing.

I have 17 days to make this pain get better otherwise the good doctor wants to shoot my heel up with some cortisone. I think no matter what, the heel is going t o feel better come appointment time.

The Graduate

Today, Finn graduated Puppy School. We are not sure how he did it other than the fact that no puppy fails puppy school. We could not teach him to sit. We do not want a show dog that sits down in the ring every time he sees a treat. We could not teach him sit and down... But. He walks nice on a leash and he comes to us when we call his name.

Here is a picture of the whole class - Finn, Addie the Chocolate lab, and Betsey, the Viszla. Finn went from 28 pounds 8 weeks ago, to 54 pounds today! Of course the lab showed Finn and Betsey up and managed to do several tricks and listened better than Finn and Betsey.

It's on to handling classes next.

Introduction

These are my 2 dogs - Beau and Finn. Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Beau, Crestridge Ujamaa Beauregard, is 15 months old and a great dog. He is everything you could ask for in a companion animal. Loyal, smart, even tempered, quiet. Finn, Kengali's Leap of Faith, is a 4.5 months old. He is rowdy, outgoing, smart, and a little feisty, but forever loyal and brave.

Beau is our family pet. We got him with absolutely no intention other than getting dog. We took him thru puppy school training and all the way to his Canine Good Citizen and he did us proud and received that title when he was just 8 months old. We socialize him well and he loves all people and dogs. It has been very interesting to see him develop in to the dog he is. As a pup, he would look to us for protection and come to us when he heard a noise, etc. He was cautious and careful. Then all of a sudden, he would hear a noise and go investigate. Now, no questions asked as to what he does. He goes right out to inspect and investigate.

And then I got bit by the bug. The desire to have a dog I could show. Enter Finn. He is head first in to almost every situation he deems safe. He follows Beau everywhere and does not back down from nothing. Where Beau does not want to get out of bed in the morning, Finn wants to be up at 5:00 am. Yes. Five A.M.

It's worked out well having 2. Sometimes, as they are racing thru the house, I long for the days before 2 of them - but not for long. Then they do something to make me laugh and I remember why I have them.

This is going to be a blog of my adventures with the 2 of them. We want to lure course Beau and show Finn. it's also going to be a blog about the changes in my life and how I am adjusting to the life away from my family and now down here in Florida.

Denise