The Feet Have It – Part 2 – Vaso-Spastic Disorder

I can’t even begin to tell you about the discomfort of this one. It felt like 1,000 needles sticking into each individual nerve in my toes and upper foot. The heat was extreme also, like a fever localized to just the toes and ends of my feet. I rarely seek medical advice or diagnosis, but this was one time I did.

Since it was the feet, and obviously not fungal or anything I could figure out, I headed to the Podiatrist. This was 24 years ago now, shortly after my first child I believe, though time slips from my memory banks. I was doing work overnights taking inventory for stores all over the state, and spent quite a few hours on my feet and driving to remote locations. The drive is when it seemed to bother most.

The podiatrist was stumped, but suspected nerve problems, so referred me to a neurologist 3 hours away. Great, another long drive. I saw the neurologist, don’t remember any tests, just an office visit. At the office visit he confidently announced “Vasospastic disorder.” Then, as if reading from a copy of his medical school text, rambled off, “It affects mostly young women in their early 20s, bla, bla, bla, and has no known cure. We also do not know the cause. We can prescribe a drug to keep them calm and relieve the discomfort. You will take it for life. It does cause birth defects, so you can’t become pregnant while on it.” Well, if you know me, you know what I said as I ran screaming from the office!! NO THANK YOU.

It was nice to know what they didn’t know, though, you know? I didn’t bother trying to find any more out. I just limited long drives, put my feet up more, etc. Then a few months later I noticed that I was no longer having symptoms. I thought about changes I’d made – diet, exercise, work, etc. Nothing there. But, then I went to put on my size 12s. They were new. I was so excited to find them too. They were the first pair of women’s size 12s I’d ever seen in a store. It was so nice to not have my toes crammed into the end of my shoe. . . . .hmmmmmm. . . I think I’m on to something here. This was the first pair of shoes I’d purchased that actually fit in about 5 years, since my feet had reached their size 12 proportion. I had also mostly gone barefooted since I didn’t work outside the home, until I got that job doing inventory which required me to be in shoes for hours on end – including long drives through the state. Now, we know why mostly young women are affected with this I thought. You ever try to find a nice fitting pair of women's shoes in the 1980s?

Mystery solved. Did I contact the neurologist and podiatrist and let them know the mystery was solved? No. I didn’t even think of it. Probably should have though. Well, maybe they will stumble upon this blog and find out that I’m doing fine, and so are my feet. . .for now.