Wave Walking Goodbye

In all of 17 years, since I walked away from the paid workforce, I turned to free walking in and around our neighborhood at dawn. It was an exercise prescribed by my cardiologist to solve some health issues.

I called it my walk of grace, spending the hour counting my blessings and thanking the Giver for them.

I took this daily hour seriously—every day in the first 10 years, then every other day in the last seven. I was still enjoying these morning walks till August last year, when I was disabled by a throat infection that kept me in bed for a week. I waited another two weeks to get my energy back before walking again.

But then, while walking, something strange happened.

The toes of my right foot curled involuntarily, causing me pain and making me stop. (Try digging your toes into your shoes and walk—you’ll know what I mean.)


I blamed it on the dull pain across my right hip, lessened by physical therapy (PT) sessions two years ago, but which came back while I recuperated from the debilitating throat infection.
   
Not one to give up easily, I tried walking again the next day—this time in the mall where I don’t notice my strides while gaping at merchandise.  But ouch, I couldn’t ignore the pain caused by my curling toes.

That did it. I stopped all kinds of walking and consulted the rehab doctor.

She made me go through eight excruciating PT sessions, which lessened the pain. Yet the curling toes (they look normal when not in use) have been stubborn.

Her verdict:  “Your toes are compensating for some weakness in your hip somewhere. Have six more PT sessions then if you still feel pain, go through an MRI so we could pinpoint the cause.”

My six additional PT sessions are almost over, and the pain in my hip is totally gone. But my curling toes, extremely stubborn, want me to wave walking goodbye.

Should I?