See, in the fall of 2009 I was doing a lot of printing and spent many hours standing on one leg while using the other to operate the press treadle. As a result, I ended up with a horrible heel spur on my left foot and a moderately bad one on my right foot. I tried a custom pair of orthotics but they provided little relief. I took Advil by the handful until I got pregnant, and then I had to suck it up and hobble around. By September last fall, the pain in my foot was so bad that my usual 2-mile daily walk with Sadie was limited to me standing in place and throwing a frisbee for her. I finally decided to get a cortisone shot in my foot. It was phenomenal, and finally my foot was pain free again.
Near the end of my pregnancy the pain started to come back, but I didn't get another shot, hoping that once I lost the pregnancy weight the pain would get a little better. Three weeks after Lachlan arrived, I had lost all the weight but the pain was still there and slowly getting worse. I was going to get another cortisone shot when I got back from my parents' house, but I decided to try my dad's Bionic band first. Although my foot is still a little achy and stiff at the end of a long day on my feet, after wearing the band for about three weeks I am still virtually pain free while walking and standing.
I'm a little dumbfounded over how it works. They say it is "proton alignment resonance technology," whatever that means... I'm curious if any of you have ever tried a bionic band (or other similar product) and if you have had any success with it. And if anyone can explain to me how it has helped me, I'm really curious to know!
I tend to be skeptical about things like this, but it's hard to argue with success. I've had heel spurs in the past (from walking too much, too fast - was doing it for my health you know, how ironic!) and like you, cortisone did the trick, along with orthotics that I still wear nearly all the time. It probably took a good two years to get back to walking without pain, so if it happens again, I just might have to get a band!
ReplyDeleteSounds like something I should maybe try. ...I severely damaged my foot in '95 (tendons & ligaments). Every year it's been healing more & still has a little ways to go, but I do need to remember my limits. I used to be a super workhorse in the garden, would love to be again! The BionicBand website does not sell directly, does anyone know of a distributor?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first investigating them (before I found out my dad had one), I found them for sale on Amazon for $55. The ones they have look the same as mine, so I think they are the same thing. I'm still sort of in disbelief over how well it seems to be working. The scientist in me wants to do a proper experiment and go without the band for a week to see if the pain comes back, but I'm too much of a wimp to want to risk it! :)
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