I've Never Been a Fashion Plate, But Good Grief

O.K. I have always been unusual. A skinny little kid, taller than everyone in my class. A prominent nose with a hump, (thank you dad). My best feature, pretty green eyes and in my younger days, medium auburn hair and lots of it, (thank you, mom). So imagine my horror in my 5oth year to hear a diagnosis I have never heard of, Charcot. What causes it? Usually diabetes, (I am not diabetic), syphilis, (never been exposed, the doctor checked), heavy metal poisoning, (don't have that either). So the doctors are calling it idiopathic, (another word for we don't know why). But the doctor assured me it is somewhere in my DNA, (thanks mom or dad). And 'what does it effect', you might ask? Feet and hands is the answer. 'So what', you say. Well not so fast.

First my feet started hurting for no apparent reason, keeping me up at night, like someone was sticking me with needles and then the burning. Then later they went to sleep, and seriously I could have walked on hot coals and broken glass and would not have felt it. Then bones started breaking. Yes really, again for no apparent reason. This followed by arches disappearing and the shape of my feet completely changing, becoming convex. Next surgery to repair bones and tendon releases. Somewhere during this process my hands began the pain, numbness, burning and so on.

Now back to the point on this post. I am not a vain person and have never been up on the latest fashions. I always wanted to be clean, and neat, and I love me some make-up. I was never a shoe person, because with a size 9 foot and being 5'10", heels and strapy sandals just weren't my thing. Now I am 5'9", (apparently shrinking), and my shoe size is an 11 irregular. Recent trips to a orthotic clinic have resulted in casting and molding my badly misshapen feet and custom shoes have been made for me. They are huge, flat and ugly, with a capital UG. Here is a comparison:

You had buck teeth and the orthodontist took off your braces and your teeth stuck out more
Your had a big nose and when the plastic surgeon removed your bandages, --ta-da--, bigger
You went under the knife for a D cup and woke up in recovery with AA's

It sounds like the pity party has began, (maybe a little), but let me put it in perspective. This deal sucks, but I still have feet to walk on and hands to use, so for that I am grateful, however, I will never wear Jimmy Choos.