Sweating it Out

Last month, I had a surgical procedure. About 20 years ago, a doctor removed a bone spur that was on my foot and created a bunion. It was painful. She had placed two screws into my foot that should have been removed after a year of healing. The doctor retired, and my bolts were forgotten.

Now, 20 years later, something was growing in the same spot, and it felt like it was pushing up through the foot. I couldn’t wear shoes, and the top of my foot was always sore, irritated, and bright red.

The bone spur had grown back, and the screws were being pushed upward. I went to have it removed. The incision was about 2 ½ inches, much larger than before, and it hurts. The foot is still swollen after four weeks, and I can’t move my big toe. I am scheduled for physical therapy for my toe!

At the doctor’s office yesterday, the receptionist was sitting at her desk wearing a sweater. It was 99 degrees outside and humid. Although the inside of the office was cool, just seeing someone in a sweater made me feel sweaty.

It brought back a memory. After we were married and before the kids were born, we volunteered to help friends move from a walkup apartment in Brooklyn to a garden apartment in Queens. It was summer and about 85 degrees. It was a lovely summer day with low humidity.

I read an article that said you could spot reduce places on your body by wrapping them in plastic wrap and then exercise. I thought, what a great idea! I wrapped everything from under my breasts to my ankles. We started to walk up and down the three stories; there were no elevators.

I quickly broke into a sweat. About a half hour later, I didn’t feel so well. My husband quickly used a knife to release my wrap and made me drink water. Whatever ounce I may have lost, it taught me not to trust stupid “health” tricks to manipulate my body.

Who knew that today you could “spot” reduce by having it frozen off? I have seen this procedure work on others, but no way, especially at my age, would I try that now.