Stripes: Outfit from the Archives and Foot Update

This may very well be my favorite recent outfit. I wore this to work this fall and the construction workers seemed to like it very much. ha, ha. Everything was purchased on sale except for the Tom's wedges -- I don't think they make it to sale. I think I got my money's worth on this shirt!

jacket
Banana Republic outlet, fall 2010

Ann Taylor Outlet: skirt and shirt, fall 2010
Tom's wedges and looping lanes belt (tan)

Trying out belts. I decided I preferred the neutral looping lanes belt  over this chocolate brown one.

Here are various weekend looks.

AG Stevie jeans, Slate Saddlebag Purse

Till later,

V.B.

Foot Update:

I've now been on Lyrica for 6 days. I don't really notice an improvement, but I'm also not noticing any side effects either, and I don't think I've gained weight. I'll weigh tomorrow morning as that will be officially the one week mark. From what I understand, it takes at least one week to notice anything from taking Lyrica. I only take 1 pill at night. At first it made me very sleepy, but now I am getting used to it and I'm also getting used to taking a whole Tramadol pill without getting excessively sleepy. I'm not sure this is good news. (doper) Ha, ha.

I have developed a new symptom. Well, I've been experiencing twitches and spasms in my foot since the beginning, but now they are much, much worse and are quite frankly, driving me insane. I'm hoping that it is simply the physical therapy waking up unused muscles and causing them to go haywire as it seems to be worse at night after I've done my exercises in the afternoon. All of my toes go side to side and I feel it all down my foot. Then sometimes the muscles spasms are in my ankle joint area and cause my whole foot to jerk  to the side. I've tried every position known to man to try to get them to stop but nothing seems to help. The only time it seems to calm down is when my husband gives me a gentle foot massage. So, you guessed correctly, my poor husband is giving me a lot of those these days while he watches T.V. and I play on my iPad or read a book. :) 

The cold sensations haven't been as bad, but I have been feeling more warmth in the bad foot. It even feels warmer to the touch. This syndrome is so weird and I don't want any part of it. I have been diligently doing my P.T. exercises and have been making sure I keep up with my pain medicine.  I've also been doing a lot of praying and shamelessly asking all my friends to add me to their prayer lists and prayer groups at church.

Here is a really interesting diagram that explains the insane process of RSD/CRPS. 

Source International Research Foundation for RSD/CRPS. The diagram and text in blue were copied from the site.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system following an injury is part of a fright-flight response to an emergency situation. This response is very important for survival. For example, firing of sympathetic nerves causes blood vessels in the skin to contract, forcing blood deep into muscle and enabling the victim to use his muscle to get up after an acute injury and escape from further danger. Also the decreased supply of blood to the skin reduces blood loss through superficial injuries that may occur on the surface of the body. 

Here's what I find to be interesting:

Ordinarily, the sympathetic nervous system shuts down within minutes to hours after an injury. For reasons we do not understand, individuals who go on to develop RSD / CRPS, the sympathetic nervous system appears to assume an abnormal function. Theoretically, this sympathetic activity at the site of injury could cause an inflammatory response causing the blood vessels to spasm leading to more swelling and pain. (See B, C, and D in Figure 1) The events could lead to more pain which triggers another response, establishing a vicious cycle of pain. And this is why I'm taking my pain meds regularly now!!

I go back to work tomorrow, so that should be interesting. I went to my room after P.T. on Friday and was unable to keep my foot down on the ground without severe shooting pains -- the kind that make you yell out "AAGH." If I kept my foot propped up I was fine. My foot also got cold, prickly and turned deep reddish purple. 

Oh, have I mentioned that I had to move my room over break from a portable into the building? My husband is there now. He wouldn't let me come and help. He's trying to unpack as many boxes as possible and at least get the furniture in place. We will worry about aesthetics later. 

I don't know what I'm going to do with 24 children now that my foot has gotten worse. :'( I work with a very supportive staff and have a great group of kids. I also have a rolling chair in my room so I'll make great use of that! :D  If I can make it through the room set up, and get report cards finished, I'll be able to breathe for awhile. 

Trying to be tough,

V.B.

CRPS: Watch Your Step! You better watch your step . . .

This is sound advice! I love Elvis Costello, and I wish I had indeed watched my step that fateful night because I got some bad news from my doctor today.

The lovely culprit.

Well, if you've been following me, you are aware that I started this blog as a means of distraction during a period of bed rest following tendon/ligament/nerve damage in my foot from a klutzy near fall in my Tom's wedges. :) In between sharing outfits incorporating my stylish air stabilizer boot, I've been trying to document my foot woes in case this may be helpful for others out there with similar issues. :)

I've been dealing with pain, swelling, spasms, cold, numbness, color changes, and pins and needles sensations in my foot for 13 weeks. (Photo of foot at the bottom of this post.) Today I finally went to the foot specialist and received the diagnosis I feared -- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) formally referred to as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD). Thanks to excellent doctors, it has been caught early, so my chances of beating this, or causing it to go into remission are much better. Lucky for me, my bones are unaffected at this point. A lovely side effect of this syndrome is loss of bone density and muscle atrophy.

My doctor got onto me for not taking my pain medicine at the full dosage, (I've been taking 1/2 a pill on an irregular basis, and a whole pill only when the pain is really aggravating. I hate how pain meds make me feel.) and he told me that I must take Lyrica to manage the nerve issues. My previous doctor suspected RSD, and prescribed Lyrica but I wouldn't take it. I mean, have you heard the side effects in those commercials? ACK! He reassured me about the possible weight gain with Lyrica, telling me that it is usually as a result of water retention and will go away when I stop taking the medicine. Of course, that's what I fixated on, not the "thoughts of suicide" part of the side effects. ha, ha.

Anyway, my doctor is hopeful that physical therapy coupled with Lyrica and nerve blocks, could have me looking at getting better in 2 or 3 more months. I'm to continue walking with the boot, but I did get a new, lighter boot. :) I start physical therapy tomorrow and will see a Pain Management Specialist to look at my next steps which possibly include sympathetic nerve blocks. He stressed the most important thing I can do right now is manage the pain, as pain sensations somehow tie into the whole wacky nerve response and this makes the RSD worse, as does stress.

I am naturally, very upset right now, but I will fight this and get through it as I get through everything through prayer and familial support, with a hefty dose of laughter and a side of goofiness. :D

Come back to me, V.B.!

After all, there are multiple rows of lovely, lonely shoes beckoning to me from my closet.

I CAN'T LET THEM DOWN!!!!

Yours truly, 

V.B.

Three Month Tendon/Ligament/Nerve Issues Foot Update

Three Month Foot Update:

If you read my posts for clothing reviews and outfit posts feel free to skip this one.
I'm working on a reviews post that will be up soon, but I wanted to do a quick update on my foot since documenting this process is one of the main reasons I started this blog. I searched all over google to find someone with similar issues without much luck, so I hope my story will help someone else in need of answers with tendon/ligament and nerve issues in the foot.

Sunday marked 3 months without being able to walk without the aid of crutches or my air stabilizer boot. The most aggravating aspect, besides not being able to WALK or wear cute shoes? Going to the bathroom at night. This involves crawling from the bed to the rolling chair strategically placed at the entrance of the bathroom, heaving myself in the chair from the floor and then rolling in the chair to the "throne" and then repeating the whole process in reverse. This is not conducive to a restful night's sleep. :)

The swelling has gone down since I've been staying off of it this week, but it is still painful and changes colors when I hang it down while sitting in a chair, etc. My appointment with the foot specialist is finally around the corner -- Dec. 27th. I hope to get some more answers and a more realistic healing time frame. I am on a 2 week break from work which will be spent primarily in bed or on the couch with my foot propped up. Not so much fun, but I have got to heal this stupid foot. Here's my advice, readers -- don't do soft tissue damage to any area of your body, but especially your foot. This has been a LONG haul.

Since I started this blog out of boredom due to my foot issues, I'm going to document my foot color changes at the bottom of this post for any readers that have stopped by with similar issues -- tendon, ligament tears and nerve damage (Also, RSD or CRPS have been brought up, but I don't think that is what is wrong. I don't have the burning sensation and sensitivity to touch, thank the Lord! My P.A. brought this up, and it is one of the reasons I'm seeing a specialist.)

Warning! Do not scroll below if you are squeamish. However, it's just a photo of a "normal" foot that is purplish-red.


























The scars are from my Skew Foot (Z foot) surgeries. These photos were taken after the swelling went down. My foot only turns this color now when it hangs down -- sitting, crawling, crutches, etc. It looks normal otherwise. The bottom of my foot also turns a deep purple, especially behind the toe area. The reddish-purple color extends a bit up my leg as well. When it turns this color, the prickly pins and needle sensations increase and it either feels internally and externally much colder or warmer than the other foot. This is the most disturbing part of my foot "issues." :)
Update: I've now been diagnosed as having RSD or also known as CRPS. UGH! More here.

CRPS in right foot after tendon and ligament tears.

Made to Measure Tee Review & Week 11 Foot Update & Grainy Archive Outfit - Yay!

I've got basically nothing in the way of reviews or new outfit photos but I did get my sale and 25% off discount items today and I love them all, so reviews will be upcoming, but probably not until the weekend because I reinjured my stupid foot. Yes, I REINJURED my already injured foot! UGH! My goal was to rest up over winter break and hopefully move from the air boot to something less awkward. I hope this is still possible!

Made to Measure Tee

I do want to give a head's up quickie review of the Made to Measure Tee by Weston Wear. I tried it on today in my usual XS and it was WAAAAAY too tight in the stomach area. It fits well everywhere else, but the ruching in the stomach area is just too clingy and uncomfortable. I think I have only sized up to a small a total of two times in the 6 years I've shopped at Anthropologie, so I'd say this top runs small in the waistline. I'm going to exchange it for a small and hope for the best, because I really like the color, pattern and sleeves. I own a couple of Weston Wear dresses and they fit perfectly in XS, so I am surprised at the fit of this top. I'll post a photo of the small when I get it.

As for the foot, one of my students lunged into me without looking, stepped on my injured foot and caused me to slightly turn the foot as I struggled not to fall over. It is more swollen and painful than it was and is discolored again, so I'll need to rest up before doing another round of photos. 

It's a good thing I have all these great outfit photos saved up to share, now isn't it? Ha, ha. Here's a couple of ways I've worn this wool skirt my mother gave me.

Curtain Call Top & Rings and Things Necklace

This is a great top. It looks very professional tucked into a skirt, but also doubles as a lovely asymmetrical tunic for a "going out" look with skinny jeans and heels. I got the Rings and Things necklace on sale last year for $10 on a "Why not? It's only $10 whim" and ended up wearing it to death last year. I wore it so much, I'm actually tired of it now. :)

Anselle Necklace

I love this outfit as it has a nice vintage feel to it. I only wish the photos could do it justice. Well, that's all for now. Time to prop the old throbbing foot up. Until next time . . . whining over and out. :D

7 Week Anniversary of Foot Injury and Passerine Tee Outfit

In honor of the seven week anniversary of my foot injury, I thought I'd share my fall version of the Passerine Tee. It's only fitting as this is the top I was wearing when I wrenched my foot. I haven't worn it since, but decided to wear it out yesterday. Read on below for an update on my stupid foot. :D

I love to layer. Here's the Passerine Tee paired with my FAVORITE layering shirt, the Pure and Good Slub Tee. It is very delicate, so I hand wash it and hang it flat to dry. I have this tee in black, white and red and wish I had been able to find all the colors on sale last year. This is one of my favorite necklaces (Target). 

 Below is the finishing touch -- my favorite boyfriend blazer, The Borrowed Blazer. It seems like the year this jacket came out, Anthropologie had a ton of great jackets and blazers. I had a hard time choosing and wish now I had gotten more than a couple as lately none of the blazers have really appealed to me.

Borrowed Blazer

Foot Update

My foot has gotten worse over the past couple of weeks. It feels like it is always waking up from being asleep -- pins and needles feeling. Sometimes it feels ice cold and turns red or blue tinged. I get twitches/spasms in my foot and sharp shooting pains. My whole foot went from slightly swollen to yuck swollen all over. The severity of swelling, color changes and temperature changes come and go and now the bottom part of my leg is also twitchy and cold feeling as well. It just feels miserable. I went from taking an occasional Naproxen to having to take pain pills every day for the pain which makes me very sleepy all the time. I'm a VERY active, hyper person so this is driving me crazy! 

So, I had another MRI done last week. My tibialis posterior tendon is stretched with multiple tears and the tendon running along the ankle on the other side of my foot is also stretched. My whole foot is inflammed and filled with fluid -- tenosynovitis and tendinosis, there is also ligament damage, AND I have arthritis in several places from the surgeries for my skew feet. Most of this I already knew, although I wondered why the other side of my foot was swollen and hurt and now know that tendon was wrenched as well. That was the good news. Ha, ha. 

The bad news? The doctor brought up RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome) or Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (RSDS/CRPS). Yikes! He asked us if we knew what it is and gave a brief overview of nerves going haywire resulting in pain. He then talked about next steps and referred me to another doctor. This went over our heads because I really still didn't understand how serious this condition is. When my husband asked about a time frame for recovery, we were told this was a chronic disabling condition characterized by intense pain with no cure. Well, that got our attention, and we started asking more questions! Of course, I googled it right away and wish I hadn't.  One of my friends at work told me that this is what Dr. House has that makes him pop drugs all the time. GREAT! 

I need your prayers. I am refusing to believe this and am hoping that my foot is just so messed up with inflammation that this is causing my nerve responses. Plus, this wasn't a diagnosis just a suggestion of what it looks like is going on with my foot. So, pray, pray. Did I mention, pray? :)

Skew Feet and Much Rambling About Nothing

This top is one of my latest sale purchases. I really like it paired with the Biloba Necklace. (Note to self: avoid taking photo with CRAZY Hand next time.) 

I'm enjoying playing with my blog and hanging out with my imaginary readers. Ha, ha. I've been following (lurking about) several blogs for about a year now. I have the GREATEST respect for all the hard work that is put into posting reviews and outfit posts. I can't imagine keeping up with my "fake" blog once I start back to work next week.

Peeled Porcelain Top, Biloba Necklace, AG Stevie Cords (wine)

SKEW FEET

I've had feet issues my whole life. I was born with a rare foot disorder called Skew feet or Z feet. My feet always hurt and I sprained my ankle a few times as a child, but it wasn't until I started running track in middle school that the skew feet were discovered. I LOVED to run but it hurt. One day, my foot cracked mid stride on my way to get the mail. After healing from that, I spent the next two years off and on in a wheel chair and crutches from two separate surgeries to reset the bones in my feet. Even though the surgeries were pretty successful, I was told I would have issues as I aged, including early onset arthritis from the surgeries. 

Well, that day has come. Even though the injury was klutz related, it probably wouldn't have happened if I'd had normal feet. The X-rays and MRI for my hurt foot show fraying joints and arthritis as well. I'm taking it easy as I want to be able to run again and . . . wear my Tom's wedges. Ha, ha. I'll worry about arthritis etc. as I get older. 

Further Procrastination: Drapey Bubbled Tee Outfit

Drapey Bubbled Tee,
Providence Necklace

I've now moved from the bed to the couch. Still bored. I thought about checking out an ebook but then that would cause me to not do my work, which I'm not doing anyway, so I'll just keep playing on my computer, lucky reader. I have the whole week off, so I can just procrastinate another day.

Before, tearing my tendon, I was in pretty good shape. I ran, exercised and led an active lifestyle. Now I just sit around, watch my muscles atrophy, and eat. Here are some headless photos of what I used to look like, or rather what I hope I continue to look like sans regular exercise routine. (As I'm typing this, I'm eating a Ghiradelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight.)

I found it to be easier to get ready in the morning if I just quickly snapped a blurry shot of favorite outfits with my old Apple 3G iphone. Thus, no more (or fewer) "what did I wear with that"  or, "what in the world am I going to wear" moments as I'm frantically clawing through/throwing on clothes at the last minute.


I love shoes as you can see in the background of some of these photos. I'm pretty much limited now to tennis shoes, and knee boots when I'm in a matchy mood -- if only the stabilizer boots came with changeable colors like Timex watchbands, there would be no end to what I could put together.

I did drag myself out on my crutches to the 50% off sales room at Anthropologie this Sunday, because well, did you hear me? 50% off salesroom!!! My husband dropped me off up front, helped me pick things out, and then stood in line for me. What a saint! When I asked him if I should try things on, he told me he would just take back what didn't work. So far, there's one yuck, one maybe and the rest "works." :D P.S. Crutches are really useful when trying to look through a packed sales room -- you can pull the sympathy card, AND no one can get in "your shopping space" because you are taking up so much room with your crutches. Heh, heh.

So, did you score anything good during the sale? Does anyone else drag their poor husband out shopping on a regular basis? Anyone else have a husband as great as mine? :D

Sincerely,

V.B.