Last April, I started having intense pain in my left foot -- to the point that I couldn't get out of bed in the morning without dreading putting my feet on the ground. I made an appointment with a different doctor in the city and was diagnosed with a stress fracture based on somewhat inconclusive X-rays (in fairness, the cuboid bone is tough to diagnose because it's kinda spongy). I was put in a walking boot for three weeks and asked to come back. When I showed no improvement, I was put on crutches in addition to the boot for another month. Two months of being immobile feels like a lifetime in Austin when you're only 30, and I was showing no improvement on what should've been barely a hairline fracture. During all of this time there was talk of getting me to buy or rent an expensive bone growth machine. Google it. Anyway, when it became obvious I wasn't getting better, the doctor started spitballing and diagnosed me with gout (he had just seen a case of a young girl with similar symptoms, and, admittedly, my diet wasn't great at the time). I was put on Indomethacine which only served to literally give me migraines. When that didn't work, the doctor, resigned, gave me a cortisone shot into the cuboid joint and sent me on my way. This all took MONTHS and MONEY (I was sent for an MRI at one point, too -- I don't even remember why). Keep in mind every day of this involved excruciating pain. I gained weight because I couldn't work out and avoided social gatherings because I could barely walk. I was miserable. I sought out a second opinion. I found myself at Dr. Shock's office simply because it was close to my home and I was exhausted of doctor's appointments. I told Dr. Shock my story and he immediately knew my diagnosis. The previous doctor had been right to give me a cortisone shot, but he hadn't done it correctly. Dr. Shock administered a shot with a noticeably different method from the previous doctor, exuding experience and confidence so much that he advised me to get back to running right away. He took the time to look at my gait and my feet and explained to me the cause of my problem -- a mechanical stress on the joint because of my high arches. He made sure I had good running shoes and prescribed orthopedic insoles his office sells at a really reasonable price. I saw improvement immediately. I went back to his office for a couple more shots over the next few months to squash the remaining pain, steadily showing improvement. Only when I neglected to wear the insoles during lengthy periods of walking/standing/running did I ever get an inkling of pain after that. By all accounts I was cured. I'm writing this review so long after the fact because I was thinking today of how grateful I am that I don't have that condition anymore. So, this is less a review and more thanks for greatly improving my quality of life. Thank you, Dr. Shock. read more
