Foot issues continue

Some of you know I have had mysterious foot pain for several weeks now. When I thought it was improving, it flared up again when I taught the Kamloops workshops (duh, 8 hours of workshops, plus performing and general ambling about socially).
Today I finally saw the doctor, and she seems to not have a clue. She suggested three *possible* things, one of which was a stress fracture, another was a kind of swollen nerve thing that Renee's friend has (and I was convinced I might have until now).

The third was a swelling issue, which would have been helped by icing, which never worked for me when I tried it (short of numbing it, it didn't improve the symptoms), so the doctor doubts that is it.

She also doubts it is the swollen nerve thing, because most people experience that in a slightly different location, and can feel a sort of nodule--like a little marble--when you walk or touch it, which I don't feel. Though the toe-spreader suggestion I was given via Renee helped, so I think that threw her off (not being a foot specialist of any kind, and referring to a medical book throughout our discussion).

So the most likely, at this point, is a stress-fracture. I was sent down to Xray, and told to stay off it as much as I can until we know what is up. Har har. Stay off it she says... I should know the Xray results tomorrow at the earliest.

In the meantime, in addition to staying off it, I have been told to try and locate a Metatarsal Pad. This is not apparently the same thing as the toe pad/cushions which go into the shoe and make direct contact with the area of pain, but instead actually goes directly *behind* the area in question, and apparently does some kind of redistribution of weight to alleviate some of the pain when walking. It is further suggested that when I do walk, I choose a shoe with a wide toe box and a fairly rigid sole (I wasn't sure why, but that is what she said and she didn't elaborate and I didn't think to as at the time).

Well, apparently you can't just run by your local drug store to get these special pads--you have to buy them online. So I have to order some and won't be able to walk around with them this week leading up to TQNW (hopefully I can get them in *by* the fest to take with me!)

If I don't get more volunteers for the booth at TQNW, this will be a moot point, as far as my dancing on it. Seems everyone I know is taking the same workshops as I am, and are therefore unavailable at the times I need them to watch the booth. So if I don't get more volunteers by tomorrow, I will be selling my workshops and planning to sit around in my lame rigid shoes with pads all week-end long. *not pleased in the least*

Edit: A little good news. I was really upset about having to wear shoes in order to use these insole thingies since they stick inside a footbed (and doctor did recommend it, but I am a barefoot girl...) But lookie here--one that slips on the foot like Dancepaws! I am getting me some of these fer sure. Hope they can come in before I leave on Thursday.