Keep Them Doggies Rollin'

Over the summer, I began experiencing an annoying pain in my heel when I wore my hippy-throwback Chaco sandals. Thinking the soles were jkust beat down after 4 summers of wearing ONLY them, I figured I'd send them in for a re-sole in the Fall and switched to wearing a better, more supportive pair of sneakers. After I began running 2 months ago, however, the pain returned and increased, even causing me to limp a day or 2 last week, and I began to worry: Plantar Fasciitis? Stress Fracture? Bunion?

Being the Starving Blog-Artist that I am, I can't afford to see an Orthopedic Specialist, a Chiropractor, or even a get a damn foot massage. A friend suggested I use a tennis ball, and after rolling my sore foot around on it for a few minutes, I was sold on this cheap, effective way to relieve pain and avoid possible injury.

Since I've been broke as long as I can remember, I've used all manner of household implements to work out knots in my shoulders or back in the past. Things like the refrigerator handle, the countertop, and soupcans (for my feet) have all acted as stand-in massage therapists, but nothing has been as efficient as the plain ol' tennis ball I found in our garage.

Since I rolled and did some simple stretches for my feet that I just found online, my heel pain has completely disappeared. I'm in the market for some drastically-reduced-price-but-high-quality running shoes, but that might still have to wait until the next check comes in. Until then, I'll just use that neon, fuzzy masseur to relieve my tired dogs and hopefully keep any chronic conditions at bay.