Health risks and my experience with a pedicure gone wrong
For the past year, I have been battling palmo-plantar psoriasis (psoriasis on both hands and both feet)...Although recently, it has traveled to both legs this is only within the last two months.
Up until July of 2007, I was blessed with extraordinary good health. Although I am 50 years old, and was 49 at the time this all happened, I felt like I was in my twenties. I am a private personal fitness trainer, an avid runner. I teach strength training as well as many other forms of fitness training. Other than having my two children, I was never in the hospital.
I had a pedicure in July of 2007 and the technician scraped off too much skin on the bottoms of my feet. Within 48 hours, I developed blisters all over the bottoms of my feet, making it difficult to walk, to say the least. I was also going on vacation with my two kids at the time. To get through vacation, I bought tons of bandaids, lotions, creams...you name it, I had it. I catered to my feet 24 hrs. a day in order to just walk. About a month went by and I noticed a red line going up my ankle - I went to the doctor & was diagnosed with cellulitis. I was given an antibiotic and within a few weeks, the infection started to go away. Within a few weeks of that, I noticed red bumps on my hands. I went to the doctor again & had a biopsy done. The pathology was not done properly and I was misdiagnosed with "skin hypersensitivity" and given topical steriods. I ended up in the emergency room that Christmas of 2007 since the skin condition had gotten out of control. I was put on prednisone...I got very sick from the medication and had to be weaned off. The skin condition came back full force. It was now on both hands, both feet and spreading.
I had a gazillion tests & was given many different topical steriods. I still had no diagnosis. By this time, I just couldn't even walk without pain. It was like my feet were in a fireplace of broken glass -- as awful as that sounds. Since I operate a sole proprietorship fitness business, I had to close my studio for a month and stay off my feet. I went from running four times a week to not even being able to walk...all I could do was sit. I fell into a depression & became reclusive. If I did not have my kids, I honestly don't know what I would have done to find some hope.
I then found another doctor who diagnosed me & although I have tried a couple of things medication wise with him that did not agree with me -- methotrexate for one -- I like him and I feel I have finally found a person that will help me. I am currently doing NB/UVB three times per week on my hands, feet and legs.
Currently, I am still battling this condition & will have to learn to manage it for the rest of my life because it is chronic. Generally, psoriasis is inherited in the family genes (no one in my family has this condition) or it is introducted into the body through skin trauma, which is how I was exposed.
Right now though, I can walk, I am back at work and I've even run a couple of times! I do pay a bit of a price for the running but I deal with that by pampering my feet...the running is so good for my spirit, so I pick my spots to do it.
The most I can hope for is that th is goes into remission for awhile. I am trying to focus on the positive and look forward to when I don't have to wear gloves anymore everywhere I go (people love to stare) & I don't have to lather on a ton of creams, lotions & whatever else on my feet before I get out of bed.
So, before you have that pedicure think of my experience. I went to have my feet bathed, pampered and polished & I came out with a chronic condition that has altered my life in ways I could have never imagined.
Blessings to all ...
Pam
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LoveRunning08, thank you for sharing your story.
What a nightmare you have had to live with. It does really make me think.
I get a pedicure every 3 weeks. Aside from my feet looking and feeling great, half the reason is that I get a full hour alone, where I can read without being interrupted, or have to change a diaper or break up toddler rebellions!
We all need to ensure that nail technicians use sanitized instruments and also consider asking them NOT to use the bubble massaging jets in the foot bowels, as they can spread infections if not properly cleaned.
I am so sorry this happened to you - many of us love pedicures and you are right, it should have been a relaxing and pampering session for you - not a year plus of ill health.
Thanks for your story, you will reach many women and educate us all on the risks of any kind of beauty regime, no matter how common or popular they are.
For more info on safe pedicures, click here:
http://www.footankle.com/Pedicure_Viral.htm
and check out 10 Tips for a Safe Salon Pedicure here:
http://foothealth.about.com/od/footcare/tp/10-Tips-for-a-Safe-Pedicure.htm
LoveRunning08, were you able to inform the pedicure salon about what happened to you? What did they say or do?
I had pedicures in the past many times without any health problems whatsoever, then I fell out of the pedicure loop and hadn't gone in years. I decided to 'treat' myself & get a pedicure so my feet would look nice in sandals for the summer...Boy! never could I have imagined...I never did wear sandals that summer, and I can only wear Crocs. I do wear my running shoes for about 45 mins. twice a week.
I did inform the salon & they told me I was mistaken. I hired an attorney and I decided to sue them...after all, my life is forever altered. This has affected not only my health, it's affected my work, my relationships and what I can and cannot do on a daily basis. Since I do everything via Debit Card, I traced back to that day...and sure enough, the salon I went to is on record. When my attorney contacted the salon owner, she again denied I was ever there. We showed the debit receipt and at that point, I just handed everything over to my attorney. The case is not yet settled due to my still receiving treatments. I will tell you, there is not enough money in the world to compensate me for this experience, for what I lost, for what I have been through...it really seems empty to me. What I would really like is to have my health back to the place it was before I walked into that salon.
Pam
Hi, Pam:
I'm sorry you're going through such pain with your feet and I hope all works out well for you. Please do keep us up on your treatments and how effective they are.
I am home with a large booth on my foot. I had surgury On friday. The tech cut my toe in sept. I was on antibotics 2- week later I went to the foot dr, 2 wks. after that and had Half my nail cut off. It turn worse as time went on now I needed surgury. I am out of work with no sick time. I have a my debit card for all my treatments & the day I got my nail done. Can I sue??