u/PineappleBear21

Hi all - long time reader first time poster. I'm 42F - healthy, active, and fit; I live in a city and have a lifestyle so I'm on my feet a lot. I've had pain in my big toe for 3 years; 2 years ago diagnosed with HR by a podiatrist. He gave me a cortisone shot which worked beautifully for about 10 months before coming back. Second cortisone shot lasted about 2 months; I won't have a 3rd. I have modified activity (no more yoga, lunges, etc) and footwear (for the most part, but I don't wear Hokas everywhere) but still have pain.

This podiatrist took x-rays and said joint spacing looked good but I had bone spurs and would need a cheilectomy. I felt like he was pressuring me to schedule surgery so felt some yellow flags and sought a second opinion. The second podiatrist reviewed my x-rays said I have no bone spurs, she would never do a cheilectomy on me, and told me my issues were functional and sent me to PT.

I have just started seeing a PT who also treats our city's ballet corps, so she really knows foot and ankle. She is the only provider to measure my ROM (60 degrees vs 85 on the other foot) or watch me walk (noted I wasn't pushing off). My treatment plan is stretching & theragun on calves (they are very tight and I have very high arches), stretching my FHL via the 'book stretch', and various doming / scrunching foot exercises. She also gently mobilizes the joint which feels great and makes it feel less 'jammy', but the joint capsule is still very sensitive and the muscle that runs between the first and second metatarsals is often sore and likes to be massaged.

My question is: have others with functional hallux limitus had success with FHL stretching and intrinsic foot exercises? It seems hard to believe these teeny tiny movements are going to fix the problem I've had for 3 years, but I would be thrilled if is true! How long should I expect it to take to know if it is working or not? I don't need my foot at 100% perfection, but I'd love for my big toe to not rule my life anymore.

I welcome others' experiences with functional hallux limitus in particular (vs severe arthritis / hallux rigidus). Thank you!!

Hi! My spouse recently announced they were done drinking alcohol. This frankly came as a shock to me and I am still getting my head around the implications for our routines as a couple, but I am focused on being supportive.

The fact is, 'cocktail hour' was really 'our time' as a couple - after the kids went down, my spouse would make us cocktails and we'd enjoy it together on the porch (the issue was that I was satisfied with 1 drink, but my spouse would want to keep going).

I would like to recreate this with Mocktail Hour - but popping open a Phony Negroni or an NA beer doesn't feel the same. Interested in recipe books that (1) aren't too sweet - we always liked drinks that were a bit more bitter or herbaceous (2) aren't crazy fussy, requiring days advance preparation and 20 different ingredients.

Any book recos? Or like, tinctures or ingredients I could give as a gift to kick us off?

ETA: Any other wisdom or words of advice for the cocktail-to-mocktail transition would be very welcome. I feel emotional / sad to be leaving behind this part of our lives, but know it's not really about the alcohol, it's about the connection (and the special / delicious drink!)