I’m not sure what the issue is but if its foot / knee related, would orthotics or orthopedic shoes or braces help?

It is really frightening the first time you have a major health problem as a parent. DH and I went to Paris for about a week when the girls were 3 (they stayed with grandparents). A month after our return, one morning I was just chatting with DH in the kitchen, drinking coffee, when I felt my left arm suddenly swell. By 1 pm it was hard and red, so we rushed to the nearest emergency room. It turned out to be cellulitis, not DVT or a stroke. But I was so scared for myself and for my daughters and husband. Then I had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic I was prescribed and broke out in hives.

Later I remembered I had slightly burned my arm on a hot cookie sheet a few days before we left for Paris and forgot all about it, then got on a transatlantic flight.

A very close friend has several major health problems and it has really affected her parenting of her 3 kids, not in a good way. She’s very overwhelmed and unhappy. I am glad that you can find the energy to keep up with your little boy.

Re: acupuncture — check into community acupuncture clinics, which charge clients on a sliding scale and minimize expenses by using recliners to treat multiple patients in a room. I did this for my out-of-pocket IVF cycle, and it was a great experience. I think I paid $30 for the first session per week and $20 for additional sessions that week. The acupuncturists were really nice and did their best to maximize privacy by keeping the room dimly lit and speaking softly. Most of the other patients, many of whom were blue collar, were there for chronic illnesses.
xoxoxo