Life, Lemons, and Lemonade

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Raven

When life gives you lemons, you know what to do!

Today marks the one month anniversary of my last run. This was the awesome 10-miler right before I injured my foot. Seems like it has been much longer! I am pretty much 100% out of the walking boot, but if needed I will not hesitate to slap it back on again. For safety’s sake I am also NOT running as I was several weeks, even three months, back. The walk/walk/light jog/walk test has begun.

I started walking last week at lunch, and put in a shade over two miles per session. I did this for two days. My arch felt a little tight during the walks, but it was intermittent. It could have been because of the injury or just because my foot was not used to the movement; especially considering that my foot had been immobile for these pas weeks. There was no next day soreness, swelling, or area tenderness. That was a good sign.

I used two other days during the week to continue my new hobby; swimming. I never realized how much would like it; which was the same with running in the beginning, to be honest. I am getting past the awkward spazzy stroke stage, and am starting to get into the swimming groove.

Who knows, this may lead to doing triathlons! For now it is a good way to change up things and to allow my foot to take the time to heal.

MRI results – let’s talk?

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Raven

Yesterday I called my doctor’s office to check and see if the results came back for the MRI of my foot. It has been pretty achy recently, and it has me a little concerned. The MRI technician informed me the day of my test, that I could call as early as Tuesday for the results, even if I had an appointment for a couple of days after that. Not knowing what was going on, or what the plan of action was, I was starting to get a little antsy. I left a message for a callback, and waited for the word.

My doc stays pretty busy, so I figured that it would probably be a 24 hour turn around on the phone call. Sure enough there was a missed call this morning and a voice mail notification. I immediately checked the message, in hope of knowing at least what was found; instead I get a voicemail stating that the doctor would like to just discuss what was found on the MRI, when I go to my appointment tomorrow morning.

Discuss.

Now I am really anxious! A slew of scenarios are going through my mind. It could be nothing but inflammation. It could be tendonitis. It could be a soft tissue tear. I could be a stress fracture. It could also be something needing surgery or more time off of my running schedule. It could require me to use crutches, with zero wait baring on the floor and NO cycling!

I’m just going to have to chill, and trust this process. It may be nothing or may be something that I do not like at all. Either way it is out of my control, and I’m just going to have to roll with it.

Does this boot make me look fat?

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Raven

My bootie!

Thursday I was fitted for a walking boot. It is looking more and more like I have a stress fracture on my navicular bone, so to be safe the doctor and I both agreed that my foot needed to be immobilized.

This boot is MUCH lighter than the old one I ha, which was loaned to me a few years back. I’m guessing that it is at least seven pounds lighter! It is much easier to walk in, and I don’t rattle the floors and walls, nor do I startle my roommate or scare my pets when I walk around the house!!

I went and got an MRI on Friday, so I’m going to know more about what the issue is; unfortunately I won’t get the results until Tuesday. More waiting!

At least I can ride my bike. Saturday, I put in a substantial amount of miles on my mountain bike; a little over 37 miles. It felt great to be able to put in that kind of effort!

Later that day, I ended up buying a triathlon suit. I like the styling of it. I’ve never been much of a one-piece swimsuit kind of girl; I prefer bikinis. The look of the triathlon suits are freaking cool to me, and who knows, maybe I’ll participate in one a little down the road! Since it is looking more like I will have extended pool time, I am now looking to invest in a good underwater mp3 player. I can’t seem to put my full trust in a case, such as the H2O Amphibx armband to protect my iPhone; after all if that case fails I will have no working phone! I may have to get an iPod Shuffle and their Interval 3G case, or maybe the Speedo Aquabeat. I’m still shopping this.

Spin the wheel – Tendinitis or stess fracture?

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Raven

Today I had my appointment at the Sports Medicine Clinic. I’ve had two treatments at Metrocrest Sports Medicine, and both times it was a good experience. They quickly got me back to my exam room, and interviewed me; asking what was hurting and how it happened. Truth is, I have no real idea what did this too my foot. I was a little embarrassed because well when you get hurt, unless you get knocked out, you know what it is that caused it. Maybe I pushed it too far by going a full 10 mile run. My mileage has been increasing quicker than the plan, but I didn’t feel as if I was over-extending myself, in order to go this distance. I paid attention to my body, and I seriously felt zero pain on Saturday’s run. To be honest it was like Zen feeling while out there.

Could it have been the sprint I had to do to get back out to the Jeep, from the restaurant, to retrieve my forgotten camera bag, before the skies opened up? Maybe. I was wearing some Sketchers work shoes, with an orthotic in them, that pushes my foot way out of the depth of the shoe. Maybe that free movement with the sprinting did it? No idea.

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Day three of achy foot

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Raven

Well this bites. I’m still experiencing the ache in my left foot, alongside the instep. Now through much digging around on the Interwebs, I have narrowed down what it is that is injured; it’s my Posterior Tibial Tendon. Usually this tendon, when stressed, will cause shin splints.

Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
Symptoms may include:

Pain and swelling near the arch of the foot and on the medial side of the ankle
Pain that increases when standing on the ball of the foot or if the foot is flexed
Pain that increases with activity
Tiredness in the foot after little activity
Pain that becomes more disabling

Tomorrow I have a doctor’s appointment, to find out how bad this is, and what treatment plan will need to be followed.