I'm back on the wagon, albeit a very creaky, rickety wagon. PT John gave me the "OK" to try running again. I've run 5 minutes the past 8 out of 10 days. (Actually, I added another 5 minutes yesterday...) Slow. Awkward. It's ok in that I haven't experienced any additional swelling out of it. I'm a bit stiff in the mornings, but no real pain. Only one day, on an indoor track (as opposed to outside on a flat field) did I encounter a flash of moving pain, enough to cause me to stop before my 5-minute indulgence. I'm guessing a tight plantar fascia, so I am back to wearing my Strassburg Sock at night. It's helping. I also feel like I am still dropping my right hip. I will further discuss this with PT John. If anyone has suggestions to that, let me know.
I'm still continuing the hot/cold bath. I've added strengthening exercises-- one-legged balancing while picking up scattered objects (a variation on the childhood games of 52 pick-up or pick-up sticks) and squats on the upside down Bosu ball.
As I reflect on the last five months (and 2 days since surgery, but who's counting?)....and the last five years..... I am walking without pain. I am able to stand all day (teaching) without pain and swelling. It seems that the surgery has helped these symptoms; however, I am still facing the compensations of the last five years. Non-runners probably don't understand why I keep struggling, running. I've always felt that anyone can run, no real skills needed; it's the mental game that must be overcome. The confidence that I can, and I will. It is, by far, the greatest tool in my arsenal for confidence. That is why I keep struggling, trying to persevere, overcome.
My running friend, Steph, posted an article from The Wall Street Journal, OK, You're a Runner. Get Over It. on her Facebook page. Hilarious. I mostly love the comments from her FB friends condemning this guy as "a very angry jerk." For us longtime runners, we run because we love it -- it defines us in a sense, and I think that is why I find this commentary funny, as opposed to cranky. Worth the read.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
TWISTED
It's been a month since my last posting and unfortunately I do not have a ton of awesome news. After being pink slipped and trying to run on my own, I noticed a feeling of being off-balance. I truly had a pitter-patter, rather than a pitter pitter or a patter patter. So I finally connected with a local PT who has helped quite a few other athletes, mainly runners. He was unavailable during my initial search and is currently not covered under my insurance. However.... as I tell those who will listen, I will either be running soon, or broke.
He is PT number 5 since this entire ordeal started many years ago, and he is the first who listened to the symptoms as opposed to the "issue" and he wrote things down. His diagnosis? My imbalance is real. My right leg is shorter by about 4 mm (all you minimalist know how big that is) as a result of my right lower back being out of sync (socket...layman terms here; I'm an ESL teacher, not a doctor) which in turn causes my pelvic bone to be twisted. Additionally, the tightness in my peroneal tendon is because it can't move freely up and down (aliken it to a bicycle pump where the pump can not move up and down smoothly because it is corroded). Validated and depressed, were my feelings the next week or so, and it really took me a while to dig myself out.
So four weeks later, and I see the new guy again tomorrow, third time. I am not completely sure my gait is even. I have been fast-walking, which doesn't "count" enough to make it into my workout log, and not running, yet. I have been continuing the steamboats, single -foot balances, and squats with a weight. I can finally say that my squats are getting lower (how low can you go?) and that peroneal tendon is maybe (fingers crossed) loosening up.
So that is my news. I am still positive about this surgery, although I am still not running. This is certainly an Odysseus-like epic journey. However, I do know that I truly tried everything before undergoing surgery. I promise to update tomorrow if there is any new news. Cross your fingers for me. Just a little superstitious when it comes to running.
He is PT number 5 since this entire ordeal started many years ago, and he is the first who listened to the symptoms as opposed to the "issue" and he wrote things down. His diagnosis? My imbalance is real. My right leg is shorter by about 4 mm (all you minimalist know how big that is) as a result of my right lower back being out of sync (socket...layman terms here; I'm an ESL teacher, not a doctor) which in turn causes my pelvic bone to be twisted. Additionally, the tightness in my peroneal tendon is because it can't move freely up and down (aliken it to a bicycle pump where the pump can not move up and down smoothly because it is corroded). Validated and depressed, were my feelings the next week or so, and it really took me a while to dig myself out.
So four weeks later, and I see the new guy again tomorrow, third time. I am not completely sure my gait is even. I have been fast-walking, which doesn't "count" enough to make it into my workout log, and not running, yet. I have been continuing the steamboats, single -foot balances, and squats with a weight. I can finally say that my squats are getting lower (how low can you go?) and that peroneal tendon is maybe (fingers crossed) loosening up.
So that is my news. I am still positive about this surgery, although I am still not running. This is certainly an Odysseus-like epic journey. However, I do know that I truly tried everything before undergoing surgery. I promise to update tomorrow if there is any new news. Cross your fingers for me. Just a little superstitious when it comes to running.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)