Since Saturday my ankle has been bothering me every day. Yesterday my physical therapist called and wanted to know if I had seen my doctor yet. I told her I hadn't and asked if I should wait to come bac to therapy until after he saw me. We agreed that that was probably best.
Today I went in for my x-ray to make sure the screw wasn't coming out. When the doctor came in after the x-rays he said that his first thought when the therapist talked to him was that the ligaments between the two bones really weren't as strong as they were supposed to be. He said in the x-ray if that was the case then the two bones would be seperated, but they were not!
He said the screws were not coming out but what he beleived happened was that when they did the surgery the nerve that lays across the inside bone was put in a place where it was safe and protected. When the therapist did some deep tissue movements the day after my stitches were out, she moved it around so that the nerve became exposed and is now rubbing at times against the screw head.
He said there really isn't anything he can do about it. If in a year it is still bothering me he can remove the screws but not until after a year. He said in most cases the nerve will work it's way away from what is irritating it but it takes time. Doc told me I could continue with therapy for strength and balance but not to do the deep tissue movements.
The pain I have had the last few days hasn't been as intense as when it first started hurting so I'm hoping that the nerve is moving away from the screw head. It still hurts a lot but I can at least tolerate it enough to put weight on that foot.
I go back in three weeks to make sure it isn't worse.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
DNF
Saturday's 5K did not go as planned at all. To start with it was cold and rainy, which are never great when going out to run or in my case walk. Thankfully by the time we got to the park the rain had stopped.
This was a large 5K, over 500 people, and by far the most unorganized. We had to get in line to find out what our bib number was, then go to another person to get our bibs, then go to another person to get the chip tags for our shoes, then go to ANOTHER person to get our shirts. Seriously?? We were preregistered! Jeremy's dad, who had not preregistered, had the easiest time of all. There was no line at that table and he was able to get everything at one place.
The race started about 10 minutes late because there were so many people still waiting to get their bibs and chips. I started in the back, knowing that I was going to be slow even as a walker. One thing I did like about this 5k was that over half of the participants were walkers! I was actually passing people walking until the pain hit! I was about .3 miles in and the sharp pain I had earlier in the week returned. It wasn't as bad, I could at least put weight on it when I put it down, where as before I couldnt' even do that. I pushed through and debated whether I should quit or not. The pain let up and I kept going, but had definitely slowed. The people that I had passed were now passing me back.
After about a mile in the sharp pain had gone but now the whole top part of my foot was very sore. I had gone up a couple hills. I'm not sure if that is what bothered it since I have only walked on flat since the surgery. I wonder if the hills aggravated it by making it stretch in ways it doesnt like to do just yet.
I got to a point where I could turn left and go back to the car/finish or turn right and keep going. Jeremy was supposed to run his 5K, then come and run til he caught up with me so he would walk with me for the rest of the 5k. It was getting about time for him to be catching up with me and I made the call that I wasn't going to be able to do another 2 miles with the pain. I turned left and went towards the finish. About .1 up Jeremy caught up to me and helped me back to the car.
It is very frustrating since last Saturday I was able to walk 3.1, but I couldnt do it a week later. I go to the doctor on Wednesday where he will x-ray it just to make sure there isn't a screw backing out. Hoping everything is ok and that it's just a random pain that will go away in time.
This was a large 5K, over 500 people, and by far the most unorganized. We had to get in line to find out what our bib number was, then go to another person to get our bibs, then go to another person to get the chip tags for our shoes, then go to ANOTHER person to get our shirts. Seriously?? We were preregistered! Jeremy's dad, who had not preregistered, had the easiest time of all. There was no line at that table and he was able to get everything at one place.
The race started about 10 minutes late because there were so many people still waiting to get their bibs and chips. I started in the back, knowing that I was going to be slow even as a walker. One thing I did like about this 5k was that over half of the participants were walkers! I was actually passing people walking until the pain hit! I was about .3 miles in and the sharp pain I had earlier in the week returned. It wasn't as bad, I could at least put weight on it when I put it down, where as before I couldnt' even do that. I pushed through and debated whether I should quit or not. The pain let up and I kept going, but had definitely slowed. The people that I had passed were now passing me back.
After about a mile in the sharp pain had gone but now the whole top part of my foot was very sore. I had gone up a couple hills. I'm not sure if that is what bothered it since I have only walked on flat since the surgery. I wonder if the hills aggravated it by making it stretch in ways it doesnt like to do just yet.
I got to a point where I could turn left and go back to the car/finish or turn right and keep going. Jeremy was supposed to run his 5K, then come and run til he caught up with me so he would walk with me for the rest of the 5k. It was getting about time for him to be catching up with me and I made the call that I wasn't going to be able to do another 2 miles with the pain. I turned left and went towards the finish. About .1 up Jeremy caught up to me and helped me back to the car.
It is very frustrating since last Saturday I was able to walk 3.1, but I couldnt do it a week later. I go to the doctor on Wednesday where he will x-ray it just to make sure there isn't a screw backing out. Hoping everything is ok and that it's just a random pain that will go away in time.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Pain and Walking
I was released from the doctor Wednesday a week ago when he took out my stitches. I had therapy the next day on Thursday and the woman did some joint movements that she wasn't previously able to do bc of the stitches. On Saturday I started having some sharp stabbing pain. It wasn't all the time but when it came, it hurt extremely bad. I have never really had pain through much of this and especially not lately so it really scared me. It did this off and on Saturday through Tuesday. On Tuesday I had my next therapy appt and told her what it was doing. She said she would talk to my doctor and let me know if he thought I should come back in to see him. She called on Wednesday to say that my dr did want me to come in next week to get it x-rayed just to make sure it wasn't a screw coming out. Of course since Tuesday it hasn't bothered me.
Last Saturday my college roommate/best friend was home for the weekend. We decided to meet at the park to walk and talk to catch up. I was worried about my ankle since it had really bothered me earlier that morning but figured I would at least give it a try and if it started hurting we would quit. If it didn't hurt my goal was to do 2 miles, since 1.5 miles was my previous longest distance walking.
Thankfully, I had no pain while walking! We were chatting and when I finally looked down at my garmin, it told me that we had gone 2.1 already. I decided that I would keep on and we would walk to get to 3 miles. When we got back to the car we were at 2.7. Well I couldn't stop there knowing 3.1 was that close! So of course we had to walk and finish it up. I walked my first 5k distance in 1 hour 9 minutes and 1 second.
This upcoming Saturday I am officially signed up for a 5K as a walker. It is supposed to be a great 5K at a state park with lots of door prizes! With the leaves changing it will be a pretty one at least. My goal is to be faster than last week.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Jeff Galloway, Iron Horse, and Stitches
Jeff Galloway was at the Iron Horse Half this past Sunday that Jeremy did. In fact, Jeff Galloway was at the packet pick up on Friday night taking pictures, signing autographs and selling his books. Of course I had to get a picture with him and his autograph! I would never have done a half marathon without his run/walk method!
Jeremy had a great race and got a PR by 8 minutes!! 7 out of our 12 Bourbon Chase team members were at the race and all did great!
During the Bourbon Chase they had a side competition of a scavenger game where you could win priority registration for next year. We unfortunately never heard the results, so I emailed the race director. Since I couldnt run but tagged along this was my contribution to the team! He emailed me back and our team got third place!!! Which means we can register early for next years Bourbon Chase!
Today I went to the doctor and got my stitches taken out. It hurt quite a bit! I think last time I had my stitches out I was still taking pain pills so I didnt realize the pain! The doctor looked at it and asked how therapy was going. I told him I was still working on the flexibility. He said it would take a while but I had more flexibility than a man two doors down that broke his and didn't have to have surgery. He said I had to get the dorsal flexion back in order to run and to stick to non-impact activities (walking, elliptical, exercise bike, swimming) before starting to run/walk again. He also released me from his care.
Jeremy had a great race and got a PR by 8 minutes!! 7 out of our 12 Bourbon Chase team members were at the race and all did great!
During the Bourbon Chase they had a side competition of a scavenger game where you could win priority registration for next year. We unfortunately never heard the results, so I emailed the race director. Since I couldnt run but tagged along this was my contribution to the team! He emailed me back and our team got third place!!! Which means we can register early for next years Bourbon Chase!
Today I went to the doctor and got my stitches taken out. It hurt quite a bit! I think last time I had my stitches out I was still taking pain pills so I didnt realize the pain! The doctor looked at it and asked how therapy was going. I told him I was still working on the flexibility. He said it would take a while but I had more flexibility than a man two doors down that broke his and didn't have to have surgery. He said I had to get the dorsal flexion back in order to run and to stick to non-impact activities (walking, elliptical, exercise bike, swimming) before starting to run/walk again. He also released me from his care.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Five for Friday
1. I went to physical therapy on Wednesday. My regular therapist wasn't there so another lady worked with me. She had me do the same stretches and exercises I had been doing plus several more. She measured my ankle flexibilty. Bringing my foot towards my leg had improved 7 degrees from last week! Unfortunately, pointing my foot away from my body had not improved at all since I had started therapy. She showed me a stretch to help with that and then remeasured. Just by doing the one stretch I gained 10 degrees of flexibility in. I will definitely be doing that stretch more!!
2. Last night was the Vice President Debate at Centre College where I work! I had to work in the library yesterday because MSNBC was set up inside using the library as their green room before the anchors went outside to tape in front of a live audience. It was very cool to see all the news anchors. I had my picture taken with Krystal Ball from The Cycle and took a couple pictures of The Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd being filmed. After work we stayed and watched the debate on the Festival Lawn. The whole experience was very interesting and exciting to see happen in my little town at the place where I work.
3. About a month ago I submitted 6 photographs to the local Arts Center for a national juried exhibit. Out of the 6 I submitted one was selected to be displayed! I later found out there were 150 entries and only 40 were chosen to be on display. Artists from as far away as Washington state entered the contest. Last night was the reception for the exhibit.
4. Saturday is the Fox and Hound 4K race that my brother in law puts on. I have helped him the past few years at the finish line getting times and such. In the past we have always done it by pencil and paper, but this year we will be automated and have an actual timer machine. It's a great race where the registrants get a t-shirt and a pancake breakfast afterwards.
5. Sunday is the Iron Horse Half Marathon in Lexington. Jeremy is running in it and I'll be cheering him on! He had a PR time this week during a weekly 5 mile run so he is excited going into the race that he will be able to get a PR at the half! I'm sad I'm not running it but am happy that I can still go and support him and our other runner friends!
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| Watching the Daily Rundown being filmed |
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| Even Abe had to have credentials! |
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| me with Krystal Ball from The Cycle |
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| Chuck Todd |
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| watching the debate on the lawn |
3. About a month ago I submitted 6 photographs to the local Arts Center for a national juried exhibit. Out of the 6 I submitted one was selected to be displayed! I later found out there were 150 entries and only 40 were chosen to be on display. Artists from as far away as Washington state entered the contest. Last night was the reception for the exhibit.
4. Saturday is the Fox and Hound 4K race that my brother in law puts on. I have helped him the past few years at the finish line getting times and such. In the past we have always done it by pencil and paper, but this year we will be automated and have an actual timer machine. It's a great race where the registrants get a t-shirt and a pancake breakfast afterwards.
5. Sunday is the Iron Horse Half Marathon in Lexington. Jeremy is running in it and I'll be cheering him on! He had a PR time this week during a weekly 5 mile run so he is excited going into the race that he will be able to get a PR at the half! I'm sad I'm not running it but am happy that I can still go and support him and our other runner friends!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
.87 of a mile
Last night on my dinner break Jeremy and I took a walk. Jeremy had just come for a run so he had his Garmin and we could tell how far and fast (slow) we had gone. We walked for .87 of a mile and would have made it a whole mile but Jeremy's watch battery died so we stopped. We did .87 in about 25 minutes. I think this is the longest I have walked at one time in over three months.
There are a couple 5k's at the end of October, one on the 20th and the other on the 27th, that I really want to do. I'm hoping I can build up to walking 3 miles within the next 2-3 weeks. I'm going to try to walk on my non therapy days and on my dinner breaks when we have time.
Today at PT I asked the therapist to measure my calf because I think from all the walking at Bourbon Chase it has gotten bigger. Well, my calf is still 2 inches smaller that the left one but I can tell it's a lot firmer than before. It doesn't jiggle like it did, so we are moving in the right direction.
There are a couple things at therapy that are very difficult, one of them is standing on my bad leg only trying to balance. This is by far the most frustrating things I do because I can't go more than 10-15 seconds without having to put a finger down to balance out. Another one that is frustrating is to put my feet on an inclinced piece of wood and try to bed my knees. My right knee doesnt bend with my ankle in that position. I know it will come back but it is still hard to realize that I can't do things that should be easy.
On another note the high school swim season starts back up tomorrow! I am the asst coach again this year and am looking forward to this years group.
There are a couple 5k's at the end of October, one on the 20th and the other on the 27th, that I really want to do. I'm hoping I can build up to walking 3 miles within the next 2-3 weeks. I'm going to try to walk on my non therapy days and on my dinner breaks when we have time.
Today at PT I asked the therapist to measure my calf because I think from all the walking at Bourbon Chase it has gotten bigger. Well, my calf is still 2 inches smaller that the left one but I can tell it's a lot firmer than before. It doesn't jiggle like it did, so we are moving in the right direction.
There are a couple things at therapy that are very difficult, one of them is standing on my bad leg only trying to balance. This is by far the most frustrating things I do because I can't go more than 10-15 seconds without having to put a finger down to balance out. Another one that is frustrating is to put my feet on an inclinced piece of wood and try to bed my knees. My right knee doesnt bend with my ankle in that position. I know it will come back but it is still hard to realize that I can't do things that should be easy.
On another note the high school swim season starts back up tomorrow! I am the asst coach again this year and am looking forward to this years group.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Bourbon Chase
This past Friday and Saturday was the Bourbon Chase, a 200 mile relay run through central Kentucky and 6 bourbon distilleries. I was captain of this team until my unfortunate ankle injury which then led to Jeremy being the official captain while I did all the grunt work. I did get a nice blanket for all my troubles.
Because I wasn't able to run but was still "captain" and I wasn't about to drive the 12 passenger van, I was the official navigator I guess. I rode shotgun in the van and kept track of the time log and was the gatorade girl when I could remember to do so. They also had a scavenger hunt game going on at the different exchanges. Most of the time it involved answering a question on bourbon or the surrounding area or taking a picture of something silly.
The van had to park pretty far away at most of the exchanges so I did a LOT of walking. Considering I had not done any exercise in the last three months I was a little sore come Saturday night and Sunday. My non-existant right calf was actually hard as a rock with a muscle!! Woo hoo!!
We had a great time this year and everyone ran great! It did rain on us off and on but we actually finished 58 minutes ahead of our predicted times! We were with a great group of people and that made it all the more enjoyable!
Below are some pictures of the weekend.
Because I wasn't able to run but was still "captain" and I wasn't about to drive the 12 passenger van, I was the official navigator I guess. I rode shotgun in the van and kept track of the time log and was the gatorade girl when I could remember to do so. They also had a scavenger hunt game going on at the different exchanges. Most of the time it involved answering a question on bourbon or the surrounding area or taking a picture of something silly.
The van had to park pretty far away at most of the exchanges so I did a LOT of walking. Considering I had not done any exercise in the last three months I was a little sore come Saturday night and Sunday. My non-existant right calf was actually hard as a rock with a muscle!! Woo hoo!!
We had a great time this year and everyone ran great! It did rain on us off and on but we actually finished 58 minutes ahead of our predicted times! We were with a great group of people and that made it all the more enjoyable!
Below are some pictures of the weekend.
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| the front of our team shirt |
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| back of our team shirt |
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| the big van |
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| trying to put fear in the other vans |
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| Van 1 runners and driver |
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| At the start |
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| part of the scavenger hunt |
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| Lesley's hair post run |
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| singing My Old KY home |
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| Heaven Hill gift shop |
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| All lit up |
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| Happy to be getting something sweet to eat |
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| Ride 'em turkey! |
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| Clay getting the Wild Turkey Master Distiller's autograph |
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| Me and Jeremy after the finish |
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| The team crossing th finish line! |
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