Doctor's Orders
After having a set back on the foot front earlier this week, I decided it was finally time to go see the doctor. When things aren't starting to improve after a week of rest, an air cast and lots of icing, it's time to call in the pros.
So begrudgingly, I went in and filled out a million pages of paperwork about my medical history and injury.
The doctor ordered up some X-rays.
The X-ray tech got a kick out of me taking pictures of the X-rays being done.
While we were waiting for the X-rays to process, the doctor asked me all about the injury. How it happened, the pain level, etc. Then she had me do a few things like stand on my toes and rotate my foot left and right. Then she squeezed it really hard and I felt like I was about to puke.
Then we looked at the X-rays. I was scanning quickly and declared them clean!
Literally I was like "Oh nothing's broken!!!"
The doctor laughed and then zoomed in on the area where I'm experiencing the pain. The picture suddenly looked less crisp. There was no break or fracture, but the doctor said it's a "stress injury." Meaning if I don't stay off it, it's on the verge of being something much worse.
So four more weeks in the air cast. No running. No CrossFit (except upper body stuff). I can swim and I can bike.
I won't even lie. I left the doctor's office, got home and sobbed on the phone to my mom.
What I thought would maybe force me to take a week or two off running, is now going to be about six weeks off running total.
I've been trying to find the positive, like the fact that I can still do some things, but that's just like some crappy consolation prize. One of my friends put it well:
"There's no real positive. It's only a question of how negative it is."
The next four weeks are going to be hard for me mentally. Every time I see a runner, I want to punch them because I'm jealous. Swimming and biking are fine, but they just don't do it for me like running does.
Spending Christmas and New Years in an air cast will also be a blast I'm sure. But I guess at least it's not the summer, so I won't end up with some weird air cast tan lines.
Pity party...table for one please.
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10 comments
I've been having the same pity party for myself - haven't been able to run since early Nov and still can't even try to run for a few more weeks. Plus having back issues, i can barely walk. ugg. But the way I see it, this is probably the best time of year to be out for 6 weeks. Short days and all. Just try to avoid sitting on the couch eating ice cream every day while you're off your feet, I've learned from experience that isn't such a good idea.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this Jess. But hopefully by catching it now, you will minimize your time off. As your friend said, at least it is less of a negative than it could be. But I know that it still sucks.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your injury and workout woes, but I thought you might enjoy a little mantra I've been using recently. "Embrace the suck." I have no idea where it originated from, but it sure does feel good to say it. It's like a cheekier version of "keep calm and carry on." One way to look at it: you'll have more time to do things you put off/can't do because of all the time you spend running. Learn to knit? Finally clean out your closet? That way, when you CAN run, you'll have everything crossed off your to-do list! Just a thought! Good luck! : )
ReplyDeleteIt is always hard to be sidelined, and nothing makes you wanna run more than when you can't do it, but something I've learned in the last few years is this: Running is a lifelong partner. It'll be there for you when you return to it. It's faithful like that.
ReplyDeleteChin up and try to take the long view!
I'm sorry, Jess. That's definitely a bummer, but with a little R&R you'll be back at it in no time!!!
ReplyDeleteLISTEN TO THE DOC!!! My sister had what should have been a six-week stress fracture, which turned into a healing process of over a year when she decided she felt good enough to wear heels and dance at a wedding during the healing process...then because she had to be in the boot so much longer, when she got out of it, she had knee and hip problems due to her body being so adjusted to the use of the boot. I know it sucks, but hang in there. Go buy yourself a fabulous bag to ease the pain. :)
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry! I know how you feel. I'm going through runner's knee now. I got an x-ray, saw a sports doc, am doing PT and it's been an emotional rollercoaster. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry but at least it isn't worse? Bo swam his way through an ACL injury/surgery and came back stronger than ever on the running front.
ReplyDeleteI empathize so much. I had a femoral neck stress fracture just over a year after I started running. I was on crutches for 5 weeks and couldn't run for months. I rehabbed from that and then got a stress reaction in the other hip almost exactly a year later. It is so hard to be limited to swimming & biking, and I cried many times seeing runners--especially while I was on crutches. But, to go all philosophical on you, I will never again take running for granted, and I am much smarter about recovery and cross training now. Sending you healing vibes!
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