injury

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Goals

March Goals:

  • Continue PT. CHECK! 2x/wk
  • Do exercises on my own, as well. CHECK! 2x/day
  • Start using exercise bike at work. CHECK! 1x/day
  • Walk with less of a limp. CHECK!
  • Lose that darn BOOT! CHECK! (didn’t really lose it, just don’t wear it!)
  • Burn those crutches! CHECK! (didn’t really burn them, just don’t need them!)

I am used to setting running goals – run faster, run longer, run more often…

So I set goals for March and never even looked at them.  I was just depressed about  not running.  But the good news is that I met ALL my March goals! 

That means that I should set goals for April (and even look at them after I post them.)

April Goals:

  • Continue PT 1-2x per week.
  • Do exercises on my own, as well 1-2x per day.
  • Use exercise bike and/or treadmill at work everyday
  • Go biking outdoors 1-2x per week.
  • Lose that limp.
  • Run (on the treadmill) at least a few steps.

    of running again

Happy Running!  Do you set goals?

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Status Quo and a New Month

Wow — it’s April already?  Where did March go?

So here’s my March update:

  • no running hence no races.
  • no tennis so no tennis matches.
  • PT 2x a week so there a bi-weekly treadmill walks & elliptical use 2x a week.
  • stationary biking everyday and even some real biking.

This is fun but it is depressing seeing
ALL the runners on the trail…

  • limping less I think but still limited ROM and pain & swelling nightly.

Yes, PT guy R confirmed my plateauing. 

February was filled with big gains – weight-bearing, then bootless & crutchless events.

March is status quo.

I am hoping April brings improvement because something is wrong with my life and:

My next ortho appt is April 23 and after that,  PT guy J says I may be able to start running on the treadmill.

My New Compression Socks are anxiously waiting…

Happy Running!

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My New Lunch Routine

I didn’t participate in this challenge but it’s a great idea.

Before my injury, my lunch time routine was going to McDonalds or  Subway or Paneras or one of the 3 nearby school cafeterias.  My eating choices were fast food so no matter how healthy they seemed, we know that they were not.  While I ate, I usually read a variety of newspapers and magazines.

First after I came back to work from my injury, I couldn’t drive so I had to bring my lunch.  Then when I started driving, I still couldn’t walk so I had to bring my lunch.

Now that I am more mobile, my new lunch time eating habits have remained with me.

I eat at my desk what I bring from home. It’s usually Greek yogurt, a wheat bagel, a fruit & a drink. Then I go to our gym and spend 45 minutes on either the bike or the treadmill (watching TV on my iPad).

New  lunch routine:

  • save money,
  • eat healthier and
  • get exercise.

So there is something positive that came from my injury imposed running layoff.

Happy Running! Do you eat fast food or are you a healthy eater?

 

 

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Two for Tuesday: Plateaus & Chocolate

  1. A study just released showed that frequent chocolate consumption is linked to lower BMI.

Excerpt: Study participants consumed chocolate a mean 2.0 (SD, 2.5) times per week and exercised 3.6 (SD, 3.0) times per week. Frequency of chocolate consumption was associated with greater intake of calories and satfats and higher CES-D scores (P < .001 for each of these 3 associations); these all related positively to BMI. Chocolate consumption frequency was not associated with greater activity (P = .41), but it was associated with lower BMI (unadjusted P = .01). This association remained with and without adjustment for age and sex, as well as for calories, satfats, and depression.

Good News, right!

fav #1

fav #2

I’ll stop there. I’m actually not a chocoholic.  For dessert, I prefer Coffee ice cream and pies, etc.

     2.  I know there is a weight loss plateau. 

Is there a healing plateau?

If so, I think I hit it.  I went from non-weight bearing to walking with boot to walking with crutches to limping without anything (in weeks) and then lately my ankle range of motion feels the same!

I am doing my stretches everyday, riding the exercise bike, walking on the treadmill (faster & faster), doing the elliptical (longer & longer) but the ankle is still stiff and painful and I limp…

Enough whining! Give me a piece of chocolate!!

Happy Running! Are you a chocoholic?

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Friday Ramblings

  • 12 week report – still painful walking but PT guy thinks I’m progressing and he keeps upping my training – Wed I did 30 min on the treadmill at 3 mph 12% incline and 10 min on the elliptical (I thought I was going to die!)
  • I do 45 minutes on the exercise bike at work everyday during lunch (This way I get exercise & catch up on my iPad TV viewing.)
  • The weather has been incredible and unfortunately it looks like today is the last day before it returns to normal March weather.  After work today, I plan on going on my 3rd real bike ride.  (I bought a gel seat coverfor my aching butt.)

    same trail as Tues.

  • Yesterday I went for my 5 week hair appt – there’s always someone that comments on my injury & has a horror story – like “my mother didn’t get the hardware taken out right away & she has crippling arthritis” – I hate that!
  • I’ve been doing my grocery shopping at Target lately (they don’t everything but their sale prices are great and I find things that I can’t anywhere else).  My latest fav is:

I tried the pumpkin spice so far and it is delish and cheaper than Starbucks.

  • I just tried FaceTime for the first time (Skype for macs/ iphone/iPad users).  I used it with my friend who just moved to Florida.  It was great (almost like being together in the flesh.)
  • I am looking forward to going to the movies hopefully this weekend:

    Katniss in Hunger Games

Happy Running! Are you a Hunger Games fan?

 

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Two on Tuesday

I started the day by buying not ONE but TWO pairs of compressions socks. The were 50% off with free shipping at Swaggle.

already have black & white ones, love PINK!

couldn't resist these cool ones

Sounds strange since I am not running but I was told to wear support socks on the left foot to keep the swelling down.  And I will be running someday and I am sure I will need (want) these.

I also went on TWO Bike rides.  First 40 minutes during lunch on the stationary bike at work and then after work, my hubby (who bought a bike rack yesterday) & I went for a ride on the Corning trail. (Had to do something outside – it was almost 80 degrees!!!!!)

no scenery but I get quality TV watching done - finished Revenge now onto Desperate Housewives

I actually prefer the Nisky trail on the Mohawk River than this one on the Hudson but it is closer.

taken back in October when I was a runner

my hubby & our new (cheap) bike rack

it was so warm out!

Happy Running! Happy first day of spring!

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Sunday in the Park

Daffodils bloomng early...mine are in the shade but are almost out.

70 degrees in March in the NE?? Unheard of.  But the great weather continues…

I started the day at Starbucks with my favorite running buddy.

together for a race in 2010

Then I was heading for work to ride the exercise bike when I remembered that I can ride a real BIKE!!

me on Saturfay but it's the same bike

So I drove home and rode my bike around the neighborhood.  (Does anyone’s butt hurt when you ride??) My hubby wants to get a bike rack so I can ride on the bike trails in Niskayuna and Albany.

Then I picked up Amanda and her sons to spend the rest of the day in The Crossings…Boy was it crowded!! Everyone else had the same idea.

Matthew enjoying the swing.

Richard and Matthew on the slide

Amanda & her boys

The day wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Kurver Kreme for soft ice cream.

Amanda's ice cream on the left, my medium on the right

That’s an old photo. But she always gets the Gran Pappy and I get a medium sugar-free vanilla/coffee twist with chocolate sauce or chocolate sprinkles.  (Oh to be young again and have that metabolism!!)

So the nice weather continues this week… I plan to use the exercise bike everyday during lunch and ride the real bike after work.  PT continues today and Wed.

Can’t wait to walk…(You thought I was going to say run..ha ha!)

Happy Running! Enjoy your training!

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Bikin’ Of the Green

friends at the Runnin' of the Green race 2012 (Thanks AW, I stole your FB pic)

Nope I’m not there!

I ran this race last year.  It was cold & I think there was snow on the ground.

Runnin of the Green 4 miler 2011

This year as you can see in the photo, it was warm enough to run in shorts!!

So what do you do when you are depressed?? You shop and I did.  I bought more yarn to make socks and I bought 2 pairs of pants (Since I can’t wear heels, most of my pants are too long!)

my lst pair of knitted socks

Then I drove to work to ride the exercise bike & walk on the treadmill there. When I was done, I rewarded myself with a Starbucks drink.

green tea frappuccino

I got home to find that my hubby had fixed my old bike…I have not ridden a bike in at least 13 years and this bike in about 30 years old!!

The weather was gorgeous and I was so happy to do something outside!!  The question was — could I ride a bike??

I must admit it wasn’t easy.  It was hard to get on since my left ankle is weak and then it was hard to start pedaling.  I also had to get over the fear that I might fall or wouldn’t be able to stop.

After a few circles of our cul-de-sac, I decided I was ready for the big time.

I talked my hubby into taking out his new bike (the one I won in a raffle) and we drove to the Nisky Bike Path.

That was where I fell and broke my ankle 11 weeks ago!

getting ready to ride...even remembered to wear a green shirt

 

My hubby riding on the trail

 

warm outside but not green yet

We rode about a mile and then turned around. There were a lot of joggers and I was drooling with jealousy.

It was nice to be outside.  And if I couldn’t be Runnin”, I am glad that I was able to be Bikin’.

Happy Running!  How did you celebrate St. Patty’s Day?

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First Sweat

Sorry Ali on the Run, someone stole your tee-shirt

Let’s just say that I hardly sweat. That means it takes a lot to get me to sweat.  I love the heat!! I love the sun!

Yesterday at PT, PT guy J made me work hard.  After an hour of many machines & exercises, he made me do 5 minutes on the ellipical and 6 minutes on the treadmill (2 mph & 10% incline).

Maybe I was overdressed but I SWEAT!!!

Yup, first sweat in 11 weeks!!

Happy Running!

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All’s Well That Ends Well

I gave him two...

Yesterday I went for my 10 week check-up. Things started poorly and I started to get fearful about the results of my visit.

  • I left work early to go to my orthopedic and they had no record of my appointment anywhere in the computer.  Luckily, I had my appt card so they agreed to squeeze me in.
  • Finally the nurse came to get me in the waiting room and said in a nasty tone, “Where are your crutches?” I said that I didn’t need them. Then she asked, “Where is your boot?” I said that I wasn’t wearing it any more.  She looked at my folder and said nothing.
  • When the doctor came in,  he said “Are we here to talk about your 12 week removal of the screws?”  I replied in a shocked tone, “I don’t think so…but you tell me.”
  • Then he said, you need to go get x-rays.  And the nurse escorted me to the x-ray area where I got x-rays.
  • The nurse then came back and said “Why don’t you hobble back to the examination room and wait for the doctor.” Let’s just say I was trying to impress them with my best non-limping walk… (Did she have to say “hobble?”)

Thank God, things improved after that.

  • The doctor looked at my x-rays and realized that he didn’t put in the long cross screws like he usually does and I don’t need them taken out at 12 weeks – PHEW!
  • He said that everything looks great – the bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage spaces, etc, etc.
  • We talked about how I was doing & what I was doing… he said the swelling was normal and it will be swollen for a year.  He recommended wearing support stockings, elevation, icing and NOT OVER DOING!
  • He said the range of motion will come back and that he was impressed on how well I was doing…much better than he expected at this point…better than most with this injury!  YAY!
  • He cautioned me not to rush things (Patience is not my strong suit.) and stay out of the sun (SPF 80-100) and massage the incisions to help the scarring and nerve endings rebuild.
  • He wrote a script for 4 more weeks of PT cuz I said it helped.
  • He asked what the PT guy thought… I said that he was encouraged with the degree of side to side range of motion (which he thought would not come back this quickly) but that I couldn’t run for 6 months.
  • Here’s the good part.  The doctor said, “You won’t have to wait that long… Start cranking up that treadmill…but don’t run outside for a while yet.”

Next visit is in 6 weeks.  If those x-rays are good, he’ll release me until 9 months out when he’ll decide if all the hardware needs to come out.

I’m trying not to get too excited but I swear my ankle has more movement today… (probably in my head)

Happy Running!