injury

by

Monday Already?

The next two days will be pretty boring…tech support for the Bar exam takers who use their laptops.  So I’m off from my day job.  And boring is a good thing.  That means there are no laptop problems that I may or may not be able to fix and lots of free time to blog, read and knit.

Since my last post, I’ve celebrated (again) my friend’s upcoming move to Florida. (Her husband & son left a month ago.)

last time together

 
 

my fav drink - chocolate martini

 

one of my fav desserts - cannoli

 
I know I  have to start cutting back on the calorie consumption since I am not exercising… but I am still in pity mode.
 
I went to my second physical therapy session.  I made degrees of progress so my PT guy R said and he gave me more exercises using the resistance bands.
 

red in pt & yellow at home

 
This weekend I decided to go BOOTLESS.
 

NO boot!

First I had to find a sneaker that would fit on my fat swollen ankle.

 Success! A pair of Reeboks that I got free at the outlets last year. 

I started out using the crutches since I can hardly bend my foot.  Gradually I moved to one crutch and then on Sunday I even limped around the house without crutches!!

It is slow going and I am trying to be smart about it.  I used the wheelchair to go to the mall on Saturday. On Sunday I went SHOPPING by myself for the FIRST time.  I wore the boot for support but left the crutches home.  I went to Marshalls.  Two months without shopping… I scored some big bargains included a pink wool winter jacket for $15!! When I came home, I did my exercises & iced it.

Today I am back in the boot… but I see sneakers in my future!!

Happy Running!  Did you see The Artist?

by

TTT: Eight Already?

8 WEEKS!!

You may say already but for me, it seems like an eternity…

  1. I am now working!  I even drive to work!! It’s great to be independent!!!
  2. I can walk with my boot and one crutch.  (That means I can carry somethng & open a door!!) It is very awkward since the boot has such a high heel. I had to dig out an OLD shoe with a higher platform.  Still swells a lot by the end of the day.

    this is what it feels like...

  3.   I went to my first PT appt…ouch!

Actually it went very well. I went to the same place as I did last summer for my achilles issue.  I had my favorite PT guy, R.  He did all the usual measurements of my range of motion (or lack of).  Of course, he remembered that I run.  He was very positive about my return to running.  Because of the hardware, the sideways motion will not return all the way but the forward motion should and that’s what important for running.

So first there was massaging and heat and then painful bending & pulling  followed by measurement and then ice. He said things improved already.  YAY!  He gave me 5 sets of exercises to do twice a day.  Heat before & ice after.  That should keep me busy. 

For now – Drop the 2 crutches and only use one with the boot.  The goal is to ditch the boot (before it destroys my back & hip) and walk with 2 crutches…then only one.  Hopefully in the next few weeks.

exercises in my future plus more

Happy Running! Any PT experiences to share?

by

Tuesday Tidbits – Mostly Good (and Some Bad)

Back at work after a 3- day weekend. 

Here’s a bulleted update of the weekend’s  GOOD stuff:

  • Friday & Saturday, I walked with one crutch with the boot. 
  • I went to a birthday party for a good friend Friday night.
  • Saturday I drove myself to my hair appt and then bought socks at Olympia Sports (had a $10 gift card to use)
  • Saturday night we went to the movies – If you haven’t seen Hugo, you must! It was 3D, took place in Paris and had a lot of messages in the story. Go see it!

    Love this view from the train station!

  • Sunday am, the hubby & I went wheelchair grocery shopping – not fun but necessary
  • Sunday afternoon, I got in my car and just drove (It was a beautiful sunny day and you know what I wanted to be doing) and ended up in Bolton Landing. I couldn’t do much when I got there so I sat on the beach and then had a root beer float which made me feel better for the moment.

Can you believe that it is 40 degrees in February?

 
 
  • Monday, my hubby went to work so I had the whole day to myself (and you know what I wanted to be doing).  But I did some knitting and cooking and cleaning.

    my lst sock so far but I haven't got to the hard part.

  • Monday afternoon I went to see my mentee Amandaand we went out to iHOP for lunch (did not eat healthy!).  We chatted for seveal hours catching up.

    Amanda & Matthew (who is almost 5 mos)

  • Last night, I had to listen to a webinar as part on my training to work at the NYS Bar Exam next week.

Now the Bad:

My independence got the best of me.  I walked on my boot Friday & Saturday.  By the end of the movie Sat nite, not having my foot elevated all day made so swollen that I could no longer put weight on it.  It was painful all day Sunday & Monday. Not fun at all.

I was planning on stopping at the outlets in Lake George on Sunday but I couldn’t walk with one crutch 😦  So sad.

Last night I woke up with my ankle throbbing!  Ouch!

Today, I drove myself to work and it feels much better. 

Back to baby steps! 

I am keeping my leg elevated when I can and I am using my crutch for support. This walking thing is harder than I thought.

Tomorrow I start PT…pretty scary trying to fit my FAT ankle into some kind of sneaker…

Happy Running! Did you enjoy your long weekend?

by

Finally something positive…

I’ve read every website, blog, forum and comment regarding broken ankles.  They’re all doom and gloom.  They mostly talk about pain and limping for years and how you’re never be the same. My hubby tells me to stop reading them. 

But I finally found a positive comment related to running:

Just thought I’d add a little positivity to hopefully encourage some of you who are a bit down if you’re reading this whilst injured! I broke my left ankle / leg in 3 places, with a section of my ankle completely broken away from the leg having to be screwed back in. This was in November 2010. I had ORIF surgery as many of you have had to have titanium screws / pins put in before being in cast for a couple of months. When I first started physio directly after having the cast removed I had not a cm of movement. Gradually after several sessions of physio the situation improved slowly, and then more quickly. I was told I didn’t need any more physio after 10 weeks as I’d surpassed what they could do. I’ve always been a runner and set my sights on completing a 10k in June 2011 (7 months after my surgery). I was given the go ahead to start light training at the end of April and gradually and carefully built it up, successfully completing the 10k in 52 minutes. The joint felt good (although I was still being very careful), and believe it or not, between June and November (from 7 months until 12 months post op) I managed to successfully complete a 5k, ten 10k’s and two half-marathons. How I could do this? Just by following what the doctors and physiotherapists said to the letter and being slow and patient with my own therapy. It’s still only 13 months since my surgery and I feel fantastic. I’m in my 30′s, so not that young, though not too old. If I can do it, there is no reason that all of you can’t do it too! Good luck all!! :-)

It looks like this runner started training 5 months after ankle surgery. I only broke two bones (not 3) and did not have a cast. But I am older.  So are we even??

Anyway, I am confident that I will run a race before the end of 2012 – a 5k, maybe a 10k and who knows maybe a half marathon!!  There you have it.  I am being positive!

Happy Running!  Do you have doubts about what you can do?  Or are you a positive person?

by

Half Marathons (in my dreams)

Last year, I ran FIVE Half Marathons!!

2nd

I got hooked on this long distance thing so would probably have done the same this year barring any injury.

Injury struck big time. 

So here are my dream events for 2012:

If any of you are running these halfs, think of me.  I am there IN SPIRIT!! (and cheering you on!)

Happy Running!

 

 

by

TTT: The Magic 7

1. Still trying to stay sane and not exercising:

  • Fri. Mah Jongg game (won $2.40 on one hand…my high so far)
  • wheelchair trip to the mall (not too exciting…just bought some greeting cards)
  • made beef stew & chicken soup (cooking kills time)
  • Dr’s visit on Monday & early Valentine’s Day dinner
  • Started back to work FULL-TIME on Tuesday!!!
  • Got wool to start knitting socks (This may be too advanced for me??)

2. Monday I went back to the doctor for another round of xrays.  Bones are healed.  Now have to start going to PT and learn to put weight on it gradually… eventually walk.

not my x-rays but the same as mine - spiral fracture of the fibula & transverse fracture of the medial malleolus/tibia

3.  I drove my car!  I know this doesn’t sound exciting but it was.  🙂

Happy Running! So cheer me up.  What are you training for??

by

Wordless Wednesday and 2 Winners

2 feet on the ground for the lst time since Dec 29

Ok so I was holding on and I can’t move without crutches. Baby steps!!

And the winners of The Ultimate Beginner’s Running Guide are….

rachel @ run50states and vtimber

Please send me your e-mail addresses so  I can contact the author and he will send your the book.

Happy Running! Comment here if you want the 3rd copy of this book!

by

Valentine’s Day and the Healed Bones

My hubby and I got our Valentine’s Day gift a day early.

Yesterday I went to the orthopedist for my 6 week check-up.  They took x-rays.  The Dr. looked and said “I don’t like one of them and I need another.” My heart sank!!!  So I got another x-ray.  Then he said:  LOOKS GREAT!! I can’t even see where you broke them!!” (Apparently my hardware blocked his view of the bone so they needed another angle.)

So what does this mean??

It means that I can start gradually putting weight on it with the boot & crutches…gradually putting weight on the boot without the crutches holding on to furniture…gradually walking with the boot…gradually walking with crutches without the boot…gradually walking with one crutch…gradually limping holding to furniture…gradually walking without crutches!!!

Yeah. Sounds easy?  NOT!! Right now I can’t do anything because I can’t bend or move my foot enough.  But it will come.  Little by little.  I have my first PT appointment next Wed!

Of course I asked the Dr. if I will be able to run.  He said YES!! But not for a while!!!!

I’m ok with that!

So my hubby & I went out to dinner to celebrate.

Bloody Mary, heart bracelet & my hubby’s wedding ring. Cool, huh?

The next four weeks will test my strength and patience.  Baby steps!!!  Next ortho appt is March 12.  Hope I will be walking (limping) by then!!!

Happy Running! Did you do anything special to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

 

 

by

Getting Inspired by Adele

I liked Adele before last night but after 60 minutes and the Grammys, I am really a fan.

Imagine having to have surgery and wonder if you will be able to do what your career depends on.  I’m sure you know Adele was a singer and recently had vocal cord surgery.  Singing was not only her life but her livelihood.  She would not only have to survive the  surgery, but she would have to be the same as before (or  maybe better.)

After hearing her perform last night, it is clear from the standing ovation that Adele is back!  Her voice is still amazing!!

If you missed it, click HERE!

So in the scheme of things, ankle surgery is not as serious as vocal cord surgery.  My livelihood does not depend on being able to run and play tennis.  Even if I do those again and it is not at the same level, it’s ok. I can do them at any level I choose.

I was pretty depressed yesterday.  Feeling sorry for myself…sitting on the couch (one more night)!  While watching the Grammys my mood picked up.  It may have been the music or maybe it was Adele’s remarkable recovery.

Congrats Adele! (I added some of your songs to my playlist…can’t wait to run listening to them..)

Happy Running!  Did you watch the Grammys? (Don’t forget my giveaway which ends today!)

 

by

Friday Ramblings

Quote from Runner’s World:

“I spent four weeks in total numbness. Six months later, I started running. I could only do ten minutes at a time, but I kept going because I knew that running would get me my life back.”  — Ryon Lane, who shattered his C4 vertebra in a 2008 diving accident

My injury is not as bad as some….though not runnning is frustrating.  Give me patience until I can get my life back!

me now

 

the day I died

 

 

On another note — Watch this video:

Run…run..run  by the Explorer Club

Lyrics

Love it!!

Also love the new TV show Smash so far.  Loved Debra Messing in Will & Grace.   Katherine McPhee‘s voice is amazing!

Happy Running!  Enjoy your weekend!