Driving, Spinning, Hiking, oh yeah!
I just got back from my 13+ week appointment with my Ortho. I wasn’t sure what his reaction was going to be when I walked in carrying my boot instead of wearing it, but he smiled. He said it’s good to see I’ve made great progress since the last time we met.
My boot is a muddy mess from trail hiking yesterday. Ortho laughed when he saw it and said his looked the same when he was at this point after his AT surgery, too. He said I can hike any single track hilly trails I want now– within reason– with the boot on. Once I am comfortable walking at least a mile in general without the boot I can start to hike on flat trails and can work up from there. We have a nice Rail Trail nearby. He said YES to a 2-day hike in the Berkshires (on the AT–Appalachian Trail, seems appropriate!) with my tent/pack near the end of September. I was pretty surprised he said yes to that, but very excited that he did!
I am cleared to start DRIVING again! Woo-Hoo! Now, I just need to get my car back from my 23 year old son… Driving also means I can go back to teaching several of my fitness classes that I was unable to get to during the day time. Speaking of teaching my classes– he also said YES to carefully going back to teaching my Spinning Classes! YAY! (I can clip in to my pedals but need to stay seated for now, gradually building back to the standing and climbs of my regular classes…but that just makes sense anyway)
Best news of all? He said I can start RUNNING next month!!! Of course it will be a very slow build up, and he wants me to wait until I see him on August 2nd (exactly 4 months post-surgery) before I actually start running. I think I’ll bring along a running plan so he can see I’ll build appropriately.
I asked about doing a race I had registered for before surgery that is at the end of October. He is worried I will try to build up mileage too soon if he says yes right now. So he said we will leave it as a “possibility” and see how I am doing at my next appointment. (disclosure: the race is a 30 mile trail race, so his concerns are legitimate) I will try not to get my hopes up too high at this point. Perhaps he will let me walk it if not run…
OK…for now my goal is to not get too excited and try to do too much all at once. But I will start by teaching my Spinning class with both feet on the bike tonight!
andrew1971 said,
July 5, 2012 @ 12:14 pm
Absolutely fantastic milestones you reached there, congratulations on your progress thus far I look forward to reading of your future accomplishments and good luck in making it to and finishing (safely) the race
xpf72q said,
July 5, 2012 @ 1:01 pm
Am so excited at your progress very inspiring! Have followed your posts and learned from you I am 8 days post op for paratendon removal ie. the sheath surrounding the tendon was badly inflamed from running despite 9 months of conservative treatment. Best to you!
kimjax said,
July 5, 2012 @ 1:46 pm
Congrats on your progress!! Bet you can’t wait to go for a drive!
eastcoastrunner said,
July 6, 2012 @ 8:53 am
I taught my Spinning class last night by doing repeats of 5 minutes with both feet in the pedals, then 5 minutes of just my “good” leg pedaling and “bad” leg in the chair to the side of the bike. I felt like I could have pedaled both legs the whole class, but I will do what the Ortho asked and take it slowly.
Thanks, Andrew1971! I am pretty excited about my sudden burst of progress lately.
xpf72q– yes, we have “talked” between our surgeries. You were in the boot for some time before your’s. Here’s to us BOTH getting back to running ASAP! Good luck with your recovery. I really think those first few weeks were the hardest and it does get better! I have read every book on distance running I could get my hands on, and volunteered at every local trail race just to stay part of the running community. It helps.
Kimjax– I live in MA, where we are known for our terrible drivers. (ever heard the term “Masshole”??) I’m only looking forward to the freedom of driving again, the actual driving isn’t all that much fun. Now, I just need to get my son to give me back my car!
kimjax said,
July 6, 2012 @ 9:36 pm
Haha - I’ve not only heard it but used it, lol! We drive through MA each year on our way to ME. Loved walking the Freedom Trail there in Boston. We took the kids the year we taught them American history. Congrats on teaching again, and be careful on the ice this winter!
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