Six months and a whole lot of awesome!
My last post was at 4 months post-debridement and Haglund’s removal. At that time, progress was very incremental and not easily seen. As I approach six months post-op this week, I am really surprised at how much has changed. I think the surprise comes mostly from not thinking about it all the time. Maybe patience actually becomes practice sometime after those first few months.
Today I was out on my bike. At some point I realized I was landing on my surgical foot every time I had to stop, and I wondered when I first began doing that. I remember when I first returned to biking, I always forced myself to put the other leg down first, which wasn’t the “normal” way. I’ve been riding my bike for two months, but just hadn’t noticed that I had reverted back to “normal.” Don’t know why that made me so happy, but it did.
Running has finally taken off. Although my surgeon approved a return to running at 3 months, I just couldn’t get it going. Lots of start and then stop. Turns out I needed an orthotic adjustment (and maybe a few more months of healing). I am currently running 5 miles every other day and it feels really good. I am taking lots of precautions at this point: warming up, walking at least 1/2 mile first, stretching after, and 5-10 minutes in icy water (heel and achilles). As long as I follow these precautions, the tendon feels like I could go for another run the same day. If I short-change the stretching or don’t warm-up, the achilles let’s me hear about it. I also use Kinesio tape, which I think really helps keep swelling to a minimum.
Back on January 1st I signed up for a May 4th half-marathon in my city - because it sells out in hours. Wishful thinking, I know. I did the same thing in 2013 and 2012 - but my chronic injury kept me from running those years. This year I won’t be ready to run 13.2 miles, but I’m going to show up at the starting line and run the first 5 miles. That will take me within a few blocks of my house. I’m going to run home, shower, and get on my bike to go cheer on my daughter who is running her 2nd full marathon. I have not been this excited about a race in a long time. It’s a whole lot of awesome:)
normofthenorth Said,
April 20, 2014 @ 3:02 pm
Yay! I can totally relate to the joy of realizing that you’re stopping on “that” foot!
gocanes123 Said,
April 25, 2014 @ 8:39 am
Please let us know how the five miles of the race goes for you!
kellygirl Said,
April 25, 2014 @ 12:25 pm
Before you know it, you won’t be thinking about it at all! Good luck on your race. You have made terrific progress. Congrats!
Janis Said,
April 28, 2014 @ 2:45 pm
Congrats! I just realized the other day I wasn’t limping after a period of sitting or driving. Funny how you have to stop and think about how you’re not thinking about it any more!
bhmom Said,
April 29, 2014 @ 8:29 pm
Good luck to you with your continued outdoor sports. I am at one month in the boot (surgery was in March) and I have to remind myself to ‘not think about it’ which is very difficult. When you’re sick or injured, the world can get very small!
kimc Said,
April 30, 2014 @ 4:29 am
@bhmom - This recovery certainly provides lots of opportunity to practice patience, doesn’t it? Luckily, with summer approaching, there’s lots of daylight and warm weather ahead of us - and you’ll be out of the boot for most of it! Are you FWB or moving toward that, now? If so, that boot won’t keep you from going for walks, and that will get you outside. Just make sure you get your other leg evened up with the boot by wearing a shoe of equal height or using an Even-up. Best of luck to you in your recovery!
Tjw Said,
May 1, 2014 @ 11:16 pm
Glad to hear you are running.
I am swimming quite a bit - three times a week, a mile a piece. Riding the bike a bit but trying to not over do it. However I am still experiencing pain all the time except sleeping and in the pool. I can walk really well and walk all the way ‘thru’ the foot rising up on the toe and pushing off. I still experience pain but the pleasure sensations of movement way overweigh the pain. However after, while I sit, I experience quite a bit of pain, enough so, that after hours of it, it becomes difficult to work, concentrate. I had three lumbar sympathetic block shots in my back four weeks ago and that seemed to change the pain feelings from the burn, sting, stab to a soreness and that was so pleasurable. I really felt like I was getting better during this period. However as of Monday of this week, that feeling has gone away and the burn, sting, stab has returned, not as bad but distracting enough. Funny I think the strength and flexiblity is so great, I just continue to have the pain. I am just do frustrated over this. Also heel is very sensitive to rubbing of shoes etc. I am currently on gabapentin 300mg and naprosyn twice daily but that largely has no effect. I am thinking of returning to the pain management doctor and seeing what they can do with the lumbar sympathetic block again.
kimc Said,
May 6, 2014 @ 6:55 pm
@Tjw - It is so awesome that you’re out there swimming and riding the bike. You are really fighting your way through a very difficult situation. It’s like you’ve been enduring the last couple miles of an actual marathon for months now! I was relieved to hear the lumbar sympathetic block gave you some relief for awhile. Why not at least return and ask if it can be done again? I am so in hopes that whatever is causing your pain will eventually go away. At least you can note your improvements in strength and flexibility - no small deal! Amidst all your discomfort, you are reporting the positive. You are showing a lot of resilience, Tjw!
kimc Said,
May 6, 2014 @ 7:11 pm
@gocanes123 - I showed up at the starting line of the half-marathon on Sunday and ran the first five miles as planned. It had been so long since I ran in a race, I didn’t remember how to start my watch! (Not that I had any business timing myself, but old habits are hard to break!) I just noted the actual time of day on my watch as I crossed the start, and then did the same when I turned off the course at the 5 mile mark: 42 minutes. It was the most fun I’d ever had in a race and I didn’t even finish! I didn’t think about my achilles even once, just took it all in. Ran another half-mile home, hopped on the bike, and followed my 24-year old daughter as she completed miles 15 to 26.2 in the full marathon and earned a 19 minute PR! What a wonderful day.