Sep 13 2011
14.5 weeks, no surgery - backwards I go, too much too soon.
Yeah I am pissed off with myself.
Thinks were going really well up to about 9 days ago, no real pain, increasing ROM, 2 foot heel lifts, 30 min sessions on the exercycle etc, very slight hobble when walking etc. Unfortunately the last week the pain has increased and I have been getting pain in my achilles and the back of my heel, along with quite a swollen ankle. People at work have been telling me i am limping more than usual too. Not cool at all.
To cut a longish story short I have gone back a 3 or so weeks with my progress. After seeing my PT today I need to start icing my achilles for 10 min 3 times a day. Following each ice session I am to rub/massage arnica cream on my AT area. I am also on anti-inflammatory pills. No more WB exercises either, just that stretching by putting my knee to the wall one, and heel raises while sitting in a chair whilst tensing my calf muscle. I have to walk with a heel raise in my shoe too, walk shorter and slower steps.
So it could be much worse eh. I see this setback very much as just a timely reminder to me that I am not superhuman and I should not try to prove to myself I can get back to riding (which I REALLY miss) quickly by pushing myself harder. That is tough- to change that way of thinking as riding mountain bikes is all about pushing yourself as hard as you can. I do miss that feeling of pushing myself. It is a 12 month injury and I have in recent weeks looked at that as a goal I need to beat by as much as I can by upping the ante as much as is comfortbale. My body has just reminded me- No you can’t.
So yeah, my advice today- take it easy, I know I need to.
Sorry to hear this mtbrider. I always read your blog as your injury happened at the same time I had surgery. I do wonder if you may need a scan to find out whats going on.
Unlucky mtb, really does seem a hard injury to gauge how much to push to get better, but not too much to set yourself back.
Fingers crossed it gets back to “normal” soon!
Sorry to hear your AT is giving you trouble at the moment. I agree with being careful for a few days or a week. Let it calm down a bit and then slowly bring the intensity back up.
Was there a particular incident when the pain started? If not, I’d take it as a good sign. It could be anything from the weather to something you ate that caused it to swell otherwise.
Mtbrider - I am actually really happy for you. Not for the set back of course but for the way you have taken it on board and put it down in writing so honestly. This sort of post is quite often just the thing others need to read and you have probably helped many others without knowing it. If pain persists, as they say, see you doctor. Ali may have a good point about the scan. Also good to hear you are icing down. I am also happy your physio has taken some action instead of a wait and see approach. I know it is a set back but to look at the glass half full it is actually helping you move forward.
Hang in there mtbrider. I am also a mountain biker and am really feeling the need to get on my bike. Hopefully, we will both be riding some sweet single track soon.
I think you know I had one of those setbacks (a MONTH!!) after my first ATR and its surgical repair, when I overdid at the insistence of my PT. If your setback concludes as completely successfully as mine did, you’ll be laughing. Hope so.
+2 to bcurr’s comments about how hard it is to gauge the right intensity. “More” helps and helps. . . until it hurts.
Er, I meant “+1″. (No wonder I’m getting errors in Simple Sudoku!!)
I am on weel 6 of my healing, Non Surgical. I liked reading your blog, it helped me figure out maybe what I have too look forward to. I was walking and tripped and fell and tore mine.
I hope you get better, and I know how much your wife and kids need you. I am lucky, I am older, and my kids are all grown.
mtbrider,
thanks for this… i needed to hear it. I am always in danger of pushing myself too far and i need the reminder. Hang in there. I want to be on the trails too…