Friday, December 18, 2009

A Fitting End...

So...I have a stress fracture in my left foot (several of you called it correctly).

On Wednesday, after waking up for the third consecutive morning with a swollen foot, toes that looked like thumbs, and even Walter saying: "you should get that looked at." I decided to call a doctor.

I am one of the lucky ones in this country with very reasonable insurance and a PPO, so I called a Sports Medicine specialist directly instead of going through the whole rigamarole of contacting a primary care physician, then getting a referral, then getting to see a specialist. I'd heard good things about a place called the San Diego Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center*, and it's near my house, and it's covered by my insurance, so I called them.

As luck would have it, they had a cancellation..."Could I be there in a 1/2 hour?"

Oh sure.

So, I talked to the doc briefly and gave him a really brief history of my injury issues this year (quite frankly, not that he asked, but I offered information nonetheless, and was COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED by his response that maybe I should find another activity than running! And for THIS I went to a sports medicine specialist?)

((sigh))

So, they X-ray'd the foot and the doc looked at it and reported back that the X-ray looked clear and that I didn't appear to have a fracture, but "let's take a closer look." Then he started poking around my 2nd and 3rd metatarsal, at which point I almost screamed in pain.

"That hurts?"

"oh yeah, when you push there, I want to slap you."

"hmmm...let me take a second look at that X-ray..."

So he returned and said that when he shone (shined?) a light on that spot, there was a very small chip in my bone... diagnosis? A stress fracture.

((double-sigh))

So, I'm not to run for the next four weeks...at least. I have a followup on January 13 and he'll let me know if it's healed.

((EVEN BIGGER sigh))

In all honesty, I wasn't surprised by the edict. I haven't written much about my foot aches and pains recently because 1.) I was in denial. If I wrote about it, it'd be real then I'd have to deal with it, which would mean not running and I was minimally running already, 2.) I'm sick of writing about foot pain, and 3.) I suspect everyone is tired of reading about it. But, I'm pretty sure I did the damage sometime before the 1/2 marathon because I would feel some little twinges in my foot, especially after the SDTC Turkey Trot (where I was running fast and hard...don't laugh...yes, I wrote "fast and hard" in the same sentence. You're welcome) and of course running 13.1 miles in Las Vegas on it (and then walking for another hour trying to get out of the Mandalay Bay/Luxor/Excalibur area) didn't help.

The "good news" is that the doctor said I could continue riding my bike. He suggested the usual replacement activities ...swimming (need to find an indoor pool...the backyard one is 48ยบ right now..brrrrr), weight training, elliptical, those activities in which there is low or no impact on my foot. But no running or even vigorous walking, even on a treadmill.

I keep dreaming of running. Last night I dreamt that I was finishing the San Diego RnR Marathon again (in the dark, and I could barely see the finish line...so Freud, what does THAT mean?)

((QUAD-SIZE SIGH))

So...how absolutely fitting is it that I end 2009 with a f*ck!n& stress fracture.

(((shakes head in utter frustration)))

And finally there's this...because if I'd be remiss in not posting at least one picture from Monday's Heffer-Holiday Event (thanks Momma for hosting again).

The herd wishes all of you a happy holiday season!
___________________________
* heard good things = found them on the Internet and the webpage looked OK to me

15 comments:

  1. Oh no, that really sucks that you have a stress fracture and have to take a break. I hope it heals well for you and that you're able to get alternative workouts in. Lol at the hard and fast, thanks for the chuckle at work:)

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  2. Over on Xenia's blog (http://tntbean.blogspot.com/) many people recommended wild and crazy sex as a way to relieve the foot pain she was having. You are looking for replacement activities. Need I say more?

    Hope it gets better soon.

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  3. I hope it heals and that you find a satisfying replacement activity. :)

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  4. I'm so sorry you have a stress fracture. The good thing is that it coincides with the holidays, when there are always tons of things going on. Hopefully you'll have plenty to do to prevent you from going completely stir-crazy!

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  5. Well, think of it this way: Next year has to be better, right?

    I know how bummed you are, but the rest from running will do you good and it's only four weeks. Behave and that will be the end of it.

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  6. (In my best church lady voice)
    Weeeeeeeel, isn't that special?

    The best part about not running is throwing stuff. Bryan at RU thinks I have anger issues, but throwing stuff makes up for not being able to run, plus, you get really good at it.

    You know the drill. I won't tell you anything else because you've heard it before. Perhaps this is just one way of kicking your feet up and enjoying the holidays, and telling the kids that all you want for Christmas is to be waited on hand and foot for 4 weeks, which that includes laundry and dishes. (You can stop laughing now... because we both know how kids are.)

    Take care.

    Happy Holidays!

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  7. So sorry to hear about your fracture and even more upset about what your doctor said..geesh, aren't they supposed to help us move forward?
    These next weeks will fly by and at least you get to bike! Take it easy!

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  8. Ugh!! That sucks! I am sorry about your stress fracture. Again, that SUCKS!

    One nice thing is that you seem to like bike riding. I hope that you'll be able to find that satisfying enough until you can run again.

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  9. I'm so sorry! That really sucks. I hope that a little rest helps to heal it nicely.

    Every time I feel a twinge in my foot I am afraid it is something that will sideline me. I often think about you and your PF. It sucks getting older.

    Feel better and enjoy the next couple of weeks.

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  10. I am so sorry to hear this. Take this time to enjoy the holidays and rest up the foot. 2010 will be better, right?!

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  11. Happy Holidays!!! I'm sorry about your foot-that sucks!!!

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  12. The doctors that tell you to stop running forever are jerks.

    So there.

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  13. Well - at least you can ride the bike. Me? I just keep falling off....

    Hopefully this will be the end of the foot problems. Heaven knows that you've had more than your fair share this past year. For now though, it's time to stay off that foot! Best of luck and keep us updated with the herd's activities. I need my regular fix!

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  14. Well at least you know. It will hopefully be a better prognoses in January.

    and yes you did write "fast and hard" in the same sentence, "thank you"! LOL...

    get better soon, but in all honesty, it just gives you more time to enjoy some festiveckaha cocktails....

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  15. On the one hand, it makes me happy to be right, but on the other hand, it makes me sad to be right. Sorry it actually is a stress fracture!

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