... i shout to my leg!I work at home, so I don't have any unassuming co-workers that I can observe, so I need your help!
Ok, indulge me for a moment and stand up, now lift one leg... like a flamingo. Come on, you can do it! Please, for me?! I won't laugh at you, I promise.
Alright, you're standing... right?? Thanks. I ♥ you. The leg that is off the ground... is your foot dangling and relaxed or flexed and stiff? What is natural?
I just realized today that mine is completely rigid, and has felt "stuck" like this for the last 12 days, toes fully extended and flexed. When I force my calf to relax by pushing my toes downwards, it hurts... a lot, and my toes get all screwy, like they're trying to fight it. When I try with my opposite leg, I think it's relaxed, but not sure since it's in my mind, so I'm curious.
Doc on Thursday night said that perhaps my muscles are in a protective mode, tight and protecting previous and new injuries, perhaps on the bone, therefore not yet ready to release.
I know it's an injury, I know I need to rest and recover, and I am. I appreciate all of your comments on yesterday's post, and yes, I'm doing other things like upper body, core work, etc. so I am doing stuff in the meantime. I haven't yet gotten the ok to ride my bike or swim; docs wanted me pretty much doing nothing for 2 full weeks, and I've listened.
Walking is still not improving. Yes, I know, patience, and it will get better... and I need to recover. But in an effort to try and understand; figure out exactly what is hurting, I've been increasing my motions... just slightly until I feel tightness or pain. I have another treatment tomorrow morning (before my hair appointment) and have a lot more that I can now mention and show her that will hopefully help in treatment and diagnosis, which has proven to be a difficult task.
I promise that I will not be torturing you guys daily with posts about my injury, but as I've experienced in the past, you never know who reads your post, who might stumble across your blog, and maybe someone has felt something similar that can share info! I also hope that I'll be able to be more active again soon... so hopefully will give me something else to post about :)
Just got back from dinner with the running group, our ritual post-race celebration, always a great time. See, I'm not a downer, sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, and totally miserable. :)
22 comments:
I'm glad to hear how you are doing. We all go through our own things in running and in life. You are figuring out your own puzzle right now and I'm so glad that your are putting some of the pieces together. I hope your treatment tomorrow goes well and am looking forward to reading about it.
Keep us updated, even if it means daily flamingo talk :) Venting any issues is better than keeping it all bottle inside plus it helps the recovery. I feel your frustration and I send big hugs your way!!! I hope tomorrow helps release that foot a little more. Progress may be slow but at least it's progress!!! Hold on to the positive it will be over soon.
Glad to hear you are still doing fun things to take your mind off the frustration - that's healthy!
Yes! keep posting. It's not torture to us...we're here for ya...
Glad you went out with your running group.
The calf thing is strange. I'll give you that (and yes, I stood on one foot to experience what you're going through...my husband just looked at me like WTF are you doing?....just reading my blogs hun...LOL)
Keep giving us updates! Your experiences are helpful to others, just as others are helpful to you.
That calf/foot thing is strange. But then, our bodies are strange machines!
I'm glad you were able to get out with your running group. I bet that was a fun time!!
Wow - that's weird your leg's so tense! How about a massage?
I'm not sure if that's of any help but as you said, you never know it. It just might be a piece to the puzzle: My mum had an operation last year and afterwards could not walk (completely unrelated). They first thought it was nerve damage or something. It was a lot more severe than what you describe but similar. Mum's whole foot would curl inwards due to muscle contractions and not even the physio could force it into a neutral position. Anyway, to make a long story short: Vitamin B (and lot's of physio) was part of the solution. Mum still can't walk 100% (They are still not sure what exactly it is!) but is heaps better since she got an intense treatment with Vitamin B injections.
Don't know, it might be something completely different for you but it can't hurt to ask your doc the question? When did you have a complete blood test done the last time?
Oh, and big hugs and I hope you get better really quickly!
hope you get better soon
I've not had a calf injury, but I've had back spasms before where the back muscle won't relax. Sounds like the same sort of thing, just in a different place.
Sadly, I think the main way to work through it is patience.. And some gentle stretching. But lots of patience.
Definitely keep filling us in. I'll pose like any animal you wish. Hope it keeps getting better it sounds like you keep doing everything right!
You know, I'd be doing the same thing as you - poking and prodding and trying to figure out what the heck is wrong.
I have a message for your leg as well.
RELAXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!
Could you pass that along??
Awesome that you got to go out with your running friends. Sitting around at home will do nothing for ya.
Have a goood weekend!
Well I hope your treatments are doing their magic today! It can be hard to take it easy sometimes, but hang in there. I'm pretty sure when I'm injured I stay at home and pout, so yeah, you are doing great in that regard!!
Definitely keep posting! You need it to get you through your recovery period.
Interesting. Hope the docs can figure out what the problem is soon!
Hang in there.
Hey Gurl,
Can I put my foot down now??? (tehe)
I hope you rest, rest, rest.
Maybe a follow-up with your neuro wouldn't hurt either, JIC.
Updates are good! Sorry your foot is giving you so many problems. I stood on one foot and the other was relaxed....until I fell over.
Keep social with your running group. They're a wonderful source of support to stay mentally in shape. :o)
It's been just a little over a year since my surgery and I can just now stand on one leg, the injured one, like a flamingo without falling over. I know how you feel!
Hey, it's your blog and you can write what ever you want! IMHO, discussing your injury may be therapeutic, not only to you, but to others who are sidelined, too.
please i will read/listen about your injury troubles any day! but, i do want you to get better of course. i hope you and the docs are able to figure out a course of treatment/therapy to get your leg & muscles relaxed and feeling good again. glad you are still able to get in a few workouts and hanging out with your running buddies.
my foot was dangling, by the way. i couldn't hold it for too long or i'd fall over :)
My foot was tense during that little experiment, but I think I was afraid of falling.
I hope things improve with your leg soon - tell it to relax! :)
Hang in there chica! I can only imagine your frustration and I would probably be an insane freak by now, so considering all...you are managing this quite well! This is your blog, and your place to vent, inform, update and celebrate. Our job is to support you no matter what!
I hope you feel better soon!
PS My leg was dangling and relax.... ;-)
Hmmm...my leg was relaxed.
Hope you feel better, Mel. And I do want to hear about how you're doing. Give us regular injury updates...aside from expressing your feelings, you're also providing info for people who may be suffering similar injuries. I think about you often...good luck with everything!
Post a Comment