Follow up appt with Doc Horton was July 28. I went in hoping he'd say I could run by the end of September (remember they said this was a 4 to 5 month recovery process). He looks things over and says it looks good. I talk about the sharp pain I get occasionally and ask if this is just related to the work he did on the nerve. He says yes. So I said - then it will eventually go away, right? Again the answer is the affirmative. Now understand this... the pain is a sharp almost electric stab. It is momentary but feels like you've been stuck with a live wire. It's just a pin point but WOW it makes you stop for a moment. Then it's completely gone! So it's really just an inconvenience or annoyance might be the better word. He said it's just the nerves learning to "refire" and all will be well soon enough. He does write out a prescription for a nerve cream if I want to fill it. (I haven't yet..)
Then we talk about swimming. He had said I could but it wouldn't like it. And that is true! It hurts and seems to be the cause of some of the swelling I get. It swells up considerably more after I swim than when I do the eliptical. But that will slowly subside as well. I asked if I had to do physical therapy. He said he didn't think I needed it. I am WAY ahead of most people even after they've done 8 to 12 weeks of PT. He writes a 'script for that too - it's also still unused. He tells me PT is often really just for people who won't do their exercises on their own. Sooo.... on that thought I ask.... When can I run then? Today... Really??? Today??? He has them fit me with a special compression ankle brace. It has silicone pads that wrap under the ankle on both sides. I'm to wear it for the next 4 to 6 weeks while running to help with the swelling.
Koach was off doing his event (details on another day) so I decided I'd wait until he was back to run. I wanted to talk to him first about what doc had said. I was positive that if I ran a mile he would have said to run a half mile. If I had run a half mile he would have said a mile... Besides I wasn't expecting to run yet and my mind was prepared for a longer wait...I could wait a few more days.
Today I ran! One mile per Koach's instructions. It hurt!!! OMG did it ever hurt! That was the first quarter of a mile. Then it just slowly stopped hurting while I was running. It was a real learning experience. I haven't been in the heat or humidity at all this year (that's the good side of no running!) So I had NO acclamation to either. Today it's going to be 97 and it's not exactly a dry heat! But a mile was ok. I struggled with it. Although I have been swimming and using the eliptical there is nothing like carrying your own butt down the road! It was much harder than I was prepared for. But it was ok... Now I know what I need to work on. I get to be a new runner but with all the knowledge that I've aquired over the last few years and the guidance of a great Koach! How many people get that sort of chance? I'm feeling lucky about it all! =)
The brace is "crew" length and as I've said before "nothing sexier than a runner's tan in girl shoes" (insert sarcasm here) But I don't care what sort of tan line it leaves... I get to run!
