Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Getting my RUNNING life back after surgery

Back Story:
 In 2010 I went from sitting on the couch, to starting a small workout plan which eventually led me to train for a half marathon.  I NEVER in a million years thought I would enjoy running, let alone run half marathons.  I started training for my first half in December of 2010, and I was finally ready for my first race on March 26, 2011.  I ran my first race on a Saturday in Washington Dc and finished in the time of 1:55.  I was so proud of myself, not only for finishing but for finishing in under 2 hours!  Sunday I relaxed but Monday I was back at the gym hitting the treadmill.  I had another race the following weekend and I needed to make sure I logged some miles.   Monday after my workout I noticed a weird pain in my foot, Tuesday morning the pain was quite intense so I went to the Doctor. The Doc insisted I had tendinitis, he recommended I take it easy until race day then resume normal activity and I should be good.  Race day I felt great.  I ran 11.5 miles and was ready to step it up.  I was on point to finish my race in 1:45 (10 minutes faster then a week ago!) when all of a sudden my foot started throbbing.  I was in so much pain I ended up walking the last mile or so of my race(which I NEVER do. I finished this race in 1:55).  On Monday I was back at the Doctors begging them to figure out why I was in so much pain.  The Doctor again said it was tendinitis and to rest.  He also said I probably needed to invest in a new running shoe.  I took another week off and headed to the shoe store.  While shopping for shoes I explained my foot issue to the salesman.  He said it didn't sound like tendinitis and my old shoes looked like they were still in great condition, so he thought I should consider getting x-rays.  Long story short I went and got x rays (now 4 weeks after the initial injury) they were fine.  Another 3 weeks passed before my Doctor decided to try a bone scan.  The bone scan confirmed I had a stress fracture in my foot (right below the 3rd metatarsal).  I was so glad to finally have a diagnoses, I was not as happy though to realize I would be in a boot for 6 weeks.  I was in a boot for 6 weeks, had another X RAY and was released to run again.  I ran 2 more half marathons in 2011 both ended with me in pain but on of them resulted in my best finishing time (1:54).
  2012 was a busy year for me, I continued to run but never had the time to train for another race.  I also never felt well enough to train.  I could run 6 miles but then the pain in my foot would return.  I always felt like it was an old injury flaring up.  In 2013 though things changed. I could no longer run 6 miles I could do 3 MAYBE 4 before the pain started. The pain became more constant so FINALLY I decided it was time to go to the Doctors again.  

NOW: 
 September 2013 I went to the Doctor to have my foot looked at.  The Doctor wanted an MRI she was sure I either had another stress fracture or much less likely I had developed AVN (avascular nercrosis).  On September 24 she called me and confirmed that although EXTREMELY unlikely (especially in the 3rd metatarsal) I had AVN.  In short when I broke my foot 2 years ago it NEVER healed, instead the injury clotted so quickly the bone lost blood flow and died.  The Doctor stated the for the last 2 years every time I ran I "broke" my foot a little more, meaning the fracture got a little deeper, and eventually pieces of my bone started to break off.  She had me in a boot for 6 weeks, to see if it would heal with rest. It didn't.  At this point I missed running, and I wanted to be sure I would get to run again so I went and had a second opinion.   My second Doctor had me try a steroid shot in my foot. I have NEVER been in as much pain as I was the hours following the injection.  The injection didn't work either. The last step was surgery, which I had done December 9. 

I am now 4 weeks past surgery and feeling pretty good.  I am usually one to push it when it comes to recovering from surgery but this time I AM LISTENING!  I want more then anything to run again.  However with that said these last 4 weeks have been HELL.  I hate not working out.  I hate that I can't run, or bike.  Today I took charge though.  Today I spent an hour lifting weights(arms only), doing ab exercises, squats then repeated the sequence.  It felt great to get back into doing "something"  I really hope I can keep this up.  Today is the beginning of me trying new exercises to keep me in shape until I can run again! I really hope doing SOMETHING will show more then doing NOTHING is showing. 

Sorry for such a long first post.  I promise they won't all be this long!

This is the workout I did today :
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005633888680/ I did this with 5lb dumbells
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005631490609/ I did 3 reps of each ab exercise EXCEPT I did NOT do abs 8, or 10(because of my foot) I also held 10lb weights while doing the Russian Twist.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005635462361/ I did day 1 only.
http://www.fitbie.com/workout/15-minute-bye-bye-arm-jiggle-workout/exercise/2 I did exercises 1 and 2. Then I did a 20lb bench press.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/158189005634038412/ day 1
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/553872454143990033/ day 3


  

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