I just don't know how my brother Tim (aka Homer Simpson) does it... I spent 30 minutes and 6.5 miles on a bike at the gym and it was mind- numbingly, butt- numbingly gruesome!!
Tim cycles miles and miles and miles, for hours and hours and hours at a time..... yes, he has to rub cream in to his nether regions ( interestingly called 'nu butt'!!).... but, honestly, I can't quite see the appeal.
( You can read about his adventures/exploits/torture at http://challengemenace.blogspot.com.)
But, according to my consultant, this is just about the only exercise I can do at the moment :-(
After a 3rd opinion I've finally found out what's wrong with the old foot! After 6 weeks of rest it was getting no better, so my GP referred me to an orthopaedic consultant in a specialist foot and ankle clinic..... one MRI scan later and I had my answer....
I have an 'overload syndrome/reaction' which has caused a build up of 'lots' of fluid around the middle and lateral cuneiform bones and the talonavicular and posterior subtalar joints..... basically, too much high impact exercise = too much fluid around the joints= pain and swelling= need to rest big time= arghhhh!!!
The treatment is rest, and hopefully the fluid will disperse and reabsorb....I asked the consultant (who was absolutely gorgeous by the way!!) if they could aspirate, but apparently there is too much, in too many pockets.....
..and anti- inflammatories... and I have to regularly ice my foot.... which is a bit of a bugger really (sorry Mom for the language, no other word adequately expresses the right feeling...)coz I HATE the cold....
But worst (or worse??) of all, is having someone ( even if he was gorgeous) dictate my exercise regime..... Only cycling :-( or swimming :-( :-( or static weights until at least after Christmas "and then we'll see.." Bah!
Swimming is, well, wet..... and, well, there's not a lot else to say about cycling......I gave body pump a go last night and did most of the class, I had to miss lunges as there was a lot of jumping about, but I managed the rest, but didn't feel it was 'cardio' enough....so..... roll on Christmas!! It's only about 60 odd sleeps!!
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Tears and tissues.........
The title isn't 'tears' as in crying but tears as in 'ripped' - just in case you thought I'd gone all soft....mind you - it could possibly mean tears of frustration as my left foot is still giving me gyp!
After two xrays which didn't show anything, a second GP had a look, and thinks I have some tiny tears in the plantar tissue which runs along the bottom of the foot, literally from heel to the start of the toe, and he feels that this is my problem....as the tissue is the same as ligament/tendon, its going to take a 'long while to heal'...which = REST, which I have done (honestly..cross-my-heart) for the last month, and it's no better...in fact today...there were real tears as I think it's worse :-(
The GP said 1 in 10 athletes (Yay..he thinks I'm an athlete..not a nutter like the last GP!!)will suffer from this as some point, due to 'high impact'...and this plantar tissue is, in effect, my 'shock absorber', taking, when I'm running, all my body weight at full force, typically 90 times a minute - OUCH!!
He has recommended no impact sport - so no running, no body attack, but has said I CAN walk on a treadmill as there is some 'give', no pavement walking, only soft surfaces such as grass or grassy track, no inclines whatsoever - in fact, he recommended changing sport completely for a while to swimming......
I used to love swimming....but in the winter I find it cold..and very wet!! I don't mind the sea, and body boarding or surfing as that is a challenge....but length after length in a pool I find very mind numbing...and there are usually lots of children..it's just kid soup!
So, this morning, I took myself and my gammy foot to the gym to see how we would do on the treadmill...on a fairly low speed (7.6) with no incline....and I managed 5 minutes.......
It felt like I was walking on broken glass...normal day to day walking makes my foot ache, but putting the speed up - 'pounding' somewhat....and I couldn't do it...and I didn't know whether to sit down, fall down or have a melt-down.........
I think I felt that after doing EVERY thing I had been told to do, IE rest, etc etc, and come back slowly, that everything would be OK..and it wasn't......and firstly, it's extremely frustrating...but secondly, it's a bit scary, because that's what I do, and I don't know WHAT else to do!
So, I packed up, came home and had a good think, and tried to put into perspective that it is only an injury, and that it may take a little longer to heal..and then I thought some more.....and thought that my therapy for 'thinking things through' was exercise...so that's when I needed the 'tissues' of the title.......
Feeling sorry for oneself isn't a good thing...so I did start to think how lucky I was in the grand scheme of things...yes, this will take time, but yes, it will get better...yes, I may have to re-think an exercise plan for the next few weeks, but I haven't got to change my life permanently, for example like some of the paralympians had to,following their life changing experiences......but, it is still difficult.
I'm not good with pain, I'm even worse with painkillers.....and it's difficult with a husband who tells you to 'get over it' - but I see the Roses tins of chocolates are back in Tescos for £4...so maybe that could be my new therapy.....it's got to be better than tears and tissues...........
After two xrays which didn't show anything, a second GP had a look, and thinks I have some tiny tears in the plantar tissue which runs along the bottom of the foot, literally from heel to the start of the toe, and he feels that this is my problem....as the tissue is the same as ligament/tendon, its going to take a 'long while to heal'...which = REST, which I have done (honestly..cross-my-heart) for the last month, and it's no better...in fact today...there were real tears as I think it's worse :-(
The GP said 1 in 10 athletes (Yay..he thinks I'm an athlete..not a nutter like the last GP!!)will suffer from this as some point, due to 'high impact'...and this plantar tissue is, in effect, my 'shock absorber', taking, when I'm running, all my body weight at full force, typically 90 times a minute - OUCH!!
He has recommended no impact sport - so no running, no body attack, but has said I CAN walk on a treadmill as there is some 'give', no pavement walking, only soft surfaces such as grass or grassy track, no inclines whatsoever - in fact, he recommended changing sport completely for a while to swimming......
I used to love swimming....but in the winter I find it cold..and very wet!! I don't mind the sea, and body boarding or surfing as that is a challenge....but length after length in a pool I find very mind numbing...and there are usually lots of children..it's just kid soup!
So, this morning, I took myself and my gammy foot to the gym to see how we would do on the treadmill...on a fairly low speed (7.6) with no incline....and I managed 5 minutes.......
It felt like I was walking on broken glass...normal day to day walking makes my foot ache, but putting the speed up - 'pounding' somewhat....and I couldn't do it...and I didn't know whether to sit down, fall down or have a melt-down.........
I think I felt that after doing EVERY thing I had been told to do, IE rest, etc etc, and come back slowly, that everything would be OK..and it wasn't......and firstly, it's extremely frustrating...but secondly, it's a bit scary, because that's what I do, and I don't know WHAT else to do!
So, I packed up, came home and had a good think, and tried to put into perspective that it is only an injury, and that it may take a little longer to heal..and then I thought some more.....and thought that my therapy for 'thinking things through' was exercise...so that's when I needed the 'tissues' of the title.......
Feeling sorry for oneself isn't a good thing...so I did start to think how lucky I was in the grand scheme of things...yes, this will take time, but yes, it will get better...yes, I may have to re-think an exercise plan for the next few weeks, but I haven't got to change my life permanently, for example like some of the paralympians had to,following their life changing experiences......but, it is still difficult.
I'm not good with pain, I'm even worse with painkillers.....and it's difficult with a husband who tells you to 'get over it' - but I see the Roses tins of chocolates are back in Tescos for £4...so maybe that could be my new therapy.....it's got to be better than tears and tissues...........
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Disappointed.....
For the first time EVER I have had to pull out of a race due to injury, and I'm soooo disappointed......
Unfortunately the old feet aren't recovering as well, or as quickly, as I would like.... and the next person who tells me that it's my age will be kicked - or would be if I COULD kick!!
My right foot is perfect, I've done the right things as per GP instruction - no exercise, splints, elevation, analgesia, but my left foot just isn't playing ball - literally!
It aches around the ankle joint and across the top part of the foot, and as there is absolutely nothing to see I don't get much sympathy from the members in my family!
I had a phone call from the secretary of Surrey Walking Club on Monday, asking if I would like to represent them in Colchester this Saturday, as I'm now a member, and it was horrible having to say 'no'..... normally I run aches and pains out....and admittedly I did try walking the dogs yesterday to see how it felt....I did half a mile, all I could manage, which was a bit rubbish really!!
And I'm beginning to feel a little ( not a lot!!) bit sorry for Chris as not exercising makes me feel soooooo cranky, tired and bad-tempered.... Poor Chris... he's a little disappointed too!
Unfortunately the old feet aren't recovering as well, or as quickly, as I would like.... and the next person who tells me that it's my age will be kicked - or would be if I COULD kick!!
My right foot is perfect, I've done the right things as per GP instruction - no exercise, splints, elevation, analgesia, but my left foot just isn't playing ball - literally!
It aches around the ankle joint and across the top part of the foot, and as there is absolutely nothing to see I don't get much sympathy from the members in my family!
I had a phone call from the secretary of Surrey Walking Club on Monday, asking if I would like to represent them in Colchester this Saturday, as I'm now a member, and it was horrible having to say 'no'..... normally I run aches and pains out....and admittedly I did try walking the dogs yesterday to see how it felt....I did half a mile, all I could manage, which was a bit rubbish really!!
And I'm beginning to feel a little ( not a lot!!) bit sorry for Chris as not exercising makes me feel soooooo cranky, tired and bad-tempered.... Poor Chris... he's a little disappointed too!
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
R&R
I find sitting still really, really hard..... It's just not in my nature! And lovely as this cottage is.....with peaceful gardens, bubbling stream , tranquil summer house..... I'm a fidget!!
I want to run....and run, and run!
There are so many footpaths around here, tracks, trails, roads, fields..... just begging to be explored.
Unfortunately...my feet still ache, my ankles burn... and whereas I would normally run a few aches and niggles off...I know that this time I need to heed the GPs words of wisdom (even if she did call me a nutter...) but it's hard! I can feel myself becoming very irritable and getting 'twitchy' .....and I haven't even had a week of rest yet!!
What makes it worse.... is that I a had an email off Sandra Brown on Saturday....who? I hear you ask....well, let me explain!!
Sandra Brown is the chairperson of the Centurions...and friend of my 'new best friend Jim'!
She had heard that I couldn't compete in the Colchester Centurions in September due to not having an English athletics (Jim and I had spent 27.1 miles talking about this!!) number.......and, short story, she wanted to propose that I joined Surrey Athletics Club under her proposal, with Jim sponsoring me....giving me a place to do the Centurions on 22nd September!!
Oh darn it!!
Talk about timing.....
Firstly I was annoyed that I couldn't do the race (not that I would have done a 100 miles before anyone gasps - I would have done what I could, gone for the experience etc etc) so I booked a marathon for that day instead...
And secondly I now have 'poorly' feet.......pants!
Oh darn it!!
So my feet are getting some R&R but my head is spinning!
I want to run....and run, and run!
There are so many footpaths around here, tracks, trails, roads, fields..... just begging to be explored.
Unfortunately...my feet still ache, my ankles burn... and whereas I would normally run a few aches and niggles off...I know that this time I need to heed the GPs words of wisdom (even if she did call me a nutter...) but it's hard! I can feel myself becoming very irritable and getting 'twitchy' .....and I haven't even had a week of rest yet!!
What makes it worse.... is that I a had an email off Sandra Brown on Saturday....who? I hear you ask....well, let me explain!!
Sandra Brown is the chairperson of the Centurions...and friend of my 'new best friend Jim'!
She had heard that I couldn't compete in the Colchester Centurions in September due to not having an English athletics (Jim and I had spent 27.1 miles talking about this!!) number.......and, short story, she wanted to propose that I joined Surrey Athletics Club under her proposal, with Jim sponsoring me....giving me a place to do the Centurions on 22nd September!!
Oh darn it!!
Talk about timing.....
Firstly I was annoyed that I couldn't do the race (not that I would have done a 100 miles before anyone gasps - I would have done what I could, gone for the experience etc etc) so I booked a marathon for that day instead...
And secondly I now have 'poorly' feet.......pants!
Oh darn it!!
So my feet are getting some R&R but my head is spinning!
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| Trendy black elastic ankle support -perfect in the 20c sunshine! |
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| Tranquil Waterfall Cottage garden |
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| Waterfall Cottage, Burley, New Forest. |
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| Feet elevated (on rope swing!!!) |
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Doctor's orders......
Well......it finally got to the stage where I just had to suck it up, and admit that I need to rest my feet......
They were brilliant after my marathon yesterday.....no blisters, all toe nails present and correct...even my hip didn't ache....but this morning the ankles were throbbing, and by teatime an appointment was made with the GP as I didn't really like flexing them anymore!
They ached a bit after the Dodentocht...and I was a bit concerned I had a march fracture,so I did the right thing, had an xray, ate a packet of nurofen, used an ice-pack, rested for a day, and felt brilliant so did a marathon!!
The GP called me a nutter - not sure that is a medical diagnosis (she wasn't a psychiatrist!!) - and told me that this time I had REALLY got to rest my feet, for AT LEAST a week without doing anything as I have tendonitis....and then I was allowed gentle exercise......and 'maybe could try' my marathon at the end of September 'if I really had to??'.....I have elastic supports on my ankle.....and 30mg codeine tablets to take four times a day interspersed with paracetamol...mmmm lovely!!
And exercise is good for you!!
Actually, its the sitting still that is going to kill me.....it makes me go stir crazy........but it will make Chris crazier.....but, Doctor's orders.......!
They were brilliant after my marathon yesterday.....no blisters, all toe nails present and correct...even my hip didn't ache....but this morning the ankles were throbbing, and by teatime an appointment was made with the GP as I didn't really like flexing them anymore!
They ached a bit after the Dodentocht...and I was a bit concerned I had a march fracture,so I did the right thing, had an xray, ate a packet of nurofen, used an ice-pack, rested for a day, and felt brilliant so did a marathon!!
The GP called me a nutter - not sure that is a medical diagnosis (she wasn't a psychiatrist!!) - and told me that this time I had REALLY got to rest my feet, for AT LEAST a week without doing anything as I have tendonitis....and then I was allowed gentle exercise......and 'maybe could try' my marathon at the end of September 'if I really had to??'.....I have elastic supports on my ankle.....and 30mg codeine tablets to take four times a day interspersed with paracetamol...mmmm lovely!!
And exercise is good for you!!
Actually, its the sitting still that is going to kill me.....it makes me go stir crazy........but it will make Chris crazier.....but, Doctor's orders.......!
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Mud, mud, glorious mud!
The weather forecast for today was a bit grim..... and being an eternal pessimist ( or optimist with experience!!) I was expecting more than grim......
I wasn't expecting torrential rain, sideways rain, flooding, gale force winds - grim yes, but not grim grim!!
Today was the Shipton Star Marathon on/around/across Salisbury Plain, dodging soldiers, tanks and bullets whilst doing 26 miles. Last year it was a scorcher - this year, my main concern ( other than said soldiers, tanks and bullets) was hypothermia and drowning!!
The weather was APPALLING!! And, unfortunately, as the Plain is chalk and clay, once it rained, it turned into a wet, slippery, boggy mess!
Halfway through the organisers changed the route as it was deemed 'too unsafe' to complete the original route. There was a 20% gradient hill which they didn't firstly want us climbing (read sliding) up or secondly slipping down...... Spoilsports!
By halfway (13 miles) everyone except me and my 'new best friend' Jim had retired!
We came to the conclusion that this had cost us £2 to enter and we were going to darn well finish it!!
Jim's wife was recovering from a broken ankle, so he was a 'lone walker' like myself... looking for a 'wing man' so he gave me that honour.....
He was a 70 year old ex Merchant Navy chap, and was great company for the 26 miles!!
Although we didn't actually do 26 miles - we did more!! My family will tell you that I can't read a map (at all!!) and Cap'n Jim doesn't really know 'L' from 'R' ...some of the Plain looked very familiar, I'm convinced we did it twice, my Garmin watch, unfortunately didn't give us the route, just the mileage, and we clocked up 27.1 miles!!
And they wouldn't give us a bigger badge for doing more...... Mind you..... what can you expect for £2!!!
So......two finishers only for this years Shipton Star......a wet, muddy, cold one, but finished nonetheless!!
I wasn't expecting torrential rain, sideways rain, flooding, gale force winds - grim yes, but not grim grim!!
Today was the Shipton Star Marathon on/around/across Salisbury Plain, dodging soldiers, tanks and bullets whilst doing 26 miles. Last year it was a scorcher - this year, my main concern ( other than said soldiers, tanks and bullets) was hypothermia and drowning!!
The weather was APPALLING!! And, unfortunately, as the Plain is chalk and clay, once it rained, it turned into a wet, slippery, boggy mess!
Halfway through the organisers changed the route as it was deemed 'too unsafe' to complete the original route. There was a 20% gradient hill which they didn't firstly want us climbing (read sliding) up or secondly slipping down...... Spoilsports!
By halfway (13 miles) everyone except me and my 'new best friend' Jim had retired!
We came to the conclusion that this had cost us £2 to enter and we were going to darn well finish it!!
Jim's wife was recovering from a broken ankle, so he was a 'lone walker' like myself... looking for a 'wing man' so he gave me that honour.....
He was a 70 year old ex Merchant Navy chap, and was great company for the 26 miles!!
Although we didn't actually do 26 miles - we did more!! My family will tell you that I can't read a map (at all!!) and Cap'n Jim doesn't really know 'L' from 'R' ...some of the Plain looked very familiar, I'm convinced we did it twice, my Garmin watch, unfortunately didn't give us the route, just the mileage, and we clocked up 27.1 miles!!
And they wouldn't give us a bigger badge for doing more...... Mind you..... what can you expect for £2!!!
So......two finishers only for this years Shipton Star......a wet, muddy, cold one, but finished nonetheless!!
Sunday, 19 August 2012
A little bit more......
After last weekends 'epic' adventure I really thought I should rest up for a bit......slow down...prepare the body for the next onslaught....but as it happens, I always feel the need to do a little bit more!
The feet are good, I still have 10 toenails (admittedly held down with at least 4 layers of nail varnish!!) the osteopath was very impressed with my left hip, she was expecting the hip flexor muscle not to be flexing, so Tuesday it was back to the gym!!
OK, OK, I cried off from doing Body Attack....I had a very dodgy stomach from eating ibuprofen like smarties whilst doing the Dodentocht, and didn't really fancy a ruptured stomach ulcer from doing 100 star jumps, so I had a swim for a change....and that was lovely as the last time I swam I must have been about 12....(well, that's how small my costume felt....!)
But swimming's not quite the same.....for a start it's wet, it's also cold...I mean, they TELL you the water is 27C...yeah right...I don't reckon they ever actually sit in it to see if it really is....it's more like the lottery, lets pull a number out......hmmmm....today its.......24!....no wonder kids pee in it, just adding a little hot water thank you very much.....!
Anyways....Saturday morning was back to 'proper' exercise! A jolly along the canal to Hungerford from Kintbury with the work girls as we are preparing for the Test Valley (26 miles) in October.....I'm also preparing for my marathon on the 29th August!!
I walked with Laura and we had a great pace to Cobbs Farm, where we met up with the others for a toasted teacake and the loo's and then back again - clocking up 9.5miles.
Then it was home to collect the dogs and a quick 'Newbury loop' to add another 3.5 miles so that I could say I had done a 'half marathon'!
We have an extra dog staying with us at the moment - a lovely black and white springer spaniel called Lily. She belongs to my colleague Katie and we have her for the next fortnight!
She already thinks she owns the place - preferring to sleep on the leather couch rather than her basket....and she prefers malt loaf with real butter than dog biscuits (I don't blame her!!).
Poor Golda - our retriever- looks at Mali, and then Lily, and I'm sure she thinks she is seeing double as we used to only have one!!
But it's great exercise...hanging on to 3 dog leads...just think of my arm muscles...I could always do with a little bit more!
The feet are good, I still have 10 toenails (admittedly held down with at least 4 layers of nail varnish!!) the osteopath was very impressed with my left hip, she was expecting the hip flexor muscle not to be flexing, so Tuesday it was back to the gym!!
OK, OK, I cried off from doing Body Attack....I had a very dodgy stomach from eating ibuprofen like smarties whilst doing the Dodentocht, and didn't really fancy a ruptured stomach ulcer from doing 100 star jumps, so I had a swim for a change....and that was lovely as the last time I swam I must have been about 12....(well, that's how small my costume felt....!)
But swimming's not quite the same.....for a start it's wet, it's also cold...I mean, they TELL you the water is 27C...yeah right...I don't reckon they ever actually sit in it to see if it really is....it's more like the lottery, lets pull a number out......hmmmm....today its.......24!....no wonder kids pee in it, just adding a little hot water thank you very much.....!
Anyways....Saturday morning was back to 'proper' exercise! A jolly along the canal to Hungerford from Kintbury with the work girls as we are preparing for the Test Valley (26 miles) in October.....I'm also preparing for my marathon on the 29th August!!
I walked with Laura and we had a great pace to Cobbs Farm, where we met up with the others for a toasted teacake and the loo's and then back again - clocking up 9.5miles.
Then it was home to collect the dogs and a quick 'Newbury loop' to add another 3.5 miles so that I could say I had done a 'half marathon'!
We have an extra dog staying with us at the moment - a lovely black and white springer spaniel called Lily. She belongs to my colleague Katie and we have her for the next fortnight!
She already thinks she owns the place - preferring to sleep on the leather couch rather than her basket....and she prefers malt loaf with real butter than dog biscuits (I don't blame her!!).
Poor Golda - our retriever- looks at Mali, and then Lily, and I'm sure she thinks she is seeing double as we used to only have one!!
But it's great exercise...hanging on to 3 dog leads...just think of my arm muscles...I could always do with a little bit more!
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