Perhaps the hardest part of recovering from an injury is GETTING ENOUGH REST, especially when you know that you could probably white-knuckle your way through your workouts. I know I could probably gut it out through some shorter runs, but I know I'd pay for it later. I'm paying for my overzealous approach already.
The tendinitis in my foot usually is quiet in the morning, then flares up as the day wears on. By the time I get off work at 8:30 PM the pain is significant. This is nothing new, but the level of pain has increased. For me this reinforces my belief that I need to not stress my injured foot any more than absolutely necessary. Unfortunately I am on my feet for much of the day, so rest is difficult at best. I mean, I can't just not walk.
I have been able to modify my exercise regimen. I did go for a long bicycle ride on Saturday. It's not my favorite form of exercise; I mostly feel it in my quads, and so far I just don't get the same endorphin rush as from running. The upside is that I'm still outdoors enjoying what's left of the summer, and bicycling doesn't stress my foot at all. As far as strength training goes, the ADAPT workouts are easy to modify around my issues. No problem as long as I am able to use some restraint and good judgment. Riiiight.
I keep thinking about Bruce Lee and his recovery from a devastating injury. Lee was a dynamic and restless man who would often interrupt his own writing with impromptu workouts such as three-finger push-ups or grueling runs through the hills near his Los Angeles home. A weight training accident (as the result of not warming up properly) left him with a severe back injury; he was in traction for six months. Such a layoff must have been unthinkable for a physical fellow like Lee. While his body healed he kept his mind busy studying philosophy, anatomy/physiology, nutrition, and kinesiology. As he planned his physical comeback he refined Jeet Kune Do, his personal martial art practice and philosophy. When the time came he trained his previously strong body to the almost superhuman condition that leaped off the movie screen in films such as Enter The Dragon. He should not have been able to practice martial arts at all, much less with the cat-like grace and power captured on film.
The lesson here is a reminder to (a) be patient and (b) believe in myself. This is a journey, not a destination; I'm never gonna be done keeping myself focused and motivated. I must stay diligent and not allow the setbacks to derail my momentum. I might be moving slow, but I am moving forward.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Here's that setback you ordered...
Monday I went for my longest post-accident run yet: six miles. My stamina was decent, and my pace was slightly faster than before the accident! My injured foot felt fine during the entire run.
The trouble started when I stopped running. Within fifteen minutes of finishing my run my right foot was on fire. This was the most pain I've felt since the accident. I had already been walking with a slight limp; now it had become very uncomfortable to walk. My first thought was that I had simply overdone it, and I needed a little extra rest and a more measured daily running regimen (shorter, more frequent running workouts).
As the week wore on it became obvious that the situation was worse than I thought. The ache in my foot didn't subside very much, even with no running. By the end of every work day the pain was pretty bad, though still not bad enough to resort to my prescription pain meds (I'm hesitant to take narcotics unless I'm in agony).
Yesterday there was a post on my Facebook page from a running shoe company regarding tendinitis of the foot. The symptoms described in the post (dull ache in the top of the foot that subsides during exercise) almost exactly described what I am feeling. The more grim news: treatment calls for NO RUNNING for "at least two weeks" and more likely for much longer. Damn, I just got started again. Okay, so it's time to make another recovery plan.
This morning I was chatting with a friend who is a doctor and an avid runner. She was aghast that I'd been running at all. Her recommendation: I shouldn't run for the rest of the year, and switch to other methods of metabolic training until the foot stops hurting. Damn.
Fortunately I have access to a lot of options. ADAPT Training has some machines I can use, including ellipticals, rowers, and Versaclimbers. I will also continue to take the regular ADAPT classes: integrated metabolic training on Mondays and Wednesdays, strength training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and flexibility/mobility on Fridays. These classes are very scalable to one's physical challenges, much more so than any other exercise program I've ever seen. I'm also going to put in some miles on my bicycle while the weather is still good, and dig into swimming. Now is a great time for me to go take some swimming lessons and strengthen up my technique. Aside from that it's RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
I knew that recovering and resuming the life I love was gonna be a long haul. I knew that there would be challenges and setbacks. The important thing for me is to stay positive and stay busy. As long as I can keep moving around and keep smiling I will be fine. I am still very aware of how lucky I am, and still grateful for this dangerous opportunity to be a better person.
The trouble started when I stopped running. Within fifteen minutes of finishing my run my right foot was on fire. This was the most pain I've felt since the accident. I had already been walking with a slight limp; now it had become very uncomfortable to walk. My first thought was that I had simply overdone it, and I needed a little extra rest and a more measured daily running regimen (shorter, more frequent running workouts).
As the week wore on it became obvious that the situation was worse than I thought. The ache in my foot didn't subside very much, even with no running. By the end of every work day the pain was pretty bad, though still not bad enough to resort to my prescription pain meds (I'm hesitant to take narcotics unless I'm in agony).
Yesterday there was a post on my Facebook page from a running shoe company regarding tendinitis of the foot. The symptoms described in the post (dull ache in the top of the foot that subsides during exercise) almost exactly described what I am feeling. The more grim news: treatment calls for NO RUNNING for "at least two weeks" and more likely for much longer. Damn, I just got started again. Okay, so it's time to make another recovery plan.
This morning I was chatting with a friend who is a doctor and an avid runner. She was aghast that I'd been running at all. Her recommendation: I shouldn't run for the rest of the year, and switch to other methods of metabolic training until the foot stops hurting. Damn.
Fortunately I have access to a lot of options. ADAPT Training has some machines I can use, including ellipticals, rowers, and Versaclimbers. I will also continue to take the regular ADAPT classes: integrated metabolic training on Mondays and Wednesdays, strength training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and flexibility/mobility on Fridays. These classes are very scalable to one's physical challenges, much more so than any other exercise program I've ever seen. I'm also going to put in some miles on my bicycle while the weather is still good, and dig into swimming. Now is a great time for me to go take some swimming lessons and strengthen up my technique. Aside from that it's RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
I knew that recovering and resuming the life I love was gonna be a long haul. I knew that there would be challenges and setbacks. The important thing for me is to stay positive and stay busy. As long as I can keep moving around and keep smiling I will be fine. I am still very aware of how lucky I am, and still grateful for this dangerous opportunity to be a better person.
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