I went to the podiatrist today to get some answers. I left there feeling a little but numb in the head.
My foot has been feeling so much better. I was thinking that I could give running a try soon. I was hoping even today. But the appointment changed things.
First, I was interviewed and examined by a medical student. He was thorough and verified that x-rays, if done too early after the injury, do not reveal hairline stress fractures. But his exam didn’t indicate a fracture. I could push and pull with my foot easily. The only issue was when he pushed on the tendon behind the protruding bump on my outer ankle.
He went outside and I could hear him reporting his findings to the doctor. They were in the hall for a good many minutes before they came in together. She immediately asked me to stand. Then she asked me to hop. I had done it yesterday, but today, in bare feet, I had to work hard to convince my body that I could manage the move. When I finally produced the hop, it HURT – in my foot AND in my ankle. *That* was the pain that I felt at Rock ‘n Roll.
I returned to the exam chair and she continued her exam. I underwent more pushing and pulling and with a much greater force than when the med student did the exam. But it didn’t hurt. We talked about the options. Icing, ibuprofen (which I was already doing), and I could also have some ultrasound treatments. I asked about running. I even asked about running the Nike 1/2. The doctor didn’t even flinch. She said that I could “try” to run “if I wanted to.” She said that if I could run 5 miles this week, I could probably make the 13.1 miles.
As I was putting on my socks I wondered what to do. I was tormented. I want to run/walk at Nike. Just for fun. But I know that it won’t be any fun if I am in pain.
And then something happened…