I’ve been holding back the posts to FB regarding my ankle for fear of getting a scolding about running marathons. Those who don’t partake in this activity, and even some who do, don’t seem to appreciate my desire to continue running at this level.
Earlier this week, I got a bit of unsolicited opinion from a colleague on the topic. She shrugged her shoulders at my expressed frustration for being immobile (by my standards), then suggested I choose another sport and give up running all together. As if she was all-knowing of the physical body, she scoffed my insistence that I would return to running. “Okay, but there are tradeoffs…” she insisted. Yeah, I thought, like a healthy heart, reduced stress level, reduced risk for osteoporosis to name a few.
Truth be told, the tradeoffs for NOT running (OR practicing yoga) are not pleasant. My body has been stiff and my left knee and right glute have been screaming at me for several days. I’m not sleeping and I’m gaining weight.
– I sit at work.
– I sit in my car.
– I sit at the baseball games.
– ALL I ever do is sit!
– And I am certain that all this inactivity is doing more harm than good!
I have an appointment for an orthopedics / sports medicine consult in a couple of hours which, I must admit, I am a bit apprehensive about. I would love to see my x-rays with my own eyes. I would also love to have them pinpoint the issue at hand (or ankles in this case) and prescribe a plan of attack to get me off my butt. I do not want to be told to give up running; I want to be told how to get back at it.
Please, say a prayer, cross your fingers, or send good vibes. I can use all the help I can get.
I will send a prayer and ugh, I sympathize with you. It’s hard for the non-believers to understand where we are coming from. In fact, earlier this week when I was antsy after missing several workouts I realized I was turning into a total jerk at home. I apologized to my wife and went on a bike ride. It’s tough for us mobile people to become sedentary. Without being mean to the sedentary or the non-runners, for them it’s all they know!
To them, sitting is normal, not burning a huge amount of calories is normal, and they view the world differently. FWIW – I 100% empathize, hang in there. You’ll overcome this.
I am praying, and hoping the news is good. Hoping your doc is a runner, too, that helps! :) I feel much healthier and more like myself when I am running, I understand! You will get through. Hope the doc is giving you good news as I type!
I’ve just spent the last 10 months rehabbing an ankle injury incurred *tripping on the stairs*. Injuries happen, often freakishly. It doesn’t mean you need to give you the sport you love, just because you may have gotten injured doing it. Yeah, you may have to lay off for a bit, or rehab things, or cross-train more. But seriously, give up running marathons because you’ve been injured, even though you still love it? Crazy talk.
Is the ortho you’re seeing a sports-medicine person? I’ve found that sports-med docs have a really good understanding that injuries happen, healing happens (sometimes with assistance) and then you go back to your passion.
*HUGS!* … and sending good vibes, prayers, etc, too!