Wednesday, November 30, 2011

FREEDOM!!!!!!

By the time you read this I will have been freed from my fiberglass accouterment.  Pictures of the scar will be posted once the freed limb has been thoroughly cleaned, scrubbed, and scratched.  Probably multiple times.

It means that rest time is over.  Time to get back to fitness.  Rehab starts this afternoon, fitness-improving activities start tomorrow morning.

The countdown to running has begun!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

8...

Cast day 20 (8 days to go)

I can almost hear the loud-monotone-disembodied voice of the NASA countdown as I quickly approach the day my foot will be freed from its orange prison.

The nice thing is the next week should go quickly:  tomorrow I'm taking the day off work to run some errands around town and get some supplies for our thanksgiving day feast, Thursday is our feast, Friday I do have to work a bit but we're going to a hockey game that night, Saturday I've got to work but it's rivalry day for college football:  the Iron Bowl, the Civil War, OSU-Michigan, etc, etc, etc, Sunday is the Bengals game and then we're back to Monday of the week the cast comes off.

Short time indeed.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Target Set

Cast day 12 (16 remaining)

June 23, 2012 has been selected as the official return to racing for me.

Seattle, WA, for that version of the Rock 'N Roll race series.  We were already planning on being out there for a visit and thought why not...the timing works perfectly with the surgery/recovery.  Who knows some of the other KR 30s gang might show up as well.

You're probably asking why the hurry to officially register?  There was a $20 discount for registering on 11/11/11 so I took advantage.  Glad I did - even with the discount it was $91.xx!  Probably the max I've paid for a HM by about $7-10.

It's on the calendar all official and everything.  It gives me something to work towards.

Just over two weeks left until the infernal cast comes off.  I think I can make it.  I think I can make it.  I think I can make it.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Stress? You Are a Mean Son of a Bitch!

Cast Day 9 (19 to go)

We all have those days where the frustrations build slowly and slowly and slowly until they reach that threshold the pushes you into that shitty, crabby, I-could-easily-be-a-royal-jackass-right-now-but-I'm-doing-the-deep-calming-breaths-thing-to-keep-from-throat-punching-you place.

Welcome to the last couple of days for me!!!!!  Adhering to my not specific discussions of work things I'll just leave it at that....

My normal healthy coping method (drinking does not equal healthy people!)?  Running.  As we all now, that strategy has been eliminated.  Where is the fist-shaking-smiley?

Part of that stress is cast related - I'm over my paranoia that I'm developing a DVT.  I'm not.  But I'm having trouble dealing with the amount of time I have to be on my feet at work in order to effectively do my job.  By the end of the day I'm ready to cut the cast off because my leg is just worn out from walking in the dastardly thing.  Not painful from the surgery, just tired, hot, and sweaty.  Imagine if you didn't take your sock off for 9 consecutive days...9 down, 19 to go!

I know, I know...buck up camper and deal with it!  You went into this with your eyes wide open and aware of what the recovery would be!  Yes, I do keep telling myself that...every day.

9 days down, 19 to go.

One day at a time.

One day at a time.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Halfway Point

Cast Day 7

Going into this I knew it would be a six week process until things really got back to "normal".  Three weeks ago yesterday was the surgery.  One week ago I started the time in the cast - some good days, some not so good days but I have a theory about that, later.  Three weeks down, three weeks to go.  I'm pretty sure that things couldn't be going better.

My cast theory:  I'm going to spend exactly 28 days in this thing.  The first week was challenging because I was getting used to the limitations imposed on me by it.  Now though, I'm settling in to a routine with those limitations for the next few weeks.  The last week?  That's going to be tough because the light at the end of the tunnel will be big and bright and I think it will be like being 6 years old and waiting for the jolly ol' elf to arrive that special morning in December.

One day at a time.

Friday, November 04, 2011

Maybe This Won't Be So Bad

Cast Day 2
66 Days Until Running?

Wednesday was the big day.  The splint came off, the staples were removed (all 16 of them), and I got my cast put on.

The brief conversation with the surgeon went well:  everything went according to plan with the Brostrum procedure and the only unexpected thing was a bit of fraying in my peroneal brevus tendon that he was able to clean up.  He checked the repair - let's just say my ankle isn't going anywhere!!!!  Very little inversion, thanks to the modified part of the Modified Brostrum procedure where he shifted my anterior retinaculum (google it) over.

All in all he was pleased.

Now some of you might be wondering why the cast instead of a boot?  I asked in the original consultation.  I think he's dealt with some non-compliant patients in the past and now chooses a walking cast over the boot because you can't take the boot off and walk around the house before the repair is fully scarred down and healed.  Like a dumbass.  So all of us that would be compliant pay the price.  It's just four weeks.  26 days from now, not that I'm counting.

So here is how I get to spend those next 26 days:
Lovely shade of orange isn't it?