Friday, February 22, 2013

The Land of Denial

I woke up Sunday to an expected snowfall.  Remember I like running in the snow and snowing while at the ocean is unusual enough for me that I could be colored very happy.  So up I got and off I went.  I generally run at least  a bit on the beach and I was about to head down the steps to do it this time.  But there were rocks everywhere due to the storm the week before.  I could have crossed them but they looked slippery and wobbly and rather precarious so I decided to be careful and I didn't go down to the beach.


I continued up to Nubble Point Lighthouse which I probably have 100 or more pictures of but I always take another. I particularly like it in a storm when the light is on.  So here is Sunday's picture.  Honestly it is not one I already had.


I headed toward Short Sands taking the scenic route of course.  It wasn't too slippery and I was watching where I was going.  I thought.  Then all of a sudden I was on the ground having stepped in a pothole. (So much for that wise decision to not go down to the beach.) I got up fairly quickly and things seemed to be okay.  My ankle was sore but I could bare weight.  I limped for a few feet and then what did I do?

Did I continue to limp the shortest route home?
Did I call my friends to come get me since they had a car and I had my phone?
Did I try to get help of any kind?
Did I decide it didn't really hurt and continue my run?

If you guessed the last one you are correct of course and I am guessing I am not the only one out there who would have done this.  I did decide not to lengthen my route.  I also planned my runs for the rest of vacation while I continued this run because I was firmly vacationing at this point in the Land of Denial. Another spot I am guessing I am not the only one to have visited.  When I got back my friends thought I must have gone a long ways since I was gone awhile but I said no it just took me awhile.  I then took off my shoe.  Oops.'
Pefectly normal looking right?  Did I stay in the hotel and put my foot up and ice it?  No, we continued to Freeport and shopped as planned.  It truthfully didn't hurt much and at one point I wasn't even limping. I was very encouraged and still planning the rest of my runs for the trip. I did not share these thoughts with my friends  knowing the reaction I would get.  

The next day when I got up (I was wearing a brace I bought at Rite Aid - truthfully to help on the  run I would be taking although again I didn't tell my friends that was why I was buying it.)  But I knew during the night that I would NOT be taking a run the next morning. When I got up and struggled to put on my shoe I heard H whisper to M, "Is she going running?"  I grumpily answered I was going to get some ice and acted indignant that she would think I was stupid enough to go for a run.  So off I went to the next building to the ice machine in my pajamas to get a bucket of ice.  I didn't care at all who saw me as I was now firmly in the Land of Grumpiness.  I then proceeded to do this off and on for the next hour.

I took pictures of it again and was surprised to say it was swollen on both sides. I had not noticed it the day before.  It was turning black and blue and not looking that great. I spent a lot of time googling swollen ankle, when to see the doctor, when you can run again. All the sites seemed to say, "Never say JUST a swollen ankle, it is a serious injury."  Great.  I did not go to the doctor/ER while in Maine.  


I kept my foot up in the car but again I did not stay put just elevating it and icing it all day.  We went out for breakfast and then went to Portland to Shipyard Brewery. Some of our plans had to be changed because it was President's Day and things weren't open but the brewery was. It was rather a fun tour and a good place to pick up some souvenirs!  I liked the Prelude the best of all the samples I had.







I did head back to the room before going out for burger and a beer to ice and elevate.  This was definitely not the vacation I had planned.  When we left on Tuesday there were many people out running along the ocean and I was green with envy. When I got home I called my doctor's office and they had me come down immediately.  The doctor was very impressed with how much it had improved. He seemed to think I had been doing all the right things to reduce the swelling.  He told me I could swim and bike any time but no running for a week to 10 days. 

 So for now I am listening. I have been swimming the past two mornings and it was wonderful! I have not tried the bike yet which is a good indicator that my foot hurts a fair amount and running is not in my immediate future.  Putting a boot on is a bit of a challenge. Going upstairs is much easier than going down.  I read more than once that you can run again after you can jump up and down on that foot three times. Right now that thought makes me cringe.  So I think I have left the Land of Denial.

Have you ever visited the Land of Denial?  How long were you there? What got you there?





23 comments:

Kate Geisen said...

Well, I'm going on a month of not being able to lift the arm I hurt in Cleveland and just now accepting that I should probably go to the dr, so I'd say I've got at least a vacation home in the land of denial.

So bummed that you hurt your ankle on vacation, but I'm glad your dr is happy with how it's healing.

I'm on my second snow day, which means I had a 3-day weekend, followed by a 2-day week, followed by a 4-day weekend. I could get used to this!

Kandi said...

I've been pretty lucky when it comes to injuries (knock on all the wood!)but I did hurt my hip once and was a bit in denial. I was doing a short, easy 3 mile run prior to my first ever 15k race and I noticed a pain in my hip during that run for no apparent reason. My race was 2 days away and I had high hopes it wouldn't hurt during the race. It felt fine while walking so I thought I'd be good to go. As soon as I started jogging a warm up prior to the race I knew it was going to hurt the whole time. It did, but do you think I didn't finish that race? I actually ran one of my faster times on that course that day and then had to take a month off running for my hip to heal.

Darlene said...

Oh yeah. I ran 2 races with a stress fracture.

I was told the same with my ankle...that it was fully healed when I could hop on it. I knew that I could wait for that so ran anyway.

So I am the worst person to ask.

Hope it heals quickly and that you stay off of it.

I want to see you at a race this summer!

Darlene said...

I meant: I could NOT wait

middleagedrunner said...

Your ankle was HUGE!!!! I don't think i could have denied THAT and I'm SO good at ignoring alllll the things. Wow, just WOW!

Michael said...

Ouch!! I can't believe you managed to do anything on that thing.

Listen to the Dr....stay off your feet a few days.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Liz said...

So many times I've been in pain and kept planning the following day's run while running. Sometimes it works but often, it's just pure denial. Hope it clears up soon.

christa said...

I visit there often! I got a 2 mile run in today. Happy dance for me!!
Thanks again for coming by yesterday. The chili and muffins are yummy!

Teamarcia said...

I'm in pain just looking at that swelling. I did that at mile 5 of a 10 mile race once. Of course I ran it in.

Char said...

I did exactly the same thing as you on a run - sprained it, then told myself it was okay and continued to finish the route I'd planned. Mind you, my ankle was nowhere near as swollen or as bruised as yours. I'm pretty impressed that you were able to go on. And I'm never ever going to tell you to take a teaspoon of concrete and harden up - you're as tough as they come!

Amy said...

Whoa, Andrea, that looked bad! Hope it gets feeling better soon so you can jump up and down three times!

Anonymous said...

You are absolutely right. Perfectly normal looking. Doesn't look painful in the least. Now get back out there and continue shopping...

Ransick said...

Ouch! Hope your ankle heals up quickly. At least you were still able to shop so the vacation wasn't a total disaster :-)

Average Woman Runner said...

That ankle does NOT look good but a week to 10 days doesn't sound too bad considering all that swelling! Hope it heals quicker than expected so you can get out & enjoy the winter white.

Unknown said...

I did something extremely similar. I suffered a foot injury a mile into a scheduled 11 mile run. Like yourself, I continued running... another 10 miles. When I got home the top of my foot was extremely swollena nd bruised. In fact, it was about the same size as the swelling on your photo. I totally, know what you mean.

Jill said...

Land of Denial is where I lived for 2 years. I still kinda live there when I see my pace on my watch after being off for two years ;).

That inner ankle is what concerns me more than the outer one sprain. When I sprained my inner ankle this past summer, I also tore a bunch of ligaments in my foot. But I also couldn't get off the ground when I did it for well over a half hour and no way could I run (for 8 weeks)...so I don't think yours is as bad...and fact, I'm sure of it and you'll be on your way to running and biking again in no time. In the mean time, be smart (as you are) and listen to the foot!

Glad you had a nice visit with your friends, though. LOVE the pic of the lighthouse; reminds me of Point Betsy in Michigan (Google it :)).

Giorgio said...

Hope you are feeling better soon!

Runner Leana said...

Oh my gosh! That is quite the swollen ankle. I hope it improves soon!! I totally know what you mean about living in the land of denial. I've been there before too. It is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there!

Kandi said...

Thanks for the website recommendation for finding races. I not only found a back-up half marathon (that is earlier in April) but also a 10 mile race that I definitely want to do. I've never done a 10 mile race before!! Thanks!

janruns said...

I've lived in the Land of Denial for quite a while!!!! Your ankle really didn't look too good. Glad you are resting it so you are on the mend soon!

Karen said...

Oh my goodness that does not look good! OUCH! So sorry ...

Lindsay said...

Ouch! I hope it's healing quickly. I was in denial about my glute from August to January... So I totally know how it is!

Alisa said...

OMG that looks HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!