Countdown to Pain-Free RUNNING

117 days. December 12 was my last run on solid ground. 3 months of not being able to compete, 3 months of not being able to destress from a long day with a run, 3 months of looking in the mirror and not liking what I saw. Along with months of cortisol shots, ultrasound therapy, custom orthotics (x2), biking, weightlifting- like, a lot of weightlifting, and 3 months of trying every option but surgery.

Well, last week I started a new countdown. 6 weeks. Why? Last Friday my dad and boyfriend drove me down to the cities to see the famed Dr. Coetzee and have my sesamoid bone permanently removed. Yes, they actually remove the bone! I requested a video of the surgery, but erm, I only received a picture of the bone. Still really interesting. (see below)

For the next few days I was on some fairly heavy painkillers, slept a lot, and bought a food dehydrator on a whim. Truthfully, a decent purchase. Now, I am one-week post-operative. Next Friday, I get my stitches removed and the dressing taken off. Then for four weeks I have a splint for my foot and continue to wear my post-op “shoe” which is more-or-less a sandal with the toes curved upwards so I can’t put any weight on my big toe and am forced to walk on my heel. In 6 weeks though (now 5 since I am one week down), I get to begin PT to run again.

29 days before I can take my first steps (literally) to doing what I love. Additionally, the surgery has an incredibly high success rate (95%) that I will not only be able to run competitively but be able to do it without pain. I’m not even sure I can remember a time that I ran without pain- remember, it’s been broken for over a year. I am thrilled to finally feel like I have control over my life again. In the meantime, I’ve been laying low, I’ve biked and lifted once, but have been doing hip strengthening exercises since they’re very dormant at the moment. This injury is not over, and it will likely take a long while before I am back in peak fitness, but I’m on my way now and that’s the important part.

I’ll keep updating. Next post: dental updates !! I have so much to tell you.

xx

Beka