That's exactly what the doctor said...unsolicited and without knowing I had plans to douse the boot with gas and set it ablaze. This isn't really bad news...I kind of expected it. The fracture is healing on schedule. The line or crack in the bone is still visible but it's closed in and kind of hazy. I am cleared to start "weaning" out of the boot over a 7-10 day period. Remove it for a few hours in the morning, put the boot back on in the afternoon and then take it off for a while in the evening. I'm supposed to gradually increase the time I have it off until I don't need it anymore. We had a long talk about rebuilding strength, walking a lot and then eventually returning to running. He wants me to run after the 12 week mark which I found surprising. I told him I wanted to wait until 16 weeks to start running and he said no. He wants me to start building more strength and he says a good way to do that is run a little during a walk session.
We had a lot of debate about returning to riding a bike on the road...this is the one area we don't agree on. The doctor told me that I should still take caution and not road bike more than 15-20 minutes in these first few transition weeks. I think he doesn't understand cycling really and the mechanics of the pedal stroke. I've gone 60' on the stationary bike without any issue. The only risk with a road bike is having to make a quick move or stop fast. I can mimic the same effort and cadence out on the road. So, I pumped up my tires this morning and rode for 60 minutes @ 155 watts out on the road! To put 155 watts into perspective, that's 40+ watts below Ironman race pace and 56% of my previous Functional Threshold Power. In other words, even for the maimed and out of shape sloth that I am it's WAY EASY. Didn't feel real easy though on my heart...I was up in the mid-140's for most of the ride.
Honestly, I'm more worried about swimming than anything. He said I don't have to use a pull buoy and I can just start kicking freestyle. That thought scares me. The kicking action really activates the tendon that's attached to the broken piece of bone. I will give it a very small and easy try tomorrow morning.
So I walked to my car from the doctor's office yesterday! It felt weird. Strange feeling throughout my foot and ankle. Muscles and soft tissue that's not used to being moved or used. I walk with a pretty significant limp right now. But I'm able to get around without much trouble. And suddenly I'm excited to go on walks around the neighborhood. It will be something good for me and Jenny to do together.
Progress is being made.
No comments:
Post a Comment