Hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend, if you celebrate!
I spent the better part of my weekend in Atlantic City with my sister on an impromptu girls’ weekend, eating and drinking WAY too much…which I then continued when I made about six million not-so-healthy choices on Easter. Needless to say…I’m not exactly feeling like myself today.
However, that could have a lot to do with the fact that I have been battling my latest injury since the middle of last week. And I have to say…I’m getting a little frustrated. And nervous.
I have a ton of lofty goals lined up for the spring, including a few half marathons and some local 5ks and 10ks as I gear up for the Dumbo Double Dare this summer, and I don’t take too kindly to any hindrance in my training plan.
I had been noticing a little bit of discomfort in my foot during my Taekwondo class earlier last week, especially in my big toe joint, but I chose to ignore it. Then I hobbled home in mile 3 after a planned 6-miler on Thursday, tore off my sneaker, and discovered that I
couldn’t bend my big toe upward without pain.
Of course, I Googled this phenomenon — the worst thing you can do when faced with any sort of health dilemma, IMHO — and I scared myself shitless thinking that I’d need special orthotics and 4-6 weeks of rest at best, and surgery and no more running forever at worst.
I can’t even explain the kind of panic that ensues when you read on-line accounts of runners who started with just a dull ache in their knee or foot or shin and then it escalates into a serious injury that has them hanging up their running sneakers for good. I don’t think I have to even say that I would be utterly and completely devastated if I ever lost the ability to run…I can’t even think about it.
So, long story short…no more Googling for me.
Instead, I decided to fight the urge to “power through it,” which is pretty much my motto for every curveball life throws my way, and follow the advice I have heard time and time again when it comes to running-related aches and pains and injuries. I did NOT pack my running sneakers for my weekend down the shore, or head out for a MUCH NEEDED pre-dinner run on Easter. When I wasn’t hobbling around doing everything in my power not to bend my big toe for fear of straining the joint, or laying around icing it for hours on end, I’ve been obsessing over my compulsive need to GO FOR A RUN RIGHT NOW and scolding myself for being “lazy.”
Fortunately, it’s feeling a little bit better today, and I took that (of course) to mean that I should try running. But first, I decided to finally give in and try KT Tape, since I’ve read about it on a million different blogs and have sort of been wanting to test it out anyway (not that I would ever wish for an injury to use it on, but you know what I mean).
I taped up my foot (although I later realized I didn’t exactly use the tape optimally after checking out how-tos on their website) and went out for an easy 3-miler today, and can tell you that KT Tape truly is MAGIC tape…it stabilized the joint that has been bothering me, and I didn’t feel any discomfort in my big toe or foot at all for the entire run.
I know I’m going to have to take it easy for a bit longer — and I will absolutely see a doctor if my foot doesn’t feel completely back to normal in the next day or two — but it felt great to get out there and run today…especially since temperatures are near 60 today, and it feels like spring may finally be here!
Do you have a hard time forcing yourself to rest due to an injury?
I can relate with searching the Internet…. Ugh. Lol. Good luck, I have been looking into ktape for my feet instead of traditional braces.
Ugh is right! I pretty much end up convincing myself that I’m going to die every time I try to “self-diagnose,” haha. Good luck with your feet; I was definitely impressed with how well the KT Tape worked, but who knows how it is when you’re using it on a more long-term basis.
Sorry to hear that you’re hurting! Hope it heals quickly. When I’m injured, I tend to baby whatever hurts and myself and take things slow. I know it’s hard not to think of it as being “lazy” but I’d rather be healed faster than further injure myself. xo
Thanks so much…I hope so, too! You are 100 percent right to take care of yourself when you’re injured…I always KNOW that’s what I should be doing, and I’m so worried about making things worse. Thanks for the reminder, I needed it!
I always do the hovering dance between “I should rest so I don’t make things worse” and “I should push through this and get stronger.” Whenever I Google health-related anything I end up sure I’m six months away from imminent death so I don’t do that any more!
Hahaha, EXACTLY! You’re so right…I definitely need to resist the urge to Google this kind of stuff! And that’s totally what I’m doing right now…it’s so hard to to gauge when it’s the kind of injury where you HAVE to rest, and then you have to figure out how long to rest it, what other activities are OK, etc.
If it persists but you want to stay active, try running in the pool. I had to do that when I was re-habing a really bad ankle sprain years ago. It is a great workout and there is no impact. Most important stay positive during your injury. (Which is much easier said than done.)
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement! That’s a great idea…I’m SO not a swimmer, but I could totally get on board with running in the pool. I’m sure it’s an awesome workout!