Ankle Update

I am absolutely overwhelmed by the enormous support and hope I have received from you all. You have brought me much hope and peace. I am filled with good thoughts about my injury and the race.

Here is an update.

I am very actively RESTING. It is difficult. I am in Greece for goodness sake, sitting in the hotel (it's rainy outside) with ice on my ankle with it elevated up on a chair! I have been in this position for most of the day.

I did test the weight-bearing and I am VERY happy to say that I was able to take some steps this morning. As the day went on, I took more steps, and am now able to walk with a brace! I walked into breakfast and showed off to Glenn and Allison that I was walking unassisted! I felt like a kid. "Look at me! I can WALK!"

My fabulous crew is taking such good care of me. I cannot express my immense gratitude. We spent the entire morning going from pharmacy to pharmacy and I now have a respectable collection of materials to help my recovery and to protect the ankle should I be able to run. I consulted Scott Jurek's blog about his ankle injury prior to Hardrock 2007. I've incorporated his healing strategies into mine and I think I've got a hopeful remedy!

Here's what's in my medical bag:

Rest - I've been a complete slug. I've done nothing. My crew won't let me do anything. They do everything for me. No shopping, no sight-seeing, no playing tourist for me.

Ice - I've been doing LOTS of this.

Elevation - My foot has been up for at least a total of 6 hours today.

Compression - I've been wearing my air cast. It finally feels comfortable around my ankle bone because the swelling is down. I bought an ace wrap and I have one roll of Coban that I brought with me.

Protection - I'm wearing the air cast when up for now. I purchased another thinner and lighter but very supportive brace for the race. I will start wearing that one tomorrow.

Arnica/bromeline cream - for anti-inflamatory.

Ibuprofen - Yep, I'm taking it. The good doctor Nickolopoulos prescribed Meloxicam and I took one dose and promptly threw it up. I'm not taking that again. I took Tylenol yesterday, none today.

I have mole skin to stick a U-shaped compression around the lateral malleolus for the run as per Scott's website.

Good nutrition and fluids - easy to do here in Greece.

Sleep - I'm working on that. :)



So, my plan right now is to continue to PLAN for the race. I do not know if I can run but I am committed to doing EVERYTHING I can to make the glimmer of hope a reality. Today, I am feeling very hopeful. I will likely toe the line and see what happens. I will NOT do permanent damage. I will drop out if I think I am re-injuring myself. I do NOT want another surgery. In the big scheme of things this is only a race. Way worse can happen than having to just come back next year. I believe that strongly. I feel confident that I will make the right decision in this regard.

That said, if I don't continue to prepare now for the race, then I will have already given up, and I will not do that.

Allison, Glenn, Tim and I are hanging out in the hotel lobby and they are intently reviewing the course rules and route. We will be driving the course tomorrow (to keep me from whining about not being able to shop!). :)

My spirits are good. The most important thing in my life are the people with whom I share it. I am in excellent caring hands. You too have helped me more than you know.

Thank you Thank you Thank you.

I'll keep you posted.