Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Wednesday Workout Update - Late For a Good Reason!!!

Yeeeehaw, I never thought I'd be happy to exercise, but take it away from me for three weeks, and there you go...today was "Freedom Day" - I got to take off that dang boot, DRIVE to the gym, and go for a SWIM!!!

I'm not saying I was excited about this, but my bag was packed yesterday, the car was loaded with my errand stuff (overdue library books among the pile of stuff) - y'all, I was ready!  So, the $64,000 question - how did it go?

Fine.  Well, it hurt a bit to start, and then it seemed to ease up.  Nancy and I did our usual kickboard gabfest, although I kicked both easier and slower than normal.  Then I tried the back stroke - hmmm, that bothered me a bit, so I only did 10 lengths.  Moved onto the side stroke, which surprised me because that, too, bothered me.  I did 14 lengths, and finished up with some more kickboard for a total of 70 lengths - down from my usual 100, but I went into it knowing I should take it easy at the start, so this was perfectly fine with me.

The weird thing was afterward, I noticed that there was a red band, about three inches wide, going around the entire ankle.  It was also a little warm, which is a strange sensation considering my foot and leg were still quite cool from being in the pool.  In talking to three women in the locker room, we all came to the same conclusion:  "Huh."  I know!  Medical professionals we are not.

Honestly, the hardest thing about swimming today was going down the stairs to the pool - the gym is on two levels, and you park and walk in on the upper level (that's also where the locker room that I use is; the one on the pool level is inundated with the swim team kids when I'm finished swimming).  Going up the stairs wasn't as difficult, but any kind of maneuvering where I put my full body weight on that foot, or even twisting (like getting out of the car) does hurt, so I have to remember to be slow and deliberate when I walk. 

Still, it was GREAT to get out of the house and back into my routine!  Amazing how much you appreciate the little things after not being able to do them.

19 comments:

  1. I am so happy for you.
    Now, let's see how many "medical" comments you get here about the red band. I, for one, have NO clue.

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  2. Once again you are motivating me. I was considering putting my gym membership on hold for my next hand surgery. But I am going to keep it and try my best to get back in the pool before Thanksgiving!

    Red band? Huh. (There you go, a good medical professional opinion...)

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  3. Well you KNOW I went straight to Dr. Google and even he had no idea LOL!

    Didn't it feel awesome just to be moving again?

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  4. So great. Glad you are able to ease back into it.

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  5. so proud of you for going Shelley! I hope you get the red band fiqured out!

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  6. I cannot believe you did that many lengths so soon after surgery! I broke an ankle when I was into deep water aerobics and couldn't get back into it for 6 weeks!

    No, I don't know why the red band developed. I could take a SWAG (scientific wild ass guess), but that's all it would be. If it doesn't fade quickly, call your doc. In fact, call your doc (or his nurse) anyway and ask if it is an indication of anything. Don't want to damage the good work you have started!
    Jan

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  7. In nursing school, they taught us to stop saying "oops!" Now we just say "Huh!"

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  8. So glad you could get back into the pool!

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  9. Yay, Shelley!!! So happy for you to be back in action!

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  10. I wonder if the chlorine was bothering your incision? Just a thought...I've got no idea.

    Coming from someone who's had ankle breaks, sprains and surgeries - as you heal, don't baby it too much! I don't mean do things that hurt, but don't alter the way you walk too much or anything because you're afraid it will hurt, because that new way could become a (bad) habit. For example, I jog up stairs, never walk and if I don't pay attention, I do the whole set on my toes with my foot flexed, so my ankle doesn't have to bend. Totally a bad habit leftover from injury.

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  11. Good job on going swimming! It's so great to pick up exercise after surgery! I was out for two months this fall because of surgery and it sucked! So Good for you! :D

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  12. If it didn't get better within an hour or two I'd call the doctor and run it by him. Could just be the increased blood flow from the exercise, but I would expect it to be the whole foot, not just a band.

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  13. YAY :) I know you are super happy to be moving back into your routine :)

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  14. I have two words for you Shelley...WOO and HOO!!! (in that order) Such great news.

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  15. It must feel good to be back in the swim of things. I'm so glad.
    Are you able to do any bicycling, or does that aggravate the ankle?

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  16. YAYAYAYAY!! Now make sure you rest up. I know it's sounds crazy, but you don't want to overdo.

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  17. Hooray for your first swim after surgery. I'm so happy for you.

    I have no idea about the red band but if I did I would be a well paid doctor :) Hope you figure out soon what it was and what you can do about it.

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  18. Congrats on the swim. I noticed you didn't have your boot on in a pic you posted on FB. Oh happy day!!

    Take it easy and I hope that you are pain free today as well.

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  19. Glad to hear you are able to swim again Shelley! Take it slow and be patient with yourself.

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