And, The Beat Goes On.....

Since the last post and evaluating my situation, I decided to stop the walking until later.  My sleep has been quite erratic, sleeping sometimes but mostly waking up between 3 and 4 in the morning and always tired throughout the day.  When I do not take something for pain, I will wake up [any time] hurting and have to take something.  After realizing that I was not going to make it through the night, I decided to continue the meds at night for now.  It's the only time I take them and it really helps. 

Sleeping upright in the recliner for almost 5 weeks now is taking its toll on me.  Having displacement in my shoulder [affecting my collarbone] along with the break itself, I am waking up being very stiff with some hurting.  I think the problem lies in the fact that I cannot move in the chair and, being a recliner, it "braces" my head in a position that is not for sleeping but relaxing; therefore, causing my sleeping form to put more pressure on my collarbone and neck causing stiffness and pain the next morning.  I've refrained from taking something when I get up and just move my arm more and more to work out the hurt.  So for now...I just have to deal with it.  I can hardly wait until I can sleep in my bed again!!!! 

Here are some things I've totally taken for granted not being able to use my writing hand for a looong time now are:

Brushing my teeth
Brushing/Drying/Fixing my hair
Feeding myself
Shaving
Bathing/Drying off
Driving
Dressing myself
Cooking
Washing dishes
Reaching into and across the sink
Tying shoes
Cleaning the house [yes, I even miss this]
Anything with my arm raised above my waist!!
Sleeping!!!
Writing
Cutting an apple

These are a few things that come to mind.  We take soooo much for granted.  As of today, I can gladly say that I am moving some better.  I can reach into the sink now and move my hand up to my nose.  I am also using my sling very little; mostly when I am in a crowd for others to not grab or hug me seeing I may be hurt.  These are little improvements but I am glad to have them.  Patience is not something I have so there are many trials along the way.  I'm so thankful to have a husband that literally takes care of me now. 

It's been about 2 weeks now since I've exercised/walked.  I began walking on Tuesday this week.  This time without a sling and swinging my arms a little.  I felt pretty good and even a day or two afterward, I'm not hurting from it.  Also, I started my squats again this week.  Today, I walked 2 miles again and incorporated a little bit of light jogging; this time on the treadmill at a 2% incline.  I will check and see how I feel tomorrow and the next from today's workout.  I hope I will be okay.  Evaluation is always in progress...trial and error, per se, to see if I can continue or stop the activity until a later time. 

I hope you are up and moving in some way.  Please don't take it for granted.  You never know when fate my take over and remove "normal" from your life for a while.  I hope to be driving some and on the road running soon.  I can hardly wait and will not take running for granted again.  And, yes, I will

Run 4 It [as soon as I can] 

Case Solved!

I've been getting outside to walk 2 miles every 2-3 days in the last week.  I know that doesn't seem like much when you're a runner and enjoy long runs.  But it is good for me now.  I've done this three times.  The drawback is that that afternoon and the next day or two my shoulder is really sore.  I have NO idea why!  So when I walk, I take it easy and go slowly...thinking I will "work through" this period safely.  I've also started doing my squats again.  I'm staying at 75-80 a day for now but will increase another 10 squats soon.  I was up to 200 when I fell.  But I'm in no hurry to increase. 

Now, for explanation of my title.  Today Kent and I walked at the Sportsplex for the first time since my accident.  I really wanted to examine the place I fell and rearranged my left shoulder.  I just could not believe that I had "tripped" for the third time!  No one except me really knew where the accident actually happened.  But when I saw the ground, I knew it.  It was like a nightmare experienced all over again.  Fear ran down the back of my neck and wanted to get out of the area soon and avoid any further "incidents". 

Frank and I were running on concrete through the soccer fields that day.  We were slowing down as we were at the turnaround at the end of the fields.  It forms a circle and as I began to enter the circle, I fell.  Looking closely at that place today, I noticed that every 3-4 concrete sections were filled with a rubber substance.  Guess it was for swelling and shrinking due to weather...I don't know.  The place I fell had rubber in the crack and there was a piece of it missing along with the fact that it had "overflowed" and was raised in that section.  The missing piece belonged to ME!!  Ahhh-ha!!!  That's it!  As my foot went across the crack, the rubber from my shoe grazed across the rubber in the crack making it "grab" my shoe and down I went.  I can't believe I could put this together so easy.

Immediately, I felt such a sense of relief knowing that I had NOT tripped as originally thought.  As much as my body was aching to run again, I was filled with anxiety of not wanting to for fear of tripping and falling again.  Now, I am released from that fear knowing that this could have happened to anyone at any time.  Maybe I am not a clutz as I was beginning to see myself with a "past" of running and no future fun in it.

I am excited now to heal and get moving again.  Of course, with caution.  And, have decided not to run in that area again because I don't think anyone can avoid stepping on the cracks every time and I certainly don't want a repeat of my situation.  Pavement will be my surface of choice for a while...and maybe even for good...with the exception of bridges, which I LOVE to run.  The concrete on those have wide enough cracks and there are no "fill-ins" on them. 

As I am write this, I am really sore again.  It happens every time after my walks.  Rest and recuperation is the plan for the rest of the day.  I will continue to find some kind of exercise I can do avoiding my upper body.  I will heal the best I can and do what I can.  That's all that is expected from anyone at any time.  I am looking forward to being on the road again...whenever that will be...and am excited that I will be able to

Run 4 It [as soon as possible, of course]

Another Obstacle

Well, I've had my share of issues this year and it's only half over.  But I will NOT give up...No, I will keep fighting.  I will learn the lessons presenting itself to me...at least as best as I can. 

Early Sunday morning on July 21st, I was getting in a slow run with a friend, Frank B.  All was going well.  We were using the program he's been using instead of running/walking as we have done individually of late.  As we got to the furthest turnaround, my left foot caught the uneven concrete and took me down!!!  I can't believe this is happening AGAIN!!! 

Having just practically been released [with one more visit left] from my orthopedic doc concerning the calcific rotator cuff tendonitis of my right shoulder, I'd begun my running, planking and floor work again with ease.  I'd just started running about 3 weeks prior, working my miles up for the Talladega Half in September.  My runs have been going great.  As you can tell from my last post I am learning how to run in this dreadful heat and humidity, too. 

Anyway, I fell on my left side [my "good" side] and hit hard on the concrete.  Immediately, I looked up at Frank and told him that I felt that I had broken my shoulder.  The pain was excruciating!!  Participating in a Squat Challenge for July, I'd worked up to 180 by that day so my quads were getting stronger.  Boy, did that come in handy.  Once I was able to get my legs underneath me, lifting me up was a breeze.  I hurt so bad, that I couldn't cry.  Have you ever experienced such pain??  I'd like to know.

My left knee was tore up bad as well as my left elbow.  Blood was coming from both areas.  That afternoon I went to the MEA Clinic to see if I had broken my shoulder.  Sure enough...I had.  X-rays revealed that I had broken the shoulder cap completely off my shoulder!!  Yep...my pain was definitely justified.  A deep hole was gauged out underneath my elbow and my knee just plain hurt from skidding on it!!  They set up an appointment with my doc the next day.  I took a picture that afternoon.  I do NOT bruise so to even see one means I had quite a lick.  Notice how my bicep was swollen, too.  Don't know why but I didn't get one of my knee...which has about killed me, too.  And, there was no way to get my elbow since I couldn't move my arm out far enough to get a snap. 

I was hoping to get some details to the trauma and treatment to ward off this terrible pain.  More pills are okay with me for now...just to help me sleep if nothing else.  The first stop from the waiting area was X-ray.  Oh...my...gosh!!!  I just THOUGHT I was in pain.  Having to pull my arm out away from my body to get a good "picture" like to have killed me.  Again, deep crying with NO tears.  I was taken to a patient room to wait for the doctor.  Hoping I would be in more control of my emotions by the time he got in there did not happen.  He came in almost immediately.  Now, how many times has that ever happened???  NONE!!!  It's always 45 minutes to an hour before seeing a physician after "other" work is done.  But not today.  I was still quite tore up when he came in and could hardly talk.  Maybe after reviewing the x-rays, he knew I was in pain in a bad way.  About all we could do is talk...well, the gasping crying type. 

X-rays also revealed that I had some displacement, too.  He told me as far as surgery goes that I was in the middle.  Either I could have surgery or go the conservative direction.  I chose the latter.  So for now, I'm left wearing a sling and getting plenty of rest...in the recliner, of course.  There is NO laying down for now and moving slow. 

I took another pic on the 24th and the 28th.  The last one you can see how it is turning green, a step toward healing.  Remember, I said I NEVER bruise...there was some kind of hit to this little shoulder. 

Three Days Later (24th)

 

Seven Days Later (28th)



I wish I had taken another picture on the 31st.  It looked terrible then, too.  But didn't think about it at the time. 

A week and half after the accident Kent insisted on me getting out to walk around the local school track.  I really needed to get out and do "something".  As it turned out, we walked 2 miles.  I was more than ready to go.  As a matter of fact, I may have overdone it...well...I did.  My shoulder was very sore that night and a couple of days afterward.  He, also, went to check out the place where I fell.  Sure enough, there was inconsistence in the sidewalk where I fell.  It wasn't me and could have happened to anyone. 

Though I can't do much, I'm about to go crazy.  But, I will not give up.  I may have my down times but things could be so much worse.  My next appointment is next Wednesday at which time I will know how things are progressing.  I hope I'm improving.  One thing I want to leave with you.  Don't ever take for granted your ability to do things.  The very hand you use most may be incapacitated and you will not be able to use it...like me.  The simple things we do can become some of the hardest when you lose the use of your hand/arm/shoulder.  I want you to know that I will not give up...I'm just a little set aside but I do plan to finish the year with the plans I've already made race-wise.  Until I can get up and going again, I want to ask you a favor and do something for me.  Please dedicate a mile to me when you run; but most of all don't take it for granted and go

Run 4 It