This is a repeat post from one of the other forums....but saw group and thought I would fit in since I've been on the bench for quite awhile...... I’m not even sure where to start on posting again so I’ll just start…… I joined RA back last year when I started running in Oct. I was having the time of my life in the fact I had not ran in years, my weight was coming down, my speed and endurance was increasing, I was up to 20 miles a week and had signed up for the 1,000 mile club at the first of the year. Now for the downside and my absence since Feb and March. First of all we moved, and I had problems with my computer, getting setup on a new ISP. BUT I was still running, just missing posting on my log and reading the forums. Then on the 1st of April, I was running a new route by my workplace and was not watching where my feet were going. I took a very bad tumble and severely sprained my left ankle. The doctor said if I had broken it my recovery time would have been better. A little over four months later my ankle is finally starting to heal. Hopefully! I started walking again about a month ago against my doctor’s wishes, but she said if it wasn’t hurting then continue. It hurt some, but not to bad. Today I started adding some short jogs in my walk to see if my ankle can hold up to it. My next doctor’s appointment is Wed. and I’m hoping she will say I can continue as long as the ankle doesn’t look to swollen. She feels if I can continue with PT I will not need surgery, but it will be a slow recovery. So with my plans to run 1,000 miles in 2007 and to run a ½ marathon in Sept. have all come to nothing. Can you say the word depression? I could not find the will power to post when I was so dead in the water so to speak and all working out came to a halt. I finally decided that I needed to kick myself in the butt and become accountable again. So hello again to all! I’m going to start logging again. I’m sorry that my logging is going to include walking but its back to baby steps and anything else I can do to motivate my recovery. This has been a great site and I’m excited to see a lot of familiar names here. Looks like Eric’s site is still growing! Gayle

Dr. appointment tomorrow! I'm nervious! I did another walk/jog today and the ankle was tender during the workout. Can't call it a run.....since I'm not there yet! So it's ice tonight and hope the doctor thinks I'm doing ok.

Good news...in fact great news. He said yes my ankle is still swollen but he's seen where sprains can take up to 9 months before the swelling completely goes away. My ankle is "lose" and needs strengthening and after a few weeks of stability excersices he feels like I'll be on my way. He does not think surgery is in my future. So with that said he gave me a long list of things to do. Lots of calf raises, wrapping a band around my GOOD foot and doing pulls from all directions while standing on my bad leg, standing on a pillow or matteres on bad leg only and moving a 5 lb weight from side to side. Everything I can do to force that ankle to learn to stabilize itself. THEN he said to buy a lace up ankle brace and continue with my walk slow jog routine. I figured I would either get yelled at or told to keep going. He's saying keep going, BUT to put the brace on. Then I got the lecture of walk then slow job, then walk, then slow jog. NO running, NO jogging without walk breaks, and do NOT, repeat do NOT over stress the ankle. Then or course give the ankle ice baths when swelling starts. He gave me some type of electric (?) treatment that took some of the swelling down. So now I don't see him until Sept. 6th and go from there. K - have to "run". Talk later.

Yeah! Glad to hear things went better than expected

Yep! I'm very happy! The last doctor who transfered me to this doctor would not even let me do squats, lunges or calf raises. I think it's funny that one of my must dos is calf raises. And I'm taking care....I'm a bit tender after the run/jog and excersies yesterday so it was just a short walk today. I'm hoping to do the walk/jog thing tomorrow. It's good to be back! Thanks, all!