Setback after a fall

[Vragtes]

I guess it was bound to happen. Yesterday on a 5km run in s delightful part of the Algarve, I slipped on some loose gravel stepping off a kerb and went sprawling.

I badly cut my right arm, sprained my right ankle and grazed my left knee. I was at the furthest point of my run so had a 2.5 km limp back to our motorhome. I must have looked a sight with blood dripping off my right arm and off my left knee.

About 2 minutes into the return, I was overcome by extreme nausea and ridiculously, I was more worried about being sick on this country lane than anything else! Anyway, I wasn’t sick and after sitting on a hydrant for 5 minutes, the nausea eased and I walked back to the van. Surprisingly, the twisted ankle wasn’t too painful but after I’d washed the cut and grazes, the ankle was very swollen and starting to darken.

By the time I’d strapped it up, it was hurting. Anyway to end this episode, I managed the pain with ibuprofen and after cleaning the wounds and bandaging them up, I befan to feel better.

However, it does mean the end of my running until at least mid-March when we return to Blighty. Luckily, I can drive the van without pain but the ankle is still tightly strapped.

Strictly, I think the arm cut required stitches but my better half closed the wound with steri strips and we made our own saline wash with boiled and cooled water to which we added some non-iodized salt. If there is any sign of infection I will see a doctor. Luckily, had a tetanus booster before our Christmas trip to Morocco.

But day 2 and I’m already missing my 7:30 a.m. runs in sunny Portugal. I just hope my confidence returns when I resume another build up to 10k runs. All in due course!

[Sulley101 Graduate10]

oh no! Poor you! Falls are horrible and I do hope you can still enjoy the rest of your break. Hoping you recover soon and are not too sore. Best wishes 💐

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to Sulley101]

Thank you so much for your best wishes Sully 101. The worse thing about falls at my age is how much they shake you up! Apart from the injuries, is the loss of confidence. Which I’m determined to not let it stop me resuming running as soon as I’m able. But not rushing it. Slow exercises on the ankle should increase confidence.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

This is rotten luck, so sorry you had this happen.

I slipped on my boat and sprained my ankle badly a few years back. That evening I was supposed to drive for 2 hours to a party with a family member who I'd had some issues with but we were just starting to get on again. If I said I had a sprained ankle they'd probably have thought I was making excuses so, blessing the fact that I had an automatic and it was my left ankle with the trouble, I went, (we now get on well again thankfully).

Wouldn't wish this on anyone who had to use a clutch. Actually wouldn't wish it on anyone full stop!

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thank you for the wishes.

Sorry to learn about your boating mishap but really glad the family issue is resolved favourably.

Families are strange things. The tensions and slights, perceived or real, are very real and can be really destructive. My better half has an issue with her sister which I truly wish could be resolved before it’s too late. I understand my wife’s hurt and the reasons thereof, but really life is too short. If I’ve learned anything in life (apart from ankles can really hurt) is this…….🥲

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Vragtes]

This was a long time ago and things have definitely improved a lot, both ankle wise and relative wise.

I realised it was time to make things up when my 12 year old asked me 'It's x on the phone, shall I tell them to eff off?' What a wake up call that was!

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

😀

[nowster Graduate10]

Ouch! I graduated C25K by giving myself an ankle sprain in my left ankle. That was the Friday before August Bank Holiday weekend of 2020.

On the Bank Holiday Monday itself I started with a short easy run which probably made things worse, and then in the afternoon I did a lot of driving (manual transmission) which did become more and more uncomfortable as the day went on.

By the end of that week I could barely walk.

You have my sympathies.

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Nowster, that is no way to celebrate your graduation to C25k🙂!

I had little option but to limp back the 2.5k to the motorhome as it was very rural Portugal, my wife was still asleep in the van but even so she could hardly have driven the van down the narrow lane to collect me.

I was aware that I was probably exacerbating the ankle injury. But little option. Luckily, it was my right ankle so the heavy clutch is on the left side. Otherwise, my wife would need to drive and despite her being an excellent driver, we prefer that I drive.

Anyway, I take it your ankle healed despite the manual gears. Thanks for posting.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Vragtes]

Similar when I sprained my ankle. I had a half hour walk back home.

Yes, the ankle healed. It took about six weeks and two physio visits. I redid C25K a few months later. Almost exactly a year after first graduating C25K I did my first half marathon distance.

No ankle problems since, though I do currently have a twinge in my lower calf on that leg which I'm keeping a weather eye on. I'm currently blaming wearing my tighter fitting running leggings too often in recent weeks.

I sold on that car (which I'd had for 12 years) the following spring, and now I drive a hybrid, which by its nature presents with the controls of an automatic transmission, even though it has only one fixed gear and most of the time it operates with no physical linkage between the petrol engine and the axles.

[CyberPrincess]

Oww, sounds painful! I hope you recover soon. It’s a reminder to all of us to appreciate being able to run when we can, and to watch our footing at all times! But these things do happen to us all. I tripped over while running a few years back and had put my arm out to break my fall. Cue six months of shoulder pain! But the body is an amazing thing and it did heal eventually… Good luck with the rest of your road trip! It sounds amazing 🤩

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to CyberPrincess]

Thank you for your post. Sorry to learn of your fall and resultant shoulder pain. Glad it healed eventually. We are still managing to enjoy our road trip, despite my hobbling about. We really are so very lucky especially now when the world is so full of tension.

Portugal is a lovely country and its people very warm and welcoming.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Ouch! That sounds nasty Vragtes and more difficult to manage being away from home. I hope you start to feel more comfortable soon but do get it x-rayed if unsure…

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandraj39. It’s true that part of me wishes we were back home with all the familiarity and comforts. But today it’s already 17° and it’s only 9:30! I had a reasonable night’s sleep (turning over is painful) but otherwise, I feel ok. The ankle is still pretty swollen but I’m sure there’s no fracture. But if it doesn’t improve, I’ll be sure to request an X-ray.

Thanks for best wishes. 👍

[FoleyB]

Sorry to hear about your injuries. Having to stop running through injury is very frustrating, as I've come to know, but soon you'll be back out there in the UK spring. I woukd say from my own experience make sure you are fully healed and back to normal mobility and strength before you start again. Good luck

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to FoleyB]

Thanks for your wishes. I’ve had setbacks before including the same ankle which necessitated 13 weeks of physio! But I got back to 10k runs. Aiming for this by my 70th in June.

Glad you got over your issues.

[FoleyB in reply to Vragtes]

I got as far as week 5 week run2 before a pulled calf put me out for 2 weeks. Lesson for me is go slow and take 2 days recovery between runs. Warm up and stretch properly and cool down. Fingrs crossed for both of us.

[Madwife60]

ouch. I fell over just before Xmas and cracked my scaphoid (I wasn’t running but walking back from the shops) which fortunately hasn’t stopped me running but I can’t believe how shaken up I was- must be an age thing - toddlers seem to bounce up and down round the park daily and make zero fuss! Hope you mend quickly xx

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to Madwife60]

Hi Madwife60,

Thanks for the good wishes. Sorry to read of your fall. A cracked scaphoid sounds very painful.

Amazing it didn’t stop you running! I’m sure you’re right about the age thing and falling. Apart from the actual injuries, I felt really shaken up for the whole day. And now, two days post fall, I’m aching from lots of other places, obviously stretched when I fell. I suppose aging is better than the alternative! 🙂

[hamit Graduate10]

After a few nasty falls I decided ( maybe the Family) that at a few years ago to stop and step up or down steps or kerbs. So at nearly 78 I am still running but o so carefully. Stopping to step does impact run time but it keeps me running.

Hope you recover soon.

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to hamit]

Thanks hamit . Shame about your nasty falls. A good idea regarding steps and kerbs. It is easy to become incautious and that’s when accidents happen. Great you still run. I aim to return. Never really cared about times but want to return to regular 8k runs with frequent 10ks. Not building up for marathons etc.

As Dirty Harry said “A good man knows his limitations!”. 🙂

[hamit Graduate10]

Good one, its 5 and something 10k here , do some light weight training on non run days. Rainy days just run on the spot watching a run on YouTube.

[Vragtes Graduate10 in reply to hamit]

Thanks. It’s day three following the fall and I’ll begin some gentle ankle exercises, the key being ‘gentle’. I do non-jogging exercises on my rest days but try to walk fast for at least 20 minutes every day. Plus I also do 50 push-ups and body core strengthening exercises every day.

But do miss the running!