Update from the IC

[GoGo_JoJo]

Well I know it's only been 4 (!?really!?) days but I can tell you it feels like a whole lot more than that!

I've learned a fair bit, I've felt sorry for myself, I've watched crap daytime TV, I've over, and under eaten and it's not even been a week. How on earth am I going to get through this?

Positive mental attitude. That's how. I've been googling continually about whether I can, or more importantly should, run on my injury. Of course I could, doesn't mean I should. In order to be responsible to myself, in the same way I committed to this programme, I have to commit to healing. (Note I did not say 6 weeks!)

I am determined to try to get back to work Monday. If I don't work I don't get paid so this has to take priority over exercise, but not completely over healing. If I really don't think I can do it I'll have to reduce the number of days I work, use up more precious holidays or take unpaid leave.

With a view to this I have been exercising. As soon as I could comfortably get a shoe back on without pain, (the most supportive of which are my running shoes) I have been moving carefully, learning to SLOW right down. I walked to the pharmacy today, and that was borderline on what I could tolerate. But I did it. So incredibly slowly but by taking care with footing I didn't really feel any actual pain.

I have discovered a lady called Caroline Jordan on youtube who has great routines for exercising with a hurt foot. I've done a 25 min workout yesterday and today I did her 45 min workout plus a 15 min chair based yoga routine. I purposely put on my lurid lycra to give myself a boost and sense of purpose. I did work up a sweat and got my heart rate up. It feels great to move when you feel you can't. She works very much on the basis of do what you can, if it hurts don't do it. She's also full of great positivity.

Having suffered in the past from depression I knew this situation was high risk for me, not being able to do what I want, not being busy or active. I allowed myself a day of self-pity. That's enough. After that - I try to think of how it could have been much worse. It's just a toe, could have been a leg or ankle. I'm trying to focus on what I CAN do, not what I cannot. I'm trying to leave negative thoughts alone and welcome only positive and healing thoughts.

I'm trying to eat well and enough to heal. I'm using a lot of ginger (nature's own anti-inflammatory). I walked to the pharmacy for arnica (cream and pillules) I wanted Rhus tox but they were out. I'm still hydrating well, your body needs fluids always.

Due to the injury a lot of stress is being put on other parts of the foot and other areas. I'm massaging the foot every day and trying hard not to limp, rather to shorten my step so much that I can still move almost normally albeit slower than I think I have ever moved! I buddy tape the toe for the daytime and wear tubigrip over night.

If you're on the IC like me, don't let it bring you down, keep your chin up and your thoughts and actions positive.

If you're out there running with the sun, wind or rain on your face, savour it, enjoy it and wear slippers around the house!!! 😀😏

[Amandana]

Great attitude - doing what you can! Definitely a mental challenge to stay active through an injury.

I broke my wrist early last year which I let halt me in my tracks (wasn't running but used it as an excuse to watch too much TV and quit the dog walking and yoga I had been doing - I didn't know there was yoga that wouldn't put weight on my wrists!) and did the same through a nasty, lingering chest cold this winter. I couldn't do much outside as the cold air made me cough badly, but I definitely could have kept up with indoor things, especially yoga at home. Oh well - all I can do is go on from here, learn from this experience (oh my, getting active again is a real challenge) and not repeat it!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Amandana]

That's the key; we have to learn from what life throws at us otherwise we're likely to be faced with the same lesson again👍👍 🤣🤣

That's my fear. If I fully stop now then I may not start again, when I can due to the usual gremlins plus lethargy. Hopefully I'll be so ready to run out that door when the day comes...🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Jullaly Graduate]

Great positivity, it must be so frustrating to say the least. Look after yourself x

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Jullaly]

Thanks 👍 going to do my very best🤗

[Tbae]

Your amazing Jo,🌟 what an amazingly positive post.🌟

Wish it was otherwise for you.🤔

Your present fitness is going to help you heal quicker faster also.🤔

It’s bad enough, but you are managing your time extremely well and keeping moving.🌟👏👏

Have a young family man neighbour, broke his knee cap vertically, sledging with his children , 9 months out.🤔

That does not help you, but you are certainly helping yourself.🌟👏👏

All the very best, with your healing and work situation.🌟👏👏

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Tbae]

Thanks Tbae 👍🙃 yes, a knee cap would be sooo much worse.👎 Poor chap. 😔

[Tbae in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Nothing lethargic about you hohogogojojo.🌟👏👏

These gremlins have no chance 🤔you are a flying machine.🌟👏👏

You are loved on this forum Jo, and how very much support and encouragement you have given to all on this forum.🌟👏👏

I have so enjoyed your story, not this injury, but you are a trooper.

Keep bringing it JO.🌟👏👏💫🏃‍♀️💫

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Tbae]

Aw thank you. 💗 I hope I'll be flying through the trails soon! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[GeorgiosA Graduate]

So sorry to see you've been injured Jo, but at the same time so happy to see you've got a super positive attitude about it! That's the spirit, obstacles in life always show up at the worst time, but we grow stronger by overcoming them!

Lots of positive vibes your way, you're strong and you'll come out the other side even stronger!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to GeorgiosA]

Thanks. We do indeed... if it's not gonna kill me I can't let it win!! 🤣🥊🥊🥊

[Bridget007 Graduate]

Well done for your positivity! It might not be as long as you think as I broke me ankle last June and had it pinned and plated and was told 6 weeks and although I did do as I was told by not weight bearing on it without the walking boot I could have done a lot sooner than that. I hope you heal really quickly xx

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Bridget007]

Thank you! That's really what I'm hoping for. My job is physical so if I can manage that for a few weeks and maybe a cycle or two (they did say I could do that) then the weeks may fly by! 👍🙃

[Hidden]

Blimey your attitude is so strong in the face of this. I commend you for that, it obviously takes a lot to bring you down when you are so determined. Are you a Bruce Willis Action Hero in another parallel existence?

Good luck for getting better .

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Hidden]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Bruce Willis has nothing on me!!!👍 (Let's see how I am Monday after a full day of work, I might be a sobbing, gibbering, limping mess!) 🙃

If you'd have seen me Tuesday pouting and sulking and blubbing you'd think differently 😂😂😂

[Hidden in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Well I have occasional toddler tippy tantrums and to be frank the toddler days are more than half a century ago, so I’m sure Bruce Willis sheds a tear and has a strop from time to time...

[notoutofbreath Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Bruce Willis? C'mon now, she's all lurid lycra, none of that dirty vest nonsense!

[Tartiflette Graduate]

Fantastic attitude 🙌🏼. I hear where you're coming from and applaud your positivity! Great ideas too - gonna get some ginger for a start.

I joined the IC yesterday: my immediate reaction involved chips, gravy & mushy peas but I think you've got this much better!!

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Tartiflette]

Mmmm chips... no, my failing was biscuits and peanut butter 😋 but I'm working that off already. We can cheer each other on from the sidelines. I'm even uploading my workouts to Strava. That way my monthly stats will at least show effort if not miles! Far less demoralising 👍😁

[Tartiflette Graduate in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

👍🏼great idea

[JoP61 Graduate]

Well done JoJo - it must be hard for someone who likes to be so active, but sounds like you have found some good exercise routines and are working on the healing process. Hope you manage to get back to work OK on Monday and that recovery is swift.

Thinking of you and looking forward to your next posts. xx 🤞🤞👍

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to JoP61]

Thank you. 👍🤞😁

[Melo_smiles Graduate]

What an inspiring post GoGo_JoJo I really admire everything you are doing and putting into place to support your recovery.

Hope you start to heal quickly xx

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to Melo_smiles]

I'm taking daily pics so hopefully I'll start to see a better foot soon. Bruising still awful 😲🤣

[OlderThanDirt Graduate]

Hey GoGo!...sorry this happened to you, I’ve only just caught up. I wish you a speedy recovery and hope your back where you want to be sooner rather than later . It must feel very unfair after finishing the course ( at least that would be my view) 6 weeks is what ?...end of May? ...it probably doesn’t feel like it right now but I’m sure that will come round quicker than you think. Keep positive, you’ve been doing so well I’m sure that when you do get back out there you’ll be back up to pace by your second run! Best wishes 🌟

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to OlderThanDirt]

Thanks. 15th May! In my calender to keep me motivated! 👍 it did feel awfully unfair but these things happen and we need to learn what we can from them 💪😁

[ebcroquet]

Sounds like you are doing a brilliant job at keeping yourself motivated, very impressive. Let your toe heal and carry on working the other bits. Like you have wear shoes that don’t press on the toe, it’ll be a while before it goes back to normal size but it will! And you will survive this stronger 👊I’m rooting for you 🙌

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to ebcroquet]

The swelling has gone down mostly but yes it's finding the right shoes that don't press downwards. Relacing my runners to have an open toe box has helped a lot. 👍😁

[ElizaMai Graduate]

Bless you x stay positive, 1 day at a time x learning to listen to my body ( and prioritise like you) got me through 😊 x and you will too x keep smiling 😘

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to ElizaMai]

That's the key. If you can smile in the face of adversity you've already won 👍💪😁

[linda9389 Graduate]

I'm just having a read through your toe posts. So good to read, hoping to absorb some of your positivity

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate in reply to linda9389]

Keep your eye on the goal 😉 you're doing a great job of keeping active, you'll get there sooner than you think. I did cheat and started running on the spot before 6 weeks and ran outside around 5 weeks.

The beginning was the hardest and you're already past that 👍🏻😉