Getting fidgety

[Lizzie_NewStart]

For three weeks now I have been hobbling around after spraining my ankle. At least I am now able to put it to the ground and put a bit of weight on it, but anything other than around the house, I still need at least one crutch.

Before starting the Couch to 5K I did not notice how many runners there are about and although I only completed up to then end of week 3, I really miss it when I see them. It seems wrong to wish my life away but I cant wait to get back to it.

The one good thing to come out of my pain is that my new man friend and I have spent a lot of time together. He took me to the hospital and then offered to take Oscar for his twice daily walks when we found out I was not going to be able to do it for a while. I am not sure which of us looks forward to walkies time the most.

I have been really good with my diet too, I have resisted the urge to eat rubbish during the day and despite the lack of exercise I am still losing a bit of weight. Although I have been using some small dumbbells' while sitting down which may help a bit.

I will probably have to start back at week one when I eventually can run again whenever that will be, but I will definitely be back!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

That's going on a bit isn't it? But sounds to be mending, good idea to start again when you can run 😁

[Lizzie_NewStart Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

The doc said it was a bad sprain (but I have never heard of a good one!!). The swelling did not go down for nearly two weeks and I was advised not to strap it up until it had. I have twisted my ankle before and that was good to go after a week so I guess I have done it properly this time!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Lizzie_NewStart]

Sounds like you really have, hope it's better soon

[Naturesweapon Graduate]

Oh! Sorry to hear you are injured! 💐Hope you get better very soon! It sounds like you need to take it easy for a little wait but! Good things come to those who wait ✌🏼 best wishes

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

All going well and starting again can be fun ! x

[GrumpyOldJogger]

Three weeks isn't very long for a strain or sprain. I cracked a toe on W5R3 and was out of action for two months. I'm generally slow to heal so I'm not saying it will take that long for your ankle, but they're complex joints so don't push it too fast. I started again on W4R1, so I suggest you go back to try W2 and see how you get on when you do start again. And yes, it's SO frustrating!

[Saltychip Graduate]

Apart from the ankle 😡 things sound really positive . Glad you have good support and Oscar is getting out .

The runs will be there when you are ready - where ever on the program you return to . Xx

[Annieapple Graduate]

🍏Patience is a virtue. Whoever said that was right.. It’s always hard to be on the injury couch.. but use the time to read up about running.. looked at some of our pinned posts.. perhaps our other forum Strength & Flex will be helpful to you. How wonderful that you were enjoying it so much that you miss it so much! Recover well.. your runs will wait for you!

[nowster Graduate]

I was lucky. I had a really bad both sides sprain on my left ankle when doing the graduation run, and made it worse by trying to walk and run on it afterwards.

I had a week of hell with it, then got a (paid for) physio appointment.

She manipulated it (OUCH!) and gave me some exercises to do. My second appointment was a week later. She could tell I'd been a good boy and done my homework. She gave me more things to do, manipulated the area again (more pain) and told me not to even think of running for another ten days, and once I started again I should do the absolute minimum (10 seconds of jogging and 50 seconds of walking, repeated ten times) and that I must stop immediately if I had the slightest twinge.

I made a full recovery and graduated a second time two months later. That was nearly three years ago.

[Lizzie_NewStart Graduate in reply to nowster]

I was told its a bad sprain, rest it, use ice to reduce the swelling and elevate it. then to strap it up once the swelling had gone down so that its supported. Nothing about physio, or what else to do. When I asked about when I would likely be able to run again, he just said "See how you feel in 3 to 6 months". I was give crutches and shown the door!!

If this is 'just a sprain' I dread to think what a break would be like!

I think I may go and see my GP in case I missed something, although we have to wait for so long for an appointment, I may be too old to run by then!!

The only positive thing I can say is that it as I work from home, if I get bored I really find it hard to resist snacking. My willpower now has an ally in the fact that it is painful to walk to the fridge!!

[nowster Graduate in reply to Lizzie_NewStart]

A physio visit (if you can justify the cost) would speed up your recovery loads.

[swim63 Graduate]

i sprained my ankle in December, literally just twisted on a stair. I was told by x-ray, dr and physio, a sprain is more painful than a fracture and takes 2-3 months to heal.

It was March before I could go out for a run again, but I had lost a bit of mojo!

Went back to c25k , about to finish week 6 and loving it!

I know how frustrated you must be feeling, but please give it time and I’m sure you will be back out in your running shoes as though it never happened 🤞😊

[Lizzie_NewStart Graduate in reply to swim63]

Thanks, that gives me a lot of reassurance.

I have twisted my ankle in the past and it has hurt for a few days but then back to normal within two weeks. I suppose like everyone else, assumed that to be a sprain.

I am not sure if there are varying degrees of a sprain, of if its like people that claim to have a migraine when its just a bad headache. A friend of mine used to suffer from migraine if she ate cheese. She literally could not see or stand and had to be in a quiet dark room and try to sleep it off. She could tell you she had had a migraine, but could say nothing during it. In her view, if you are able to tell someone you have a migraine, then you haven't!!

I have been running in my trainers so far but think I will treat myself to some running shoes when I am able to start again.

Thanks again for you reply. 👍

[swim63 Graduate in reply to Lizzie_NewStart]

You are very welcome!

Good luck 🤞