Need to get this off my chest and move on ...

[linda9389]

Flat Linda! Top and leggings - BNWT - all good to go. Except I can’t. Not for at least another five and a half weeks according to the consultant I saw today 😭.

This is a very boring post about a shambolic morning, but I needed to get it off my chest, throw it out there and move on.

It was all a bit of a joke (but took two and a half hours, which was no joke at all). I waited and waited, as you do, and when it was my turn he then decided I should have an x-ray! So off I went and joined a new queue. They then tried to x-ray my foot … and my left wrist! Much confusion, a few phone calls, and then they agreed just to do my foot! Back to the first clinic. Was seen fairly quickly then. The consultant explained the previous person needed a wrist x-ray and he'd forgotten to clear the box when he completed my form!

Anyway, the x-ray might have shown healing. It didn’t. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t healing, just that it can’t be seen! So, says the consultant, we will ‘play this by feel’; in other words, if it hurts I stop doing what made it hurt. OK. Not terribly scientific, but hey ho. He tells me I must not run or do any high impact activity for three months. Aaargghhh …. I literally cried out …. then he assured me that’s only a month now because he’s counting from when it happened. OK. Not quite so bad. So, no running til after the follow up appt. OK. However, I can begin to try walking on it without the boot, building it up so long as it doesn’t hurt. So then he gives me a date for the next appt – 20th August 😢 - and tells me to check at reception for the time. I check again that I can cycle and ask if it should be in the boot or whether I can use trainers now. At this point he says they can give me a ‘heel loaded shoe’ rather than my boot, so my ankle is free to move and gives me a piece of paper to hand in to the plaster room.

So off I go, and wait outside the plaster room. When I get called in, she tells me they don’t do ‘heel loaded shoes’ any more! Instead, she gives me two pairs of stiff soled open toed shoes (one ‘for best’ 😍 ) that are definitely going to be more comfortable than the boot in this weather (though I still have to wear the boot when working).

So, my last stop is reception … where I’m informed this consultant doesn’t have a clinic on 20th August! They booked me in for 22nd August (I tried to get them to make it a week earlier but they weren’t having any of that!).

I finally left two and a half hours after I arrived, not much wiser really!

So I’m going to trawl the internet and find a plan to build up the walking to whatever is generally suggested to be the precursor to being able to run. I won’t be daft enough to ignore pain, but so long as all goes well it will hopefully give some structure and sense of progress to the next five and a half weeks. And I will keep cycling and doing the ‘hurt foot fitness workouts’ ..... and enjoying your runs vicariously of course 😃

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Oh my dear girl!!!!

What a state of affairs....did you have an MRI or not at some pint... that would show things up...... I cannot recall whether you did or not.....it all sounds a tad vague and hit and miss... I am not surprised you are feeling so upended and frustrated!!!

So can you cycle???Is that okay... I have got confused.. !

What can we do!!!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Yes I had an MRI so there's no doubt it's a stress fracture. I just have to be patient and stop expecring miracles from the NHS!!! In the meantime the new top is a beacon in my bedroom pointing to better times ahead 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to linda9389]

It will come... but I do empathise...really I do... xxxx

[LittleNell83]

Sounds like a frustrating day. And hospitals are rather frustrating for waiting around.

Maybe it might be worth repeating the C25k programme to build up the running when you can. But taking it slowly and gently. Fingers crossed and we will have to find ways to keep you entertained in the mean time xx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to LittleNell83]

Yep. A slow sensible comeback will be called for. Once I can even start that it will feel better for sure 🙂

[Couchpotato2 Marathon]

Sorry to read that Linda, It must be incredibly frustrating. It does sound like you’re doing the best of a bad deal

[Couchpotato2 Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

Can you do exercise in the swimming pool? There is such thing as water running which has no impact

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

Yes I could swim, but really dont enjoy it. I've heard of running in water but not seriously considered it. As the weather is good I think I'll stick to cycling for now but maybe I should take a look.

[Couchpotato2 Marathon]

Can you do exercise in the swimming pool? There is such thing as water running which has no impact

[Madge50 Marathon]

Oh dear, what a day! Mind you, I like the new stuff 👚👖nice! Hang in there, at least the light at the end of the tunnel is still on......we’ll look forward to seeing the ‘not so...flat Linda.....’

Take good care of that foot 🤗

Mx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Thanks. I will enjoy the new gear one day. It's not going on the bike - I'm saving it for my first 30s run/walk session

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

Oh dear! Sounds a very frustrated day. Hopefully u will be able to cycle and u find a good plan u can use. 🤞🤞.

Take care . .... And hang in there. Think how good yr first run will b,when it gets here 😀💪

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Deals1]

You're right, that run is going to be sooo special - even if it's likely to be a C25K W1 type run (or maybe even less looking at some rehab plans)

[SlowLoris]

You have an over training injury. How many people do you know that can say that? I'd be dropping it into every conversation possible.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SlowLoris]

This so made me laugh last night when I read it. i thought you were going to say it's an overuse injury so all my own fault so i should just suck it up .... your point was a huge (and very funny) relief 🤣

[misswobble Marathon]

Has physio been mentioned? 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

'fraid not! It was supposed to be my main question, but I was so thrown when he said three months that my mind went blank, I was traumatised 🤣🤣🤣 Thinking about it just now, it may be worth me making a call to the musculoskeletal clinic who referred me to the fracture clinic, to ask them if there is likely to be any physio available from the NHS. If not, I will probably go ahead with the private physio (I think I'm worth it, right?).

[misswobble Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I waited for an nhs physio appointment I had heard good reports about them so waited impatiently 😃. it was worth the wait. The physio was a runner so I was in good hands The cure was simple physio. No medicine or machines, just exercises to do to strengthen I felt so relieved to be taking positive steps to getting back on the road.

Please ask your gp for a referral - Or maybe you can self-refer 🙂

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Good thinking, I'll try that. I'm supposed to make a gp appt as the consultant says he is going to recommend some bone/osteo medication/supplement. Not sure I'm happy to take stuff long term unless someone can actually measure that I have a deficiency - but it does give me an excuse to make a gp appt, and there is one lady who listens (shame she's not a runner too 😃). However, I will cautiosly suggest it isn't the practice physio - the one who told me to do heel raises on my toes to fix the plantar fasciitis that she diagnosed rather than the metatarsal stress fracture we now know it was 🙄

[Tbae Metric Marathon]

Hi Linda,

What a shocker.🙈

I feel for you.

Bone Stress Injuries and Stress Fractures. NHS Oxford Universities, Patient Paper.

You may have already googled this, apologises if you have.Just find it can help with understanding sometimes.🤔

Your a trooper and have done brilliantly to retain your fitness.

I am leaving my Achilles Tendinopathy in the lap of the running gods at present.

You will get there Linda.

👊💥🏃‍♀️⭐️👏👏

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tbae]

Thank you, I will look that up tomorrow (although I may already have read it - I've clicked so many google stress fracture links - I'm sure I know at least as much on the subject as the guy I saw yesterday 😏)

[SueKen Half Marathon]

What a nightmare. But hang in there, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. At some points towards the end of last year, I feared I feared I might not run again. But I’m just about back to where I was now. Keeping everything crossed for your return to fitness.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SueKen]

That's good news for you, well done for sticking at it. I'm very hopeful that my determination and motivation will still be there when the time finally comes, and I'm trying not to worry about whether or not it is going to happen again!

[SueKen Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Listen to what the health care peeps say, take it slowly and you will get there 😊 In the meantime, enjoy cycling in the lovely summer weather.

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

It sounds like a frustrating day! Good luck with the cycling and walking. Hopefully, the 5 1/2 weeks will fly by. Take care !

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Very frustrating! You're right - it's been 8 weeks already, so I'm already over half way there right? Hmm.. 8 plus 5.5 - that's a half marathon right there and I've less to go than I've already done, I can do this 😍

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes you can! 👍

[Biddy62 Half Marathon]

What a palava! Really feel for you.

Keep on doing what you’re doing. You have such a positive vibe 😊 and it will be right soon. 👍🏻

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Biddy62]

A palava indeed - and £5 parking and an hour's driving on top too! Hey ho. The HU community most definitely helps with the positivity levels

[Hidden]

Oh, Linda, I so feel for you. My time out was less and i still felt bereft, so I can't begin to imagine how you feel. To add to this, you are up against our poor underfunded, overstretched NHS. Just keep the dream alive. You WILL be out there running again, fit and well because of your cycling, so it won't take you as long to get back into as it did me. And I see you've stolen my socks! x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Oh no, so sorry about the socks. I have two pairs, do you think one pair might really be yours 😃😃😃. When the time comes to restart I think I will be far fitter than my foot; it will have to be a gradual reintroduction but hopefully I will be able to enjoy it, beginning to look forward to that as mentally I've now scratched any idea of any event - besides parkrun - this year.

[Hidden in reply to linda9389]

I've got four pairs, two anklet and two slightly longer for winter, so any of mine could have wandered off to give your foot moral support!

My only event this year will be Oxford half, thanks to my knee, but we have next year)

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hidden]

This year I'm cheering you on for Oxford, living the traing and the race though you 😀; hopefully next year I'll get to run it myself after you've smashed Blenheim 👍

[Hidden in reply to linda9389]

I’m only sorry we aren’t running it together. X

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Me too! But I may still offer to volunteer 🙂

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Oh Linda, how very frustrating for you, made so much worse by a non joined up NHS. At least you have your cycling and some lovely routes to cycle in the sunshine and you will get back to running when the time is right. Take care xx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

I'm afraid I've done nothing but bad-mouth the NHS for the last 24 hours or so! But tonight a friend reminded me how wonderful our local NHS breast screening unit is; having had first-hand experience I have to agree with her and if you had to choose which deparment worked well and which didn't? ... suffice to say my foot isn't life threatening

Also. cycling in the heat this afternoon was far more pleasant than running in it would have been to be fair

[Hidden in reply to linda9389]

The problem with the NHS, apart from crippling under funding, is that bits have been sold off, and the whole way staff are forced to work now is with no correlation between departments. The real villains here are this current government. But still horribly frustrating for you.

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

That is very true! And the NHS is capable of some amazing stuff - did you see the report on the conjoined twins? 3D printed skull bones! Jaw dropping!

I’m supposed to be doing my long run today, but I think I’m just going to do a short one as it’s already too hot 🥵 Cycling and creating a nice breeze through your hair sounds much more pleasant

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon]

Oh no Linda, what a frustrating day for you - what a pain you have been left to your own devices to make a comeback plan. I have no doubt you will do it though, you have stayed so positive and embraced the cycling. Here's hoping the weeks fly by 💨😊🤞

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Indeed! the rest of this year has flown by so I daresay the next few weeks will too. Fingers crossed

[Colinsmith Half Marathon]

I can only really join in the chorus of ‘Oh Linda’. 😔 I’m so sorry this is taking so long. Keep pedalling in the meantime - as long as the specialist says that’s OK of course...

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Colinsmith]

Thank you. I've double checked with everyone I've sen, and they've all said yes to the ccling (if any had said no I may just have stuck my fingers in my ears though tbh) 🤭

[Colinsmith Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

As long as you haven’t just told them you’re only popping down the shops on your bike (*cough* 30km away) 🤫

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Colinsmith]

🤣🤣🤣

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Certainly not the answers you were hoping for 👎🙄

I know the sort of shoe... just put the one I bought into charity stuff 🤣 they're um... kinda annoying. I ended up just using trainers but lacing them differently to give more room over the toes.

When you feel up to it start by walking on the spot indoors to make sure the ground is nice and flat.

Keep up with all you've been doing, it will keep you sane. August 22nd isn't really that far off now...🤞🏻😉

Oh and if they didn't mention it, steer clear of aspirin or any products containing aspirin. Aspirin is proven to slow bone growth.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I also read that ibuprofen slows bone growth so have avoided that too! This shoe is far preferable to the boot at least (though not as protective I don't think). I've been trying a few steps on carpet or to the bathroom, but it's amazing how hard I'm finding it to walk properly. The brain is being very overprotective and refusing to let me roll though on that foot - we're having little mini battles. I guess there's so many moving parts in your foot and they've all gotten a little stiff, so the slightest twinge anywhere and my brain wakes up and halts the process. Baby steps it will be ... but there's no hurry ... five weeks to get the hang of it 😏🤣

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Yep. It's very true, your brain denies you the ability to use it. It's a weird feeling!

If you can, try and get yourself a deep massage either soon or towards the end of the five weeks to try and get everything else straightened up in case you're limping/compensating.

We'll be with you all the way! 👍🏻😁

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I'd been thinking I should get a straightening out pummeling, although feel a nice soothing massage would be more appropriate for my psyche 😝

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Have a soothing one asap then and a pummel later 👍🏻😉

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Oh, so frustrating! A walking plan to help maintain some fitness is a great idea. Listen to your body, walk, cycle and continue to provide the great support on here that you do.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Not sure about providing support - but I'm very grateful for the support and proper understanding I'm receiving at the moment My walking plan is going to be less ambitious than I realised - definite baby steps for a bit, but the cycling and seated workouts can definitely be more ambitious and will help pass the time

Hope you're having a lovely relaxing week

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I am, other than the tornado warning we had last night. We high-tailed in onto shore into the marina store until it passed. Thankfully nothing came from it, but it was a little too scary. It happens every year though, it seems. Fortunately we were spared.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Ooh. A close call. Glad everything worked out OK though.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Aghh! That all sounds incredibly frustrating Linda - I really do know how that feels...but you will heal and you will be back out there, doing what you do.2🏃‍♀️ In the meantime keep the dream alive by looking at your lovely kit, doing what you can and knowing that every little step forward is a step further towards that return.xx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Yes, you've come back from far worse! It's brilliant to know that I'm not the first, and to be surrounded by so many understanding role models - it's making a huge difference and is so much appreciated I do keep dreaming about stepping out in my new kit ... it will be a moment to savour

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon]

Oh Linda! What a rotten way to spend 2½ hours! I am so sorry! More flowers for you

💐💐💐💐💐💐

All the very best with your recovery. My husband has gone off for an x ray as I type. He fell from the loft hatch to the concrete floor in our garage! 😢 Probably fractured ribs and sternum. Sorry that doesn't help you.

I'm looking forward to seeing you in that lovely top and capris. Such a gorgeous colour. All the very, very best for your recovery. I am quite confident that you'll do all the right things to help yourself heal well.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Oh no! Your poor husband - that sounds very painful. I do hope his NHS experience is more positive and that he heals quickly (hopefully before you get fed up of bringing him flowers and cups of tea 😍 ).

[over61andstilltrying Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

He will hear more in a few days time. Hope you are managing OK.