standing by

Made another appt to see my Dr after my PT urged me to.  My PT suggested that since "we've tried everything" and the cortisone shot only gave me 3 days of relief that I might need to get an x ray.

Part of my PT is stretching and strengthening then I get therapeutic ultrasound on my heel to help with inflammation and topped off with a massage.  Strangely, the ultrasound hurt this time around.  I asked if he'd changed the settings, but they were where they always were.  He turned it down, then after a minute it started to hurt again.  He then got curious and tried using a tuning fork/vibration thingy and touched different parts of my foot and asked if I had any pain.  Nothing with that.  My PT told me that I might have a small fracture/stress fracture since the ultrasound hurt and I haven't had much relief with the cortisone shot. I wonder why the ultrasound hurt this time, when we've been doing it every pt session.  Is it that the cortisone did get rid of the swelling so now I can feel it differently?   So off to the Dr's I go again on Monday...this time demanding a xray.   Seriously? I just want to be able to run.  I'm so done with this.  

Edit 1/16/12:  Negative on the xray for a stress fracture but I'm getting an MRI in the near future.  So, we'll see.  

Fail

Sometimes you have to pick yourself up and carry on, but I'm not sure where I'm going

I was so excited to have "survived the dreaded shot".  My foot was sore where the injection when in but my plantar fasciitis pain was gone!  Yay!  I have my new shoes- and I spent my weekend planning my comeback.    I decided that I'm going to use the pfitzinger plan  for people returning to running after a long recovery from an injury.  I love sitting down and writing a training plan.  I love seeing it laid out- where I'm heading.  Here's my plan.  So excited!  Then I'm going to plan for using Hal Higdon's 10k plan for the Flying Pig 10k in May.  I have 17 weeks- plenty of time! I decided that the Flying Pig 1/2 marathon might be too ambitious for the spring time.  So, I am waiting until next week to start this.  I know I need to give my heel time to heal.  I did all of this on Saturday.  Then came Sunday...

I had tweeks/twinges on Saturday night that felt more like my "normal PF" pain.  Then Sunday, I was hopefully going for a small run- I was going to see how I felt after going to the grocery store.  Well, crap, crap, crap...it hurt, but it hurt like it did last week. No run today.  Not what I wanted.  So, I bawled, my poor dh thought I'd hurt myself somehow, but I am so frustrated!  Seriously? 4 days? That's it?  So, trying to stay positive, the dr did say it might take a week to fully kick in- so just maybe I need a few more days...  I'm feeling rather pessimistic though. 

So now, where do I go from here?  I like to know what's next.  I'm going to wait til Thursday to call my Dr, since I should at least give it a week, then probably wait another 2 weeks to get in to see him.  I wish I knew what would be next.  I really was hoping this shot would be the cure all...

On other random running stuff...
Read the new Runner's World, and I'm super psyched to watch the 2012  Olympic marathon trials next week.  I didn't know much about Desiree Davila but now I can't wait to see how she does.  Also there are a few locals running who work at my local running store.  Here's a link about Jason Ordway from whom I bought my awesome kick butt shoes Saucony Kinvaras.  Go Jason! 

The Dreaded Cortisone Shot

As you probably know I've been trying to avoid getting a cortisone shot in my heel for plantar fasciitis.  Well, today was the day.  I really need to stop looking online about medical stuff since I freak myself out.  I read horror stories about how painful they are and I was dreading going and getting it.

This morning, I was flip flopping from "maybe I should cancel" to "hell with it, let's get this sucker done!".  So when it's finally time for me to go in, and I'm sitting there waiting, I was poking at my foot trying to find the most tender area and nothing- felt pretty good- really weird...it was killing me all am and now nothing.  So, when the dr came in and did the same and nothing, a bit tender but not super ouch.  Finally found my most tender spot, right in the middle, oh joy.  Before we did the shot though, I told him I really didn't want to do it and we talked about my newly found allergy to dexamethasone.  He was a bit concerned about it too.  He gave me some other options, such as a steroid pack that would require me to take a pill for a week then you have to be weaned off of it or NSAIDS-which i've been doing.  The shot would be in the same family as dexamethasone but since I only had a skin rash, the chances of something too serious probably wouldn't happen.  So....what did I chose?

Doesn't look like much, does it?

That's right, I'll already prepared to do it.  I just want to be done with PF so I can get back to running oh, and walking around work w/o pain!    So, he numbed up my foot,  took out the long needle- and the rest is history.  Actually my eyes were closed.  It wasn't as bad as I expected, he went from the bottom instead of from the side which (i read online was how must drs did it).  It was like a normal shot just longer- felt like 2 minutes but it probably was 30 seconds. Another way of explaining it would be like after being outside in the snow and having a pretty cold foot, taking off your shoes and stepping on a hypodermic needle.  Natural childbirth was worse but this wasn't fun either.  The only thing he said was that I'd have some residual pain from the needle for the next few days.  I was free to get back to running when I felt ready.  It's only been a few hours and I feel good.  Time for a run!

Edited:  It's been about 10 hrs now and I'm still feeling pretty good.  I'm kind of nursing it a bit, trying not to walk around too much. Definitely feeling like I have a bruise on the bottom of my foot, but no PF pain.  I was worried that I'd get a cortisone flair but nothing.  Thank goodness!

So today ended up being a good day after all!  

1. PF pain feels better (fingers crossed)

New Mizuno Wave Rider 15 plus Chester

2. I got new running shoes! Love Mizuno Wave Riders- and love the new cranberry color! My little reward for being brave at the dr's office. Plus, I'm so sick of wearing my old ones (didn't help I never liked the pink on the old ones- I know, I shouldn't care- but after wearing them day after day to work- I hate them!) But now, I shouldn't need to wear running shoes 24/7 so red running shoes are ok.

I don't need motivation! Don't worry

3. New Runner's World in the mail!

Thanksgiving, etc.

Hi everyone,
I've been a complete slacker when it comes to blogging this week.  My life has not been too exciting, except for the fact that my poor dh has been sick, and we had company over Thanksgiving.  Woo Hoo, exciting stuff!

Actually, other than the hubby being sick, we had a great Thanksgiving.  It was the first time in about 5 years that I actually hosted.  My mom and step-dad brought my nephew down to visit.  We had a great time.  My nephew and my oldest son are only 8 months apart so they are into the same stuff and Buster (younger by 2.5 years) was able to join in more of the fun this year.  Lego and Hero Factory galore!

I was a bit stressed since I had to do the bird.  Gulp.  Thank God for the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks.  Everything always turns out golden.  I also have to thank Dorothy Lane Market for their awesome pies and rolls.  That made it a bit easier!  We have a family recipe for rolls that is a "tradition" in our family but frankly, it requires way too much work, and I don't have the kitchen or time to do them.  So dinner was great.  Much relief on my side of things.  My mom and I got out of the house (while the bird was in the oven and went for a walk around the neighborhood.  We probably walked about 2.5 miles.  It was nice to visit and get some exercise outside for a change.  I haven't had a "workout" outside since beginning of Oct.  My heel was bugging me the whole time (not enough to make me say we have to cut it short) but it was killing me when we got back and later at the movies)

We took the boys to see Puss in Boots  in the evening.  They liked it, much cat humor (if you're a cat person), but it was a bit long in parts. Overall, it was  good Thanksgiving.  I was really happy that my stepdad was able to make it since he's been ill this year.

Today I went early to sign up for spinning, then I decided to hop on the treadmill and walk a bit.  Of course, being the treadmills that I was doing some of my training runs on, it was extremely difficult to "just walk".  I was feeling good Friday and Sat am, so figured I might as well try it.  (Even though I knew I had a "bad"day with my heel just 2 days ago) I managed to walk 1/4 mile, run 1/2 mile (at 10:00 pace- slow for me) and walk 1/4 mile.
Overall, one mile.  It didn't feel bad.  I didn't limp, and I went slow enough that my heel didn't bother me! (score!)  I stopped myself from doing more, since the nature of Plantar Fasciitis is pain after the activity, not during, so I didn't want to over do it.  It's been about 10 hrs and I'm still feeling good so, maybe?, I'm on the mend. 

Monday, is my follow dr. appt.  I made that 6 weeks ago, and when I did, I figured I'd cancel it since I'd be better by then.  Hah!  Instead, I'm wondering if I should  go ahead and get the cortisone shot or do the iontophoresis that my PT suggested.  I looked up my insurance coverage- which doesn't cover iontophoresis but I'm still not liking the idea for the shot.  Iontophoresis is less invasive since no long needles need to be shoved under my heel pad and wiggled around, but it takes up to 12 times for it to work.  Both seem to be "temporary" fixes with it only working for a month or so.  I guess that will be convo for the dr.  I'm sure your on pins and "needles" waiting for what happens, right?

ummm, wrong way

Warning: whine-fest

Last weekend we tackled raking our backyard.  Innocent enough, right? That isn't exercise...really.  Well, after raking, hauling tarps of leavings up hill and on lumpy grass, my heel was killing.  I had been feeling great the few days before (really starting like I was getting somewhere in the recovery dept) and suddenly I was back to feeling like I'd run 5 miles the day before (would have loved to have actually done that). 
This whole week has just been a huge step backward.  Walking at work has hurt more than usual.
Tuesday's spinning class hurt when I stood got out of the saddle (which I did modify btw). grumble grumble grumble.

Weds. I had PT and I now believe that the ultrasound actually does do something because I felt way better after.  Weds. night spinning class was back to normal didn't feel anything when I got off the saddle.  

The mornings have been worse too.  I have been wearing a night splint since the beginning of this whole Plantar Fasciitis stuff. (48 days- not that I'm counting) The night splint has been keeping my foot in position so that when I get up in the morning it doesn't re-tear/stretch the plantar fascia.  I version I have has velcro around the toes and the velcro has gotten a bunch of fuzz (flannel sheets) on it recently and it has been unhooking in the middle of the night.  I've woke up and fixed it but I don't think it's as tight as it should be.  I tried wearing the sock splint but that one drives me crazy since it pulls on my toes and the velcro by the knee rubs my skin. 

As for treatment, my PT left a message w/ my dr. about getting a script for the iontophoresis.  Which according to the mayoclinic.com  "Iontophoresis, in which a corticosteroid solution is applied to the skin over the painful area and the medication is absorbed with the aid of a nonpainful electric current".  I really hope I can try this since foolishly I looked up on youtube cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis.  Holy crap- I really don't want it now.  I didn't realize, it's not a normal shot.  1. needle is huge, 2. they move it around while it's in your heel, 3. it hurts like hell (at least for the girl who recorded herself getting one)  I won't post the video since I can't watch it again.  Anyone have experience with a cortisone shot? 

Let's hope next week is better!  Off to stretch! (and unfortunately rake the front yard- as least there are less leaves!)