and the results are in!

4 weeks later and I finally know what is going on in my ankle!  I'll spare you the details of what scheduling was like...but I ended up getting in at 7am.  Good thing I'm an early riser (not by choice- but for work).



So here is what the MRI report says: (my comments in pink)

There is signal abnormality within the distal fibula which is non specific possibly related to bone contusion.  Additional marrow signal alteration is also seen however with the medial malleolus (inside ankle bone) as well as the as the more inferior portions of the talus.  Little if any calcaneal signal alteration noted.  Freaked out about this- but Dr says it's pretty normal and it doesn't match my symptoms- although I'd say I have pain in by medial malleolus when I stretch my calf.  Whether these areas relate to additional areas of contusion etc. is difficult to determine.  There is fluid with the ankle joint.  Soft tissue swelling is noted medially and laterally. Yep.  The anterior talofibular ligament is not well defined on this examination compared to prior study and may have partially torn. That would be the goose egg next to anklebone  Exclusion of injury of deeper fibers of the deltoid ligament is difficult.  Had to google this one- once again that inside medial malleolus pain... hum.  Ligamentous structures about the ankle appear to be maintained.  That's good, since it was my calcaneofibular ligament that detached and must have reattach sans problems.There is some non specific enhancement with the bilateral soft tissues which should be clinically correlated particularly if there are any symptoms referable to an infectious/inflammatory process. WTF?  No soft abscess seen.  So, what is that hard lump in front of my ankle? 

Can you find the superior extensor retinaculum?  That's the lump.

Of course, google was not my friend since the MRI report was vague and I knew my Dr would probably tell me it was nothing...and it kind of was. 

He told me that the signal alteration in my marrow is pretty normal to see in a MRI, swelling, yep, and the lump was a thickening of my extensor retinaculum but my tendon in front was fine.  He did find a bone spur that the MRI report didn't include which seems to be my problem.  It is pretty small but as soon as he put his thumb on it- yikes it hurt.  It's right at the distal (bottom) of my tibia next to the medial malleolus.  He told me that we could try an injection or arthroscopic surgery if it hurt too bad.  I heard surgery and started shaking my head.  He said that if/when it was killing me then we could revisit that option later.  He also mentioned that I have mild arthritis (NO! I'm NOT that OLD!). 

So...all this MRI drama and I have nothing really resolved other than knowing what it is.  I'm cleared to run "as tolerated". (I didn't think I had to ask!) And so I did.  6.2 miles right after and 2.62 later that night for Boston. (I don't think I can express my sadness in the whole Boston Marathon attack- too awful so I'm going to spare you). 

Running buddies, photo by Cub

Cub

Around 2,000 runners running 11 laps at the local track for the victims of the Boston Attack

Obligatory Ankle picture (not too swollen from that angle) 14 weeks post injury

I'm going ahead and running the Flying Pig in 2 little weeks from now.    I can do a 10k and a 5k, so now, will I be able run/walk the half?  I'm going to try.  But one race at a time seems to be the best way of looking at it right now. 

Race Recap: Yep you read that right

The last 2 years I've done this 5k  both times I've bettered my old high school 5k PR of 21:50.  Two years ago, it was 21:30 and last year it was 21:13.  I love this race! How can you not when you PR every time?  Maybe because it is always chilly and a ton of people who are fast run it, maybe because it's close enough to home, I don't have to get up so early to get there. 

Whatever it is, this year was no different....except for my stinking ankle.  I PR'd again, this time though, it would be my Personal Record worse run 33:31.  I'm not ashamed of it, it is what it is, and I ran 2/3 of it.  Let me back up to last weekend.

9 wks and swollen again.

My friend had a free entry into the Harrigan's race this year and wanted to know if I could do it.  I've been running (if you can call it that) for the last 3 weeks (just once a week- test out the ankle) and on last Friday I ran 1 mile pain free.  (Just some stiffness).   Anyways, I said sure.  I can always walk it.  Then on Sunday this is what my ankle looked like:---------->

Now, I'm doubtful.  I hadn't even done anything, except chill out at home without the ankle brace.   WTH?  So all week, I wondered if I should just bail or walk the whole thing.  I decided finally after the swelling went down and some good PT sessions to just go for it and walk the first half of the race and run the second part. 

Bernie and I after the race.

Day of the race, meaning yesterday, I meet up with my friends Tracy and Bernie at the start of the race.  Bernie is going to walk it with me.  Yay! I was not looking forward to walk by myself.   So, off we go, walking the first mile, trying to stay out of the runner's way.  Lots of tutu clad walkers/runners, and some random dudes in gigantic mustache costumes in the back.  First mile walked in 15:00 pace, so we start to run.  That was the best idea ever!!!!! We passed people the next 2 miles- helped with the depressing idea that I walked in the first place.  Mile 2 in 9:15.  Ankle felt fine- a bit stiff but no pain.  Mile 3 in 9:05- I felt great.  In fact, I told Bernie that I was going to push it the last .25 of it and sprinted past a ton of people. According to my Garmin I had a 5:40 pace for a little bit of it!

Probably my strongest finish ever!

Was running a good idea?  Yes. Totally worth it for keeping me sane.  I can see there is light at the end of this injury tunnel. 
Did I feel it later?  Yep.  My DH doesn't like the comparison to hamburger with my ankle- but it just felt raw and chewed up inside the joint, and tight and pulling on the outside.  Advil and some ice and I'm feeling a bit better today although it's still tender and I won't be running again (until next weekend-that is). 
Next up...Follow up with the Dr. tomorrow if we're not snowed in.  8-10 inches of snow forecast-ed  for overnight and I have an 8 am appt.  Probably going to have to wait on that one.

So proud of my running partner- 3rd place in the old lady category! JK, Carrie!

Ankle day after 5k- not to bad according to the cat.

Nice glass of Whine

 


Quick post since I can't seem to be anything but negative today.  I was told 6 weeks until I could run- hah!- I wish.  It's been 7 weeks since I messed up my ankle. I still can't stretch my calf with out getting pain in front/back of my ankle.  I still hop down stairs since my ROM is not much.

I'm trying to be a good patient.  I've been icing 5x a day, doing my Theraband ankle exercises and going to PT 3x a week. I have not been good about elevating it as much as I should- so I guess I could improve on that.  It's hard since I'm on my feet at work most of the time, then on the weekend, I feel like a lazy bum sitting with my foot up not working on stuff when my DH is busy around the house.  Not much of a blog post, sorry, but I'm sure you don't need more whine with that cheese. :-)


Cardio this week:  Spinning x2 34 miles- good resistance no pain
Days til my race:  63 days!  Could I walk it? maybe? That would be soooo hard for me to do.  I'm too competitive. 

lovely lump on left ankle

Like the sock lines? 

Best Ice Pack ever- 3 parts water, 1 part rubbing alcohol- nice and slushy

10 mins x 5 times a day! fun times!

Yay! PT

Ankle injury update:  

Better than the boot or aircast!

• Dr. said I could start PT, ditch the boot and upgrade to a smaller sleeker ankle brace for 6 weeks.  Yay! 

Can you see that lump in front? 

•  I have swelling still in the front of my ankle which makes my ROM (range of motion) pretty limited but it's way better that it was 5 weeks ago.  I have a nodule in the front that the Dr. spent more time poking at then anywhere else.  He says he sees this on occasion and that it's fluid trapped under something or another.  So technical I know, but it was a week ago. 

• I went back to my PT who helped me with my planter fasciitis.  
•  I get to start with fun things like:
• stretching my calf (BTW- impossible with swelling!), As I sat there, with my toes half way up on of those boards for stretching your calf and trying to hold it for 30 secs. was so hard.  It hurt (was it more than 4 on the pain scale, yes, so technically I shouldn't do it, but I didn't say anything, since that seems to be key for ROM). 
• lovely ROM stuff with the BAPS board (sitting down), 
• scooting around the office backwards on the rolly chair (best part!), 
• marching on a cushy pad 
• stepping up and over a 4" board (and it was tough).  
•  I get to have ultrasound to work on the swelling, manual manipulation of my ankle (trying to get it to move in the right ways) and a nice massage to work the swelling down.
• Then ice for 10 minutes. Fun times! x 3 week, but progress is progress...next time Therabands!  woot! woot!

Only 76 days til the Flying Pig Half.  I'll be ready, right?  Trying to be optimistic, I hoping if I keep up my cardio, then the running won't be too bad to get back, right?  I can dream.  

Cardio of the week:  Spinning 3 days this week, kept resistance down- no pain! 

A few of my favorite Pins of the week:

latest and greatest ankle injury pictures

Day 3 Dr. office

bottom of my foot is totally bruised just by sitting down waiting.

Ahhh, comfort! Now I can put some weight on my ankle.

day 4 AM bruising setting in

bruising on the inside too

Day 4 PM,  more colors

day 4 pm

Day 5 more bruising- back to work

bruising more in the medial side

Day 7 AM one week after

day 7AM

Day 8, more swollen today- tried to walk around too much yesterday

Right ankle normal, left ankle still swollen (just after I took off the ace bandage)

What my ankle normally looks like

What my left one looks like on day 8

Day 9 am

day 9 am

Yay! You made it through all my lovely pictures.  I'm grossed out by them but at the same time it's interesting to see how your body reacts to trauma.  I never thought my toes would be bruised by an ankle fracture for example.

Recovery wise- I last blogged on Monday- 2 days after my accident.

Tuesday (day 3)- RICE and Dr. Appt where I got a boot.  I have to say, I love the boot.  I couldn't but any weight on my ankle/foot before and now I can so it's helping with walking with crutches.  The official diagnosis:  Avulsion fracture of my fibula. Basically, my calcaneofibular ligament ripped off my fibula and took a chunk of bone with it. It was really tiny in the xray. So this is usually treated like a sprain.  6 weeks and I should be good.

Wednesday (day 4)- RICE and got up more and got used to the boot and crutches.

Thursday (day 5) back to work- kept off my feet as much as possible, iced 2x during the day.

Friday (day 6) work- walked around for about 1hr without crutches- small victory.  Later that night, same thing.

Saturday (day 7- 1 week)  Rested, but feeling frustrated of not being able to work out and irritable cleaned the house with headphones on.  I did some ROM exercises, abcs and flexing it. Over did it, and hurt later that night.  grrr.

Sunday (day 8) RICED, babied it, crutches, etc.  I was able to bear weight on it and actually took a few steps before going to bed to try it out.  The only place it hurt was the medial side...strange- the opposite side from the injury. Hoping it's just stiff.

Monday (day 9- today)- I'm going to try just wearing the boot today and skip crutches.  Wondering if the pain I get in the boot is from just being stiff.  Although as I type it hurts and I haven't even been up in 30 minutes.  Probably need to elevate it!

So my goal this week:  to try to wean from the crutches and to increase ROM.

One week down, 5 to go (hopefully!)