Sidelined

Well, folks, looks like I'm sidelined again, for a month anyway.  Went back to my foot surgeon this week.  He said the problem is definitely reoccurring, inflammation and possibly build-up of scar tissue again on or next to the tendon. 

I told him I wanted to start training for a half-marathon in October but didn't want to do any more damage.  His feeling is that the running is not the cause of the problem, just exacerbating it.  The skates are what's causing the problem.   The skates that I have are a very hard leather pro type boot, a high boot, and that's the problem, the contact of the front of the boot rubbing and pushing against the front of the foot/leg.

So this is the plan.  He recommend I do no running, no skating for one month, although I can still crosstrain in other ways that are not putting stress on the foot and tendon.  He also gave me a prescription for a patch that I can put right on the area that basically delivers Ibuprofen directly to the area rather than taking a pill.  He also suggested I can try massaging the area to try to break down any scar tissue that's building.    In a month, if it's feeling better, I can start running again.  If not, x-rays and MRI to see if something else is going on.

He also said at that point, I have a choice to make.  Can I live without skating?  That's the best option.  If don't feel I can give up skating, I need to find another way, skate once a week rather than two or three times, and I'm also going to be getting new skates, what they call a jam or speed skate, which is more like a shoe than a boot.  That should take the pressure off the area.

Bummed out.  I can't imagine no skating or running, AGAIN.  It's my escape, my stress reliever.  I might take a ride over to the YMCA next week and see what it would cost to rejoin.

Everything else is going well.  I have my weekly weigh-in and meeting tomorrow.  Hoping for a good result.  Had a two-pound gain last week and I'd like to see that come back down.

Made another big salad tonight for dinner, and then a bowl of fruit for dessert, pineapple, watermelon, blueberries and cherries.  YUM!