Waiting for the Verdict

Over the past week I've been pretty much a couch potato. Not intentionally, but it's been one of those weeks where I've allowed regular life to take priority over running. That's a weird feeling for me, not sure I like it. It's been fun, though, because I've been working on a slide show to show at several upcoming presentations I'm doing.

The other thing I've been up to is pursuing the answer to what's wrong with my right ankle. I got in to see a sports medicine specialist last week and I have an MRI scheduled for this coming week. The good news is that he evaluated my achilles tendons and the problem is not coming from there.

The not as good news is that he suspects, as I have for a while, that it's a longitudinal tear or split in my peroneal tendon behind my lateral malleolus (that's a tendon behind my outer ankle, in plain English). And the only way to fix that is through surgery.

All this started nearly two years ago to the day, when I sprained my ankle on a little six mile run on the trail around Dixon Reservoir- just stepped on a little rock the wrong way- and ever since then, I can't run on uneven surfaces without pain.

For now, he gave me this brace to try- the "malleo-train"- it puts pressure on the peroneal tendon to stay in place while you run. I tried it and I can't tell. I ran an hour yesterday and after 50 minutes I started to feel the usual pain in the tendon. Maybe it kept it from hurting for longer than it would have without the brace, but I need to try the brace on a trail to see if it really works.

I decided to bite the bullet and get the MRI so I'll know what's going on. I really do not want to have surgery, it's a lengthy layoff and rehab, and from what I've been reading it doesn't always take away the pain, and there are possible complications with any surgery. I am hoping that it's something I could work through with physical therapy, but realistically, I know that a tendon tear isn't going to heal itself, and given what I do, is likely to get worse.

I will find out the verdict this week when I have the MRI and then meet with the doc the following day.

Other than that I've been busy teasing Dennis about his upcoming 50th birthday. Here he is filling out his AARP card. Of course he listed me as his spouse, so that means I'll start getting mailings soon.