Preparing for Recovery
At the end of this week, Dr. Mark Jones of West End Ortho Group will be cutting my foot open, with my permission. Hard to believe, even for me. The neuroma that developed about 18 months ago has successfully lived through orthotics, multiple injections and rest periods. In fact it has thrived. Growing from something that would create some numbness at times to an angry alien that resides between my second and third left metatarsal. It regularly reminds me of it’s presence but I will have the last laugh, eventually…
So on February 11, in the morning, I’ll go into Johnston-Willis outpatient surgery center and leave a few hours later minus one nerve. Dr. Jones has predicted 3 weeks on crutches and 3 months with no running. I can cycle as soon as the sutures are removed but finding a shoe that will fit on my left foot may make that difficult for awhile. I will do exactly as he directs, I want this thing to heal like a brand new foot and will give it whatever time it needs. So, if you see me running in March or April, feel free to tell me to go home.
So the longest period of time that I have gone without running since I started running, is four weeks. It was about five months ago after fracturing my elbow playing basketball. This “break” will be a bit sterner test. My eye doctor suggested serious medications for both me and my wife. She doesn’t even know me that well (my eye doctor not my wife). I hate not running, I hate not “being able to run” even more.
So I have had a couple of weeks to prepare for this and develop a mental approach to deal with the recovery period. So far I have been unsuccessful. I have about 4 days to work it out or I go into this period of “troubles” unprepared.
I’ve got a nook full of books and will have a fridge full of beer but I think there will be some other tools needed in my mental toolbox. 4 days to figure what they are……
