No Dice

Yesterday I was so excited to go see Dr. Cutter. I have never ever in my life  been excited about going to a doctor's appointment, but yesterday I could barely contain myself. Freedom from crutches was so close that I could taste it. At 12:30 I happily declared allowed to the office that the next three hours could very well be the last three hours that I ever spend on crutches.

Too bad I was wrong.

Turns out I will be spending another 2-3 weeks on crutches.

I thought I would be mad or cry or scream or something but instead I kind of just didn't react. My foot had seemed to be so much better the last few days... I had been so certain that I was going to be crutch free as of yesterday at 3:30 pm that I had not even entertained the thought that I'd be stuck with them for 2-3 more weeks.

I guess I have just passed into acceptance of being broken.

No... what I really think it happening is that I have become determined to be the best damn bone healer you ever saw - that my foot will heal properly and beautifully and that this will never happen again because I was such a good girl and listened to everything my doctor told me.

So what's the deal with being banished to continued crutching? Dr. Cutter says that the fracture has not continued to split which is a good thing, but there isn't enough "clouding" going on yet in my X-Ray to indicate that real healing has taken hold. To be honest, when he pulled up my new X-Rays and zoomed in to the break, even I could see that it didn't look any different and I knew I was doomed.

The good (?) news is that the good doctor is allowing me to begin my career as a swimmer as long as I don't "kick too much" with the broken foot. So it's doubly good that the Speedo that I ordered arrived last night along with a swim cap and goggles.

Nevermind that I haven't truly swum (is that even a word?) since probably the 7th grade. I'll worry about that once I drag myself to the Y, crutch down to the pool, and slip into the water with all of the old ladies doing their laps.

I am also allowed to stationary bike, but have to pedal with my heel on my left foot. Not sure how that is going to work out exactly, but I happily packed my gym clothes into my bookbag last night and plan to go to the Y tonight and bike for 35 minutes.

At the end of my appointment, I gathered up the courage to ask Dr. Cutter if I would ever be able to run at the same volume again... and if this was just going to keep happening to me if I did.

"Oh yes. You're going to be totally fine when this heals up," he said almost immediately and with what I thought was a little too much confidence.

"But how will we keep this from happening again??" I asked.

He claims that through foot strengthening exercises I should be able to prevent this from happening again.

I wish I could say that I believe him, but I don't really. Right now I can't even stand on my left foot and it seems like I will never walk again, let alone run 30 miles a week.

So there you have it. Lady Limpsalot lives on.

And I promise that soon I will post about something other than my boring broken foot.