05/10/2010 – Morton’s Neuroma Madness!

Hmm, my running was going great guns, or so I thought! The very next day after last journal entry I started to run using the new leaning technique which I was very comfortable with when the old calf tightness came back with a vengeance. I carried on running for a bit but I just knew that I couldn’t run through it. So back to the drawing board again.
As the appointment for my steroid injection through guided ultrasound had come through while I was on my honeymoon I was again waiting for another. It finally came through at the end of September. A week beforehand the department rang me to push it forward a week. So, on the 19th of September I turned up for my appointment. I was actually excited to finally be putting all the disappointment and discomfort of this past year behind me. Eventually my name was called and I went into the room. It was about 6.30 in the evening. The sonographer apologised, as he was unable to give me the steroid injection as the medicine cabinet was locked in the evening. I couldn’t believe it, if I had turned down the earlier appointment and went with the original one at 2pm I would’ve had it.
 
So, another person now looking at my foot. That’s the fourth this year. I was totally fed up. However, this sonographer totally changed my diagnosis and advised me that I now had to wait to be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon. The original sonographer and the podiatrist all those months back had failed to do the test correctly to rule out Morton’s neuroma. This sonographer very successfully squeezed my toes together and we both felt and heard a click that was repeated over and over again. He could even see the results of this click on the screen and was in absolutely no doubt about the diagnosis. A student was there and he managed to manipulate my toes and produce the click, which again showed up on screen. The sonographer explained that I needed to be referred to the surgeon because if the steroid injection didn’t work then I would need surgery. I have since found out that even surgery sometimes doesn’t work.

I was so depressed but I would be even more so before I eventually left that room. The sonographer suggested that I take up a less impactful sport such as cycling or the cross-training machine at the gym. The student even piped up suggesting swimming. The sonographer explained that sooner or later I would’ve injured my feet even without buying those new trainers back in January. He said my feet weren’t made for running as my toes stuck up too much exposing the fat pads/balls of my feet and this area was too bony too cope with the constant impact of running. He also asked me if I was willing to risk my long-term health with the short-term thrill that running gave me now. I was apparently risking crippling my feet and knees in the long term and as I was so fit and would probably live quite a long time I would be crippled and in agony for a considerable portion of my life. He asked me to consider this if I found myself thinking of taking up regular running again.
 
So, I left feeling very unhappy. I did something about it immediately. Eden and I had been hiking quite regularly every Sunday. Just short walks to spare my poorly foot but we were getting really into it. I decided to source some local led walks over longer and more challenging distances and came across the Ramblers Association. I found a local group that led 2 walks on a Saturday and 2 on a Sunday. One of the walks was always quite a strenuous one but the other was more moderate and shorter. We have both been on quite a few now and have invested in some proper hiking outfits and equipment.
Walking and running are completely different. There is no walkers high for a start, but there are stunning views and new people to meet and hills and mountains to climb! We go out every weekend now and we know that this is something we will do no matter what the season or weather.

In the gym I now have a new routine. I am steering clear of high impact exercising and am doing yoga and Pilates regularly instead. I really enjoy these exercises, especially after a hard weights work out or a long session on the treadmill. I still won’t give up the treadmill for the cross-trainer or bike. I like to feel my body exercising and impacting on the floor. Now I still work out for an hour three times a week on the treadmill but have changed to power walking up hills. I speed walk on lower inclines and on the high inclines I walk slower but with more power. I burn only slightly less calories than I did when running and have even experienced some little highs!!

I can’t believe that I am admitting this but on Thursday I swim for an hour and then take an aqua aerobics class! It’s as hard as you make it and I really work as hard as I can. Actually, its really good fun and a totally different way of toning your muscles. I can feel it working and most of the exercises really work you hard. 
All this is really helping strengthen my leg muscles for climbing the hills at the weekend. I am still not going on really strenuous climbs because my foot gets too sore after about 6 miles but I can manage about 10 in all before it gets too bad. So finally, when my foot is healed I am looking forward to some mountain climbing and overcoming my fear of heights!!

6/5/2011 - Army Training Course Needed!

5/10/2010 – Morton’s Neuroma Madness!

21/08/2010 - The Wedding Journal

30/05/2010 - Running Free!!

6/5/2010 - Surprises Come In Podiatry Orthotics!!

15/4/2010 - Having Wheely Good Fun

22/3/2010 - Running Withdrawal

15/2/2010 - Swimming Towards Recovery

4/2/2010 - Help I’m Injured!