Physiotherapy Diaries: On the Mend

I left my physiotherapist’s office with a smile and a spring to my step.

Just moments before he said I am cured and I am ready to run the world. Not quite in those words but he agreed that I am good to go as long as I continue to do the prescribed exercises.

Then I landed flat on my ass after hitting a patch of black ice.

I didn’t but it would have been just my luck to wipe out after the recent snowfall on my way home from the physio’s office. I treaded lightly because I didn’t want to tempt fate.

Oddly enough I feel like my ankle’s healing process just flew by. I remember when the doctor told me it would be at least six weeks before I could take off the AirCast and my heart sank.

Yet gaining some perspective, I realized it could have been a lot worse. And I became best patient ever like ever.

I (tried) to sleep in the AirCast. I kept my foot elevated. I iced. Sometimes I even did all the doctor-prescribed exercises. (Let me tell you wearing a big AirCast on an airplane is not very comfortable.) I am firm believer in having a positive mindset and I believe without a doubt this helped speed up my healing process.

Physiotherapy sucks

Once I ditched the AirCast I eased back into hiking and walking. I didn’t do anything that would damage my recovery. I started physio as soon as I returned to Calgary from Nova Scotia. I chose a place that was close to where I lived so I didn’t have to drive or walk very far.

I was paired with a physiotherapist who laughed at my jokes so that’s all that really mattered. Seriously he knows his stuff and gave me some exercises that would help gain mobility back in my ankle. It’s the side to side movement that is stuck so that’s what we have been working on with bands and body movements.

When I first saw him, my ankle was still very tender. But after a few weeks of doing the exercises, it is feeling stronger.

I was given the go ahead to start running a few weeks ago. To be honest, I started with some slow “jogging” weeks before but nothing that I would put on Strava. I was feeling really anxious about running down hill especially on technical terrain.

However with each run and exercise session, my confidence and strength are slowly returning.

I am super happy to be running again even though I feel like I am starting at square one. I don’t mind this fresh start because it reminds me of the pure joy that running brings. Sometimes, in our pursuit of mileage goals and races, we lose sight of the simple pleasure of running.

Being a beginner again makes me happy and reminds me how much I love running.