Our feet are our body’s connection to the earth. ~Andrew Weil, American celebrity doctor
Most of us give little thought to our feet … until something happens to make them hurt.
For me, that something happened over the holidays when I twisted my ankle going down the stairs.
Now I’m no stranger to falling. But this time, I DIDN’T FALL!
I did, however, crumple to a crouching heap after landing full force on the outside of my ankle.
Ouch!
Assuming the pain would ease eventually, I went about my business … gingerly. The next day, my ankle was swollen and showing signs of bruising, so I did some online research. And learned X-rays would be useless, as injuries to ligaments don’t show up. So I started the RICE treatment (rest, ice, compression, elevation).
I determined to return to my daily exercise regimen, despite the pain, as soon as possible. In fact, I was on the treadmill the very next morning, limping along slowly and grimacing through the agony, though for a much shorter time period than usual.
“Kill or cure,” you know.
It’s been two months now, and still, I’m experiencing pain in my ankle. When I try to fall asleep. When I turn it a certain way.
And there’s a mysterious feeling of instability, kind of like part of me is expecting to trip again.
So this time, I headed back to the chiropractor — to reassure myself the ankle was healing properly and to receive instructions on strengthening it so this doesn’t happen again. Turns out, a twisted ankle is a common complaint, especially among athletes, and responds well to exercises.
So every other day (to give my ankle time to heal), I’m doing a regime of ankle movements — including drawing the alphabet in mid-air with my toes. ‘Tis hard to do because I’m not left-footed, any more than I’m left-handed!
But I can tell it’s helping, and that’s enough encouragement for me to keep at it.
Injuries are not only a physical question, which is the most important thing, of course, but also a question of your mind. If you’re thinking: ‘I’m not going to make it’, ‘I can’t cope’, ‘it hurts’, ‘it’s never going to get better’, then it won’t. ~ Luis Suarez, professional soccer player
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Ouch! I hope it feels better soon, Debbie!
It’s already improving, Lucy, thanks to my refusal to knuckle to the pain, ha! Thanks for sympathizing.
I’m glad you are getting relief. Ankles are a bear. My daughter broke hers and still has problems after three years. I hope for a full recovery. 🙂
Three years?? Ouch, indeed. I’m fortunate mine wasn’t a break; still, it baffles me how easily something like this can happen. Here’s to your daughter’s healing, John!
Thanks, Debbie. Long road.
Ouch that sounds so painful. While you are tracing the alphabet or treadmilling picture yourself gliding along painfree and tell yourself, I am a person who has strong ankles and never trips. It doesn’t matter if your mind believes it or not—your body will. And in no time I bet you are doing the the jig in time for St. Patty’s day. (Bought a King’s Cake today, just for fun)
I appreciate the power of positive thinking, Kb, and will keep those happy thoughts front and center! A King Cake? Good for you … and Cole! Domer was home this past weekend, and I sent him back to the Windy City with a King Cake of his own. See? Great minds think on the same track, ha!
Happened to me! I hope you recover quickly!
Sorry you, too, had to go through this, Cindy. I remember twisting my ankle as a young’un, probably playing basketball or tennis, but kids heal so much faster than adults. Thanks for sympathizing!
Yikes! Sounds dreadful. I sure hope you recover swiftly, Debbie. What an ordeal.
Thank you, my friend! ‘Tis an ordeal, for sure, but it could have been so much worse. See? I’m trying to look on the bright side!
That sounds really painful. I hope yhe exercises help!
They are, Dawn — thanks. Dallas, too, has twisted a limb, so he’s sympathetic.
Oh, poor you! Hope it feels better soon! Does Dallas help with your toe exercises? i should imagine a foot waving around in mid-air must be extremely tempting… 😉
HaHa, you’ve got him pegged, FF!! He’s a pretty good nurse, on the whole, but his herding instincts come out when something is moving. I generally try to do my exercises when he’s napping for that very reason!
“Our feet are our body’s connection to the earth. ~Andrew Weil, American celebrity doctor.”
Love that quote, Debbie, because it’s sooooooo true! Being a Certified Foot Reflexologist, I know the importance of our feet and how if something happens to them, it can affect our whole body.
“But I can tell it’s helping, and that’s enough encouragement for me to keep at it.”
That’s AWESOME! Wishing you continued recovery and healing.
Have a grrrreat rest of your week, my friend!
X
Ron, I’ve never liked the idea of somebody touching my feet, so I’m kind of in awe about your being a foot reflexologist. In fact, when I went to my chiropractor and had to remove socks and shoes so he could twist my foot around and see just what was injured, I warned him I was having to hold myself back from kicking him full in the face!!
Thanks for validating the truth about the importance of foot health, my friend. A song we learned in grade school pretty much sums up why — “the foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone” and all the way up the leg.
Happy Thursday!
Rolling an ankle’s the worst. The last time I did it, it was by stepping on a garden hose. I have to be really careful around the boats, because stepping on a nice, thick line can do the same thing. And it does take what seems like forever to heal. In fact, there are times when a clean break is better. You can set it and forget it (more or less) and then it’s healed. With tissues and tendons, it’s not such an easy fix.
Keep up those exercises — I hope you’re back to 100% soon!
Thanks, Linda, both for the info and the empathy. Of course, I’d done this years ago during some sport or other, but young ankles heal faster than adult ankles! It’s funny how exercises do work on something like this, though our first inclination is to stop all activity and give ourselves time to heal. It’s painful to keep moving, but something tells me it would be way worse to stop movement and get “stoved up”!!
Yes,
we just take our body-parts for granted, don’t we.
Keep healing, Debbie.
Your feet LOVE you and want to take you places! xx
Thanks so much for the encouragement, dear Kim — yes, I think you’re right!! And right about now, I for one could use a warm, sandy beach, ha!! xx
I am so sorry that you injured your ankle, Debbie. Unfortunately, these things do tend to happen. I have issues with arthritis and have had since my twenties. I had a flare up in my left ankle one time that was incredible, a great deal of pain and also hard to walk, so I can understand a bit of what you are going through. I like your Suarez quote about the importance of the state of mind, I agree with that. I hope you are better and back to normal in no time!
Thanks so much, Lana. My chiropractor assured me I’d be healed by Spring, so I’m going to hold him to it! With things like this, often the progress is barely noticeable, but still I can tell it’s better. Now, if I can just avoid re-injuring it!!
You need to be extra careful with the ankle, that is for sure! Day by day 😀
Oh yes, Debbie, good ol’ RICE and foot gymnastics writing the alphabet. I hope you mend quickly and completely. Feet are indeed the foundation and a lot of my back problems are due my weird feet.
Really? Hmm, that gives me lots to think about, Pat — thanks for the reminder. Glad to hear that RICE and exercises probably will do the trick!