Ankle update

It's been a tiring week dealing with  my ankle.  I've been doing partial-weight on crutches, since without support I'm reducing to a slow shuffling gait.  Most of the swelling is gone, it's just the areas below the toes and around the ankle bone that still have firm swelling around them.  The bruising made it halfway up my calf and wrapped around the other side of the ankle, although not as impressive as the outside.  But look!  It's foot-shaped again!

 

I'm starting heat therapy now, since sitting in the hot tub at the gym made it feel looser.  I think I prefer feeling the immobile stiffness though, the looseness made it more likely to move in uncomfortable ways.  I'm hopefully going to start PT soon, to try and speed the strengthening and healing process.  Overall it's going good, I'm just frustrated how minor things are such a pain now that I can't just zip around like normal.

Incomprehensibly clumsy

Impressively so. Inexplicably clumsy. It boggles the mind.

So the weather has been beautiful here lately. On Sat. I decided to take Windy running down the riverwalk. It was our first official run of the season and we were both loving it. She's a really good running partner normally, stays right near me with the leash slack between us. She had a couple dips in the river and was insanely joyous. We ran up a leaf-strewn trail that went up a ridge quite easily. I made a point to constantly watch the ground a few feet ahead to spot any trouble. I really respect how potentially dangerous running on uneven ground can be. On the way back down we were near the end of the trail when we saw 3 guys walking up. They stepped off the trail for us to pass, Windy balked as we approached, but ran ahead at my urging. Something spooked her after we passed and she lunged off into the woods. My foot slipped on the leaves and I took a terrific tumble. I fell to the left and my right ankle turned under and rotated onto the top of my foot.  In my mind it felt like my ankle dislocated and my weight landed on my legbones. Not truly what happened, but that's what it felt like. Most of the rest was just scrapes and mud streaks on my shins and forearms. I had to sit on a rock for about 5 minutes rocking back and forth until the pain subsided enough to walk again. I saw my ankle already swelling over the lip of my shoe. Unfortunately I was about 1.5 miles from my car, but at least it was on the paved path. By the time I got to the car I was able to walk with barely a limp. I went home and plunged my ankle in a bucket of ice water (better than putting ice on it), then bound and elevated it. Been pushing 800 mg of ibuprofen too. But today my foot looks like a zombie limb. The entire area between my ankle bone and the bottom of my foot is purple/grey, thick and hard, with shiny skin on it. My whole foot is swollen, grey, and my toes look fat. There's a pinpoint bruise behind my ankle bone that I think was an internal point of impact, and some bruising runs up my leg a few inches. Nothing's broken, but it's pretty ugly just the same.

What sucks most (other than my lack of mobility) is just how long this is going to take to heal. Ever since I started running I've been pleased how strong my previously-weak ankles seemed to be. Running is clearly out for the next month or so, as is the aerobics class I've started taking. I'm hoping swimming doesn't hurt too much, or maybe the elliptical machines will be ok soon. Grah!

Awesome thrift store find

My bellydance class meets at the local dance studio, which happens to be part of the YMCA building, which also houses a thrift store. I usually pop into the shop for the few minutes before class starts to see if there's anything worth picking up. Today something near the entrance caught my eye, more of a decorative display than a sales rack. I was shocked to see an Egyptian Riq on the shelf. A riq is a frame drum with zills inlaid in the rim -- a tambourine to most people. Here it is with my other drums - an Alexandria doumbek and Remo 16" frame drum.The goatskin drumhead was broken, but still held a surprisingly good sound. The zills need some work to be reshaped into the correct orientation, but have a pleasant tone. Given the lack of tuning pegs I think I may put a Remo drumhead on it.The intricate inlays wrap around the entire frame, and the drum would be a pretty decoration even if I can't get it in good playing order. Even cooler, it's really made in Egypt.
Best of all, check out the pricetag! I've wanted a riq for a while but didn't think I could buy one. This one definitely needs some work but hopefully will end up being part of my drum set :)