2011 has been a bad year for me in the injury department. A couple of Saturdays ago, I messed up my ankle during a home improvement project (I should know better by now — it’s physically impossible for me to get through any home improvement project without some kind of injury. Maybe that’s why I’m doing less and less of it these days). It’s just a contusion (no sprain or anything), and 20 years or so ago it probably would have been back to 100% after a couple weeks. But being that I’m 40ish now, everything takes longer to heal. I hate getting old. But anyhow, I’m icing it and trying to keep weight off it, which means curtailing my walking for now. Walking isn’t too bad, but I’m definitely favoring the bad side. At home, I hobble around on crutches. Standing is uncomfortable, as is sitting, unless I keep the ankle elevated. I’ve experimented with an ankle brace, but can’t decide if it’s helping it or irritating it. Ice and Ibuprofen both provide some relief.
The good news is, I seem to be OK with non-weight-bearing exercise. I have no discomfort either biking or swimming, so I’m keeping up with both of those activities (though I’ve dialed the biking back — 3 days this week instead of 5 — just to be on the safe side). I’ve been a little slower than usual on the bike this week, but that’s as much due to this summer’s endless, relentless heat than anything else.
Here’s hoping for an injury-free 2012. Maybe the daily highs will be out of the 90s by then…