Sunday, June 13, 2021

Sort of Sidelined

A few months ago, I developed pain and swelling at the base of my right thumb and wrist. I mentioned it to my rheumatologist, who performed an ultrasound and didn't find anything amiss. She referred me to a hand specialist, 'the guy' that she would go to. At the time, the pain wasn't terrible and it wasn't preventing me from doing anything except handstands, so I dragged my feet on scheduling an appointment. 

Out of the blue this week on Monday, I felt a sharp pain in my wrist. It felt like a rubber band snapped inside. I don't remember doing anything out of the ordinary, but maybe that Kettlebell Circus WOD on Monday morning pushed the already angry tendon over the edge? After a restless night, I woke up on Tuesday in a lot of pain. I slathered my wrist in my CBD salve, wrapped it up tightly, took some ibuprofen, and went to work. Later that morning, still feeling pain, I finally broke down and scheduled with the specialist. After an x-ray and an exam, he told me that he was putting me in a splint and that he wanted me to see 'the guy', an imaging specialist who would perform a musculoskeletal ultrasound on my wrist. He said I could still work out but nothing involving the wrist. And that includes waterskiing.

Welp. I didn't cry, but I sure wasn't happy. While I don't have a firm diagnosis, he thinks it's the flexor carpi radialis tendon--tendinopathy or a partial rupture. I'll know more after my ultrasound next week. Hoping for the best case scenario.

Go big or go home, I say. Although, I won't lie...I'm pretty bummed out about this injury. You don't realize how much you use your hand until you can't. I'm glad I can still run though. Can I just say how weird it is to be a runner with an upper body injury? 


Weekly Rundown
Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: run 4 miles
Thursday: modified strength training
Friday: run on the surface of the sun 6 miles
Saturday: rest
Sunday: trail run 4 miles

Running

After my appointment with the hand specialist on Wednesday, I stopped at the forest preserve along the Des Plaines River Trail for a run. It was a little later than I would normally have run this time of year and I hoped the tree cover would help me stay cool. I'm sure that it was better than running in direct sunlight, but the humidity was off the charts. My planned 6 miler was cut to 4. I'm sure my distress from my ortho visit didn't help either.


I won't sugarcoat Friday's run. At 6:30 am, it was 80 degrees and 8000% humidity. For the first 4 miles, I plodded along. But after that, my heart rate hit 170. I took walk breaks to let my heart rate come down, but as soon as I started running, it shot right back up again. Then there was the whole I couldn't stop sweating thing, which made getting ready for work a challenge. Sorry, not sorry, but summer running is not my thing.


When I woke up Sunday morning, the temperature was in the 60s. After my first cup of coffee, I headed over to the forest preserve with the plan to run 6 miles. It was early and I was surprised at how many people were there already! I had the single track mostly to myself, with the exception of the flies, who became peskier the more sweaty I got. The foliage had really filled in since the last time I was there and I was brushing up against it constantly. I finally called it quits after 4 miles and as I was finishing up, I saw a deer right off the path. I got my phone out to take his photo. I guess he didn't like that idea as he let out a big snort and took off through the woods. Scared the crap out of me and it seemed like the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect run. I'll go back during the week to redeem myself...and I'll cover my head to keep the flies away. 

CrossFit/Strength Training

Monday's WOD was a doozy. The strength portion included 4 rounds of pistol squats, a100m heavy bear hug carry (I used a 50# wreck bag), and seated single-arm shoulder presses using a KB(20#). The MetCon 'Kettlebell circus' required a single KB(20#) for every movement: 100 single-arm hand-to-hand KB swings, 20 per arm KB clean and jerks, 20 per arm KB snatches, and 30 KB goblet squats. We weren't allowed to put the KB down without a 4 burpee penalty. My hands were super sweaty and the KB slipped a few times. I remedied that by chalking my hands. This was a fun workout and I finished in 9:41!


On Thursday, Sammy Jo rose to the challenge of modifying my session to meet my restrictions. We started out with hip/glute bridges using a barbell and resting my back on the bench. She wanted me to alternate those with barbell lunges but even when we put the barbell on my back, I found it painful to grip the bar. She had me modify by holding a 30# wall ball in front. That worked out well, although that weight was lighter than the weight she had loaded on the bar. After that, we worked on core, doing hollow holds and a variation of forearm planks, holding my midsection in a hollow as well. I need A LOT of work on my core and it looks like this will be a good time for me to focus on that. 


That afternoon, I saw my PT and she was all over the core work that SJ had me do. She prescribed some exercises for me to do at home and also did some work on my wrist and hand. I mean, why not? The good news is that my SIJ and pelvis are much improved; the core work will only help with that. I like her and I don't mind seeing her for a few more sessions to work on this stuff.

How was your week? Hot enough for you? Tell me what you do to beat the heat. Are you keeping up with your workouts? 

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown. 





41 comments :

  1. Oh man, that's a bummer about your wrist :( Sending you positive vibes for your ultrasound next week.

    I love your unboxing video for the subscription box on Instagram :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, that's such a bummer. My first thought was "I'd take an upper body injury any day!" but you do so much strength training, plus the water skiing, PLUS the normal day-to-day activities where you use your hands (like, for everything) so I feel bad for you. I hope you can get a clear diagnosis soon and can start to rehab it.
    That FunRun box looks really... fun. Maybe I'll try it out!
    Love the photo of the leaping deer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm trying so hard not to feel sorry for myself but I agree with you, it is a bummer! Hoping for the best case scenario, which would be tendonitis. Annoying but at least it wouldn't be so restricting.

      Delete
  3. So sorry about your wrist! Spending some time focusing more on your core is a great option right now. That Fun Run Box looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sorry Wendy! Fingers crossed that the wrist trouble clears up.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I try to get out as early as possible, basically, and almost always head out later. And I run by feel!

    I'm sorry about this injury Wendy. Fingers crossed it's not too bad.

    That deer photo is way cool!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Judy! It's all about being in the right place at the right time.

      Delete
  6. The heat was certainly ON this week (and the humidity as well). We had a mostly shaded ride this morning, but I find the bugs are terrible and a much bigger nuisance among all the trees and brush. Add in the sweaty skin, and it can get rather icky. At least riding in the sun isn't as "hot" as running in it...usually.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sorry about your wrist. I hope it heals quickly.

    Nope, never tried a subscription box.

    The humidity was rough this week. I walk a lot and don't beat myself up about it. Distance not speed, I say.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ouch about your wrist! That's sucky. And I agree about how you don't realize how much you need your wrist until its injured. I broke mine in college and I can relate. I am hoping for a good diagnosis and recover plan. I can also so relate to be bigillion degree humidity. I feel sweaty for hours after I am done running. Here is to cooler temperatures!

    ReplyDelete
  9. ooh sorry to read about your wrist! I hope it turns out to be nothing too serious. At least you can still run! I used to get a few subscription boxes but not anymore. It is always fun to get mail though!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, Wendy, I'm so sorry about your wrist. I know the feeling when you get a diagnosis that is so hard to digest and to have to try not to cry..but you're tough and you'll get through it. And you can still RUN- yay!

    Those biting flies...ugh. They were bad at Dustin's family's cabin this weekend in Wisconsin. The poor dogs were not happy!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ugh the wrist. Unfortunately I know how it feels to be a runner with a hand injury and it still sucks!

    Amazing shot of the leaping deer!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yikes! Sorry to hear about your hand injury. Hope the ultrasound goes well. The flies sound miserable. Knock wood, I've not encountered them yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know if you venture off the main trail onto the single tracks into the woods. That's where they live...

      Delete
  13. Not a subscription box person, but love the idea of them supporting small businesses
    Great deer shot!
    Boo on the hand, hope you get good answers this week
    Those bridges look wonderfully evil!

    ReplyDelete
  14. wow, Wendy that really sucks about your wrist. Hopefully it can be treated and healed quickly!!

    I had to chuckle a bit about "run on the surface of the sun" - gah I know those kinds of runs... and 8000% humidity is pretty bad!!

    Love the funrunbox - it's always great to support the little guys and get some fun stuff out of the deal. I don't think we have those things here otherwise I'd probably be all over it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was wondering if anyone would catch that...lol...it was ridiculously hot and at 6 am too!

      Delete
  15. Sorry about the wrist, hope for at least news on what it is so you can work on getting it better.

    I sprained my thumb the other day or something, just gripping my swiss ball chair. Felt it go, ouch, then it was just a bit stiff till I happened to look at it and I had a HUGE bruise! Ugh. Pretty well faded now.

    It was 66 degrees for my 7am run today and that was enough for me. I try, but I'll never be a hot weather runner!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Same here - a runner with an upper body injury! I tripped and fell running last week and broke my arm! And I agree - you don't realize how much you use an arm until every damn thing you do hurts. Whomp whomp. Speedy healing to both of us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh wow! I am so sorry to hear this! But you are still running, am i right?

      Heal quickly!

      Delete
    2. I am still running ... but I am a bit terrified. I'm obviously such a klutz - what if I trip and fall again and break my OTHER arm?? What I'm doing now is focusing on my gait, lifting my feet more than I think I need to, and watching the sidewalk 100% of the time. Not as fun or carefree, but necessary at least until this one arm heals.

      Delete
    3. This is what I do on the trails even when I'm not injured. It's a must--or else you're going down. You'll be ok. <3

      Delete
  17. I hope your wrist heals quickly, Wendy! With your busy strength training and running schedule, I can imagine it's not easy having this injury. I hope you can find ways to work around it while it heals.

    The deer photo is so funny. I had a deer spit in my direction once. They're not as nice as people think they are :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard stories about mean deer. But it's so disheartening!! lol

      Delete
  18. I am sorry to hear about your wrist. Hopefully soon you get an official diagnosis and a plan to heal. Years ago I had a subscription for StrideBox but now cannot remember why I cancelled it. I am curious about the liquid I.V. because I've heard so much about it but have not tried it yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa has tried it--and she likes it. I will let you know once I put it in my water bottle!

      Delete
  19. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you for the best possible news about your wrist.

    That is a pretty amazing shot of the deer - I guess he wasn't a fan of the paparazzi LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nice pic of the deer! That wrist issue does not appear to be holding you back a whole lot (great job getting all of those workouts in!) - but I hope it does heal up fast for you. I agree - my forearm has been bothering me for a bit and I never realized how much I use that muscle, which is feeling pretty weak right now.

    ReplyDelete