TitaniumJohnny: The Crash and Journey Back to Running – PT 4

I returned to work just 2 months after my accident. What can I say? I truly love my job. On my first day back, I was in a wheelchair with a neck brace, but it felt great to be there. I could stand and walk briefly with a cane, but it was tiring. It would be weeks before I could use a walker and go the distance, as my right arm was still healing from two fractures. Standing was limited as I worked to regain strength and manage pain in my titanium-reinforced leg. My foot fracture had healed well and caused no issues. The leg pain, however, came in stages. titaniumjohnny’s running recovery journey has been filled with ups and downs. Each small victory, like finally shedding my wheelchair for a walker, added fuel to my determination. I was learning to embrace the challenge, understanding that progress takes time and patience.

The pain pattern went like this: In the nursing facility, I’d have no pain when I was laying still in my bed. Discomfort would increase as I neared the next dose, especially after rehab sessions. Eventually, I could handle discomfort through the day and I only took pain meds at night to sleep. If my leg wasn’t hurting, my neck was, due to the uncomfortable brace I had to wear until my fusion healed. I stayed on NSAIDs to reduce leg inflammation. Besides the fracture, my leg’s lymphatic system needed healing. I had to keep it elevated at the end of the day to reduce the swelling, otherwise rehab the next day would be difficult to do not to mention everything else.

To explain the discomfort: On a 1-10 scale, with 10 being unbearable. Early on, pain was throughout my lower leg. When in bed or sitting it would linger around a 2 to 3.  When I started walking and standing, the pain centered around the hardware. I’d tolerate up to 8 daily when i was active. It felt like an aggressive deep tissue massage. On really bad days it would feel like repeated shin kicks from a 5 year old kid in steel-toed boots. I had various prescribed pain meds, and with my nurse practitioner’s help, I eliminated most. I kept some handy for tough nights and days. Strengthening glutes for better running has become a focal point in my recovery. By focusing on these muscles, I’ve noticed improved stability, which lessens the strain on my lower legs. This adjustment not only enhances my running posture but also reduces the likelihood of future injuries.

While at work, I pushed hard to rely less on the wheelchair. Each week, I could stand and walk longer. I had a wheelchair at home and a lightweight one for work and errands that I would take with me in the car. I balanced daily activities with time to allow for leg swelling to reduce. Physical and occupational therapy got more challenging, but I made steady progress. The trend was always “improving”. By late October, I was off all pain meds, using NSAIDs as needed for leg swelling and pain. I started incorporating running recovery techniques for athletes into my routine, which helped me manage fatigue and enhance my overall strength. These techniques emphasized proper stretching and cooldowns, allowing my muscles to adapt better to increased activity levels. As a result, I felt more energized and capable of tackling my daily challenges.

I had good and bad days. Bad days came from poor sleep or pain elsewhere in my body. Poor sleep was often the result from walking too much earlier. In September, I retired the wheelchair, though I still had strategically placed chairs at work for breaks and leg relief. I switched from a cane to a walker as my arm healed enough to support my weight, despite the pain from two titanium plates. I had to stop using the cane as I was developing a bad swagger. Gradually, I was able to walk further and visit my local HEB (that’s an awesome grocery store for you non-Texans). At first, I could only make it to the back of the store and back to my car. Over time, I added more aisles.

October came, and I found my daily activities leaving me totally exhausted. I thought maybe I was pushing too hard. Every year in October I get my blood work done and I did. My annual blood work revealed I was anemic for the first time ever. No wonder I was tired! Even with an iron-rich diet, I needed to eat more and take an iron supplement. After supplementing with a prescribed iron supplement and eating more iron rich foods my energy levels returned, I could walk further, stand longer, and get more done. My first outdoor walk with a cane was at a local park. It took everything i had to walk 200 meters, leaving me sore. I made my daily walks my last activity of the day before going home to elevate my leg all evening. If my leg wasn’t swollen the next morning, I’d try to stand or walk more during the day. Eventually, I could walk a mile in 40 minutes – a huge achievement for me. So I kept pushing. By the end of December I was up to a 2 mile walk. It felt like a hard 6 mile run. By the way It took 8 months to normalize my iron levels.

Sleeping became challenging again when winter hit as temperature changes affected the nerves in my leg when it was swollen. A heating blanket helped maintain temperature, allowing me to sleep through the night again. Usually, a cool spot is welcomed when sleeping, but not when leg nerves are irritated from swelling. Progress continued, and I had a follow-up with my orthopedic team in December to check on the progress of my leg. I got a CT scan, and they didn’t like what they saw…

But Wait There’s More In The Next Installment:

Visiting the Non-Union Bone Specialist