I need some advice from those of you who have come back from a significant "self inflicted" injury.
In some of my previous posts I have referred to the fact that I have developed a stress fracture in my femur. (The little part where the thigh locks into the hip) This occurred last March. For the last seven months I have been trying to recover from this injury while seeing a sports doc every four weeks. Each appointment is pretty much the same, he asks me how it's feeling, I say it hurts here but longer there, he does a few manipulations, tells me it takes a while to heal and instructs me to reschedule in another four weeks.
Okay. I am so "over" this now. I want this to be healed and it's not. It is better than it was this fall. But it seems to be two steps forward and one step back. I feel tremendous guilt when I do my cardio on the bike or elliptical because I worry that even if I'm not hurting it more I may be preventing it from healing further. I did have his consent to do this type of cardio by the way. I also noticed little change when I
did take ten days off from the gym over the holiday/stomach flu week.
On Thursday I have my follow up appointment again and I am just
filled with dread and anxiety over this. I want something more proactive in trying to heal this injury. I just don't know what it should be. I mean really, I don't know that these appointments have any added value for me. I'm still injured, I can't do any weighted exercises without bad consequences.
What should I do? What questions should I pose to this person about my recovery? Am I just being unrealistic about my expectations to be fully healed or should I be frustrated at this point.
The thing is I really think that I am at the right place. This group is on staff at the university as assistant professors and docs to the athletes there. I guess I'm just freaking out because I know spring is around the corner and I'm still feeling like I'm not going to be healed enough to play soccer with my three year old and tennis with my eight year old.
I am also struggling with trying to maintain some form of fitness through this time. I still do upper body three time a week. My upper body and abs are looking good. Unfortunately, the bottom no longer matches the top. Add to the fact that I'm pear shaped anyway...
Sorry for the long post and vent. Any advice? Maybe I should just find a new hobby?
Okay, I feel better now. I just needed to get this out and see it on "paper." Damn, it just felt so darn good several days before Christmas. I'm so confused...