Thank You! from the Sprained Ankle Girl

[miki]

Wanted to give a huge thank you to everyone who helped me or offered kind words to me on the trail today at Big Basin. Especially, all of you who stopped your run when I first went down, to Fred (50K) for running all the way back to the Start to get help, and to Kristin who seemed uncomfortable leaving me even after she insisted on and found a sturdy stick to help me hobble back (which really helped by the way). I can't thank you enough for taking care of me out there. Looks like running might be out for me for the rest of the year, but I look forward to taking care of you at the aid stations. Thank you runners.

~Miki

p.s. And Park Ranger Band for giving me a lift from the fireroad!

[willgotthardt]

Miki-

Sorry to see that ankle, wish you the best with recovery.



Get well.

Will G.

[miki]

Next race I volunteer, I guarantee energy bars.

[thr3ee]

Miki,

I was so sorry to hear about your ankle. I know it was such a long recovery for you last time that it has to be frustrating. Since it is not as bad a sprang, hopefully it won't take so long to get back on your feet. Try to look on the bright side. I think that your ankle was simply trying to avoid the infest of yellow jackets that it knew lay ahead on the trail.

-Steve (the wasp magnet)

[fredx]

Hey Miki,

I totally felt your pain when you said, "Awww, there goes thingy Collins!" That's heartbreaking. It was way cool that so many folks stopped for you and gave you the help you needed. I so love the ultra community!

Running back to the start wasn't a big deal, because I was packing extra miles on top of yesterday anyway. Starting the run again three miles behind everyone else, it gave me free license to spend the whole day "head hunting"!

I love Wendell's response to the ranger when he asked why someone would be running something like this while recovering from a sprained ankle. He just said, "Hey, it's a beautiful park!" Indeed.

Wishing you a speedy recovery,

- Fred

[miki]

I am sooo glad I missed the yellow jackets. They got me 6 times 2 years ago and I have been nervous about them in Big Basin ever since. This year sounded horrific (Incidentally Aaron Doman's term for how my ankle looked). I was, in fact, trying to see that as a positive thing yesterday Steve.

Fred, thanks again. Packing extra miles or not, it was a wonderful thing to do. I didn't hear about the conversation between Wendell and the ranger. How funny. On the ride back, I was telling the ranger that there is something "odd" about Big Basin as I always seem to have some problem when I come here. He said that of all the people he has come to rescue, no one had blamed him and the park before for their accident. We had a good laugh over that.

Thanks for the thoughts guys. And yes, the ultra community does rock.

[Pacific Coast Trail Runs]

That does sound like a term Aaron would use for your swollen ankle - he tends toward brutal honesty like that.

Oh, Miki, I can't TELL how sad I was when I saw that it was YOU getting out of the ranger's truck! As I told Flora on the drive home, I was picturing some stranger, just some "woman with a sprained ankle" to get of his truck, NOT OUR LITTLE MIKI who's just coming back from the same injury!! You kept a very, very brave face yesterday, Miki, 'cause I can only guess how frustrating and disappointing it was to think about dealing with your ankle again.

Hope that it really is a lot less serious this time and that you've learned some good healing secrets that you can use.

Looking forward to seeing you as often as usual, just on the same side of the aid station table for awhile...

Sarah

[miki]

I think it *is* a lot less serious this time. The swelling has gone down slightly today and I do not have all that incredible bruising that I had on the last one. So, hopefully recovery time will be less, but I am trying to promise myself that I will take it easy for reals this time around.

And Sarah, I was holding it together pretty well yesterday but when I started talking to you at the Start/Finish after hopping out of the truck, I almost lost it. Especially when you told me that I *should* feel sorry for myself because I DO!! But, I actually ended up having a good time hanging out and Aaron was great. He seemed to have a good time harassing me, especially after eating about 8 Airheads (??).

[Pacific Coast Trail Runs]

Were you still there to hear his sugar-induced song?

"Just about all I had to eat today was pretty much candy..."

While the verse included a quick mention of cantaloupe & Pringles, it was a happy song that was a sad commentary on our parenting skills...

He had a great time hanging out with you, too - although I must say that I'm glad that he figured out how to still take photos with those straight-jacket-sleeves.

Glad that the swelling's gone done some already! That's great news, as is that it's not all discolored this time.

See you soon!

Sarah

[miki]

He refused to let me untie them! And I am sorry to say that I missed the candy song. Lol.

[willgotthardt]

Miki-

Just curious how your injury is coming along...also interested to hear how the long the initial swelling lasted?

I rolled my right ankle today (pretty bad) during the Carmel Valley event. Easily twice the size of my left...once I arrived home, unable to stand any weight bearing. I do still have decent range of motion (can twirl it slowly around w/o much pain in air).

Been awhile since I've had this type of injury. Doing the basic RICE treatment, any advice much appreciated.

Thanks, Will G.

[CDP]

Will...sorry to hear of your ankle injury...I did a number on my ankle at the Stinson Beach run last November...I'm 51 and it had been about 20 years or so since my last bad ankle sprain...This sprain took much much longer to heal...I recommend quickly getting to a Dr. for the routine x-ray and then to physical therapy. ...My first "post Stinson sprain" race was in August and did Angel Island in Sept...and yes I'm going to be at Stinson Beach this November...Hope your ankle comes around quickly.

[nightowl]

I had really good results with acupuncture for a sprained ankle a few months ago.

I recommend Edith Chan www.edithchanacupuncture.com/ who does sports acupuncture. I was back to running in 3 days after seeing her.

Its a great deal, you get about 60 min of massage and 20 mins of acupuncture for $80. NFI

Good luck with your recovery
Craig

[miki]

Sorry to hear that Will. And you were just getting back to running as well. What is wrong with us.

My update: Still slightly swollen and very mildly bruised. But walking strong, even up and down stairs normally.

I think I would recommend any type of physical therapy or treatment AND the whole RICE thing. The fact that you could not bear weight on it sound serious.
I am a slow healer and I need the extra help to get the fluids flowing through my injuries. I am of the mind ( so far ) that acupuncture needles alone for a severe injury is great, but slow, unless you do something else along with it. My most effective treatment so far was Tuina. It is a type of therapeutic asian bodywork massage, and by therapeutic, I mean it can be extremely painful. It depends on your condition. I got a treatment last week and went from hobbling slowly sideways to walking forward normally with no pain (immediately after treatment). I was pretty thrilled. I am still not ready to run, but I am 100% more functional. I plan on making another appointment with this practitioner tomorrow. I can give you her information if you are interested. I also belong to an acupuncture school and could probably get you a first treatment for free if you are interested in that as well.

A friend also recently recommended this PT place (in Santa Clara I think). She sprained her ankle right before her first half marathon, ran it anyways, and ended up with a pretty bad ankle. She used them to recover. www.teamclinic.com/default.htm.

Hope that helps. So to recap, I have done the acupuncture needles and Tuina. I plan on following up with more of both and maybe also the PT place as well. I think my wobble board and proprioception exercises helped the last time, but I obviously need more help.

Oh, and Arnica Gel (Wholefoods has it) is also a nice soothing pain relieving topical you can use. Another friend prefers the ingestible Traumede (also Wholefoods. They have an external ointment too).

Email me if you want more info
[e-mail]

[willgotthardt]

Elaine/Craig/Miki-

Appreciate the replies...helpful.

Grade II sprain, will be posting seperate thread/pics later today.

I'm taking an aggressive approach to the rehab, using a program from the English Premiership Football (soccer) League.

Ambitious as it may sound (once you see photos), I still plan on running 11/24 Quad Dipsea, possibly even Stinson 11/10...we'll see.

Thanks again, Will G.