It’s the First Sunday in Advent – rejoice

Since this is the Sunday of Hope, I will set aside my tendency to rant about the inconsistent and less than stellar political leadership on the topic of the day/week/month/year and instead talk about the joys of trying to keep fit…

For some of us, as you know, it is not easy to stay in good physical shape. Even if I eat well, I can put on weight. Some claim my problems relate to liquid intake, except that when I went on that elongated abstinence kick from late 1982 through 2000 I became the heaviest I ever was. So I think it is genetic or obtuse fate or something extraterrestrial even. The point in all this is that I do work at trying to extend the life of my body, even though like climate change, I’m really not likely to be anymore successful than the planet earth will be – cosmic issues always will supercede our meagre earth-based visions.

On Friday it was mini-workout day on the schedule. Not an overly difficult routine, it nevertheless does require some stamina, lots of stretching and certainly persistence. If I am really on my game the entire activity concludes with three mini-segments of skipping (something some Saskatchewan Roughrider friends taught me to do in the early eighties). Friday was no different in that while it was a bit cold it was not unbearable. But when I got outside I discovered that the winds were significant – up to, and at times over, 50 km/hr. I found that my skipping rope was constantly being buffeted about, causing me to miss a step, catch the rope on my shoes or stumble. Finally after many attempts and switching directions I completed the targeted 20/20/20. In doing so I probably had over 100 attempts at twirling the rope.

Then a funny thing happened. After changing from my workout gear to jeans and a sweater, I noticed a wee pain in my lower leg/ankle area. But I didn’t think too much about it and while it caused me at times to limp a bit, after working around the block after lunch I felt much better. Surprise, surprise – by evening the pain was more noticeably there although not excruciating. I managed to fall sleep okay and as I went to bed I applied some Volteran.

Very early Saturday morning I was awakened by a sharp pain near my heel. I got up, and could hardly walk. I made it down to my study and immediately began to research pain and/or inflamation of the Achilles Tendon and the heel. I knew it was not a Covid-19 issue. Earlier in my life I had suffered from plantar fasciitis but I knew it wasn’t this either. The only thing it reminded me a bit about was carpal tunnel syndrome which befell me in the early days of consulting when I would try to hold up to three briefcases in my hands while catching airplanes. Well eventually my research led me to the Mayo Clinic site. Ever since my days at the U of Minnesota I have been a fan of that clinic’s research and assessment skills.

Lo and behold it appears that I have Achilles Tendinitis. While I still have to get it confirmed by a doctor, I decided to follow their suggestion that I bike before I jog or play weekend basketball (neither of which I do anyway). Moreover they suggested I refrain from jumping which again I didn’t think I did. However a neighbour, who is a retired nurse, suggested that the difficult skipping moment in the wind should be equated to serious jumping. It was even suggested that was likely the cause and that I should be careful not to over exert for the next few days so as not to further strain or even rupture my left Achilles.

I am following that advice as well as other suggestions including Ibuprofen. This is not a fun injury. I hobble like I’m a very old geezer. I feel the pain constantly. And I would like to suggest to you that you moderate any fitness regime that might tend to put extra pressure on your Achilles. You do not want to strain it, nor injury it, let alone tear or rupture it. This is a very important tendon in your body (for one thing it keeps the foot properly aligned) and without it you are likely in a wheelchair — like forever.

Sorry to take so long to get to this piece of advice but the pain occasionally causes me to slow down my typing. This is not fun. So while I’m sure this is better than getting another concussion, I am going forward with more care and attention re my Achilles, if for no other reason than the affliction that has touched me has a proclivity to impact older men…

By the way, enjoy Advent… I still have hope…

As always,
g.w.