Ankle pain (OMG not again)

[ny biker]

I am definitely lucky that cycling is generally considered an okay activity when you have ankle problems. I will try to ramp things up slowly once I can stop wearing the boot, because I don't want to end up hurting something else due to trying to do too much too soon. So I'll probably start with easy rail-trail rides on the mountain bike with flat pedals, then if all goes well will progress to relatively short flat road rides.

If I couldn't ride my bike, I think I might look into swimming, even though I suck at it and look hideous in a swim suit. And I actually do want to try flat water kayaking one of these days. I'm glad it's something you're able to do, Pax. I know some people who have had leg injuries that prevented them from kayaking because they were not able to get in or out of the boat. Also I've thought about your reluctance to get a handicapped placard for your car -- more than once I have wished I could park in a handicapped spot over the past few weeks. Most of the time I'm fine when I'm out shopping, but sometimes I am just tired and the boot is just not comfortable. And we don't have reserved parking spaces at my condo, but if you have a handicapped placard the management office will designate a space near your door for you to use. Since I typically get home late, I usually have to park several doors down from my building and I'm always carrying stuff and there's just enough of an incline in the parking lot to make it hard to walk with the boot. So I completely understand reasons for not wanting to get that handicapped tag, but at the same time if this was not a short-term thing I would already have asked the doctor to fill out the form for me.

Meanwhile, one thing I am still able to do is upper body weight training at the gym. I'm going tonight. Still have to do a modified version of the workout I was doing before, but that's certainly better than nothing. Another thing that I've thought about recently -- I never went to the gym before I had the ankle surgery back in the day. But I struggled so much with the crutches after surgery, once the physical therapy was over I decided to join a gym. At the time I just wanted to make sure to have enough upper body strength if I ever needed crutches again. But it turned out that I liked weight training enough to stick with it for all these years. And the personal trainer that I met when I first moved to DC and joined a gym here was very helpful and supportive when I bought a bike and then bought another one and started to do longer rides. And he's been helpful and supportive in other ways, up to and including this here current ankle problem. The ankle surgery was painful and disruptive, but it did start me on a path with all sorts of unexpected consequences -- friendships and empowering accomplishments.

[north woods gal]

Plus one on the kayaking suggestion for anyone with leg or foot issues, but, yes, getting in and out is the challenge. My hubby can't walk or stand for long periods of time and struggles, at times, to get in and out of his kayak, but once in, he loves it. Kayaking is a great sport in its own right. My preferred watercraft is a solo canoe. Pretty much grew up in a canoe. One advantage for a canoe is that getting in and out of a canoe is a much easier thing to do. Does require more expertise as far as knowledge of paddling and paddling strokes, but you can use an extra long double bladed kayak style paddle designed for solo canoeing and do quite well. Not as traditional, but using a double-bladed canoe paddle is easier than using a single blade canoe paddle. I carry both in my canoe.

[Pax]

Only way I can get in or out of a kayak is at wading depth, docks don't work, thankfully not an issue where we are in FL.

For all you gals that say you can't swim or don't swim well, I dearly wish I could get an hour of pool time with each of you! Swimming is a complicated mix of movements, and one piece of the movement being out of sync is usually what causes the issue... a short time with someone who knows what they're looking for, a bit of coaching, and it almost always fixes the issue.

[Crankin]

I find that I can't lift my left arm up and back enough to do the front stroke. I can't float on my back, either. Just sink... Plus, I just hate putting my face in the water. Wearing contacts makes it worse. I can't get them wet, but even after finding jr. sized goggles for my pinhead, I struggle. Covering up any one of my 5 senses makes me feel claustrophobic and sends me into a state of near panic. Swimming without my contacts just renders me blind and gives me the same claustrophobic feeling. Then, I worry about drowning. I mean, I can swim enough to tread water, etc, but I feel like I need to be able to stand up if I am tired. So, during those times I have had to swim for exercise, I do the breast stroke, pretty much without putting my face in the water. I spent the first 15 years of my life at the Cape every summer, in the ocean, but I didn't really swim, like for exercise. And was always wearing a pfd when sailing, which was a big thing for me (I did Sunfish racing as a young teen). So, this is why I always laughed about 10 years ago, when people tried to get me to do a triathlon.

[Pax]

I find that I can't lift my left arm up and back enough to do the front stroke. I can't float on my back, either. Just sink... Plus, I just hate putting my face in the water. Wearing contacts makes it worse. I can't get them wet, but even after finding jr. sized goggles for my pinhead, I struggle. Covering up any one of my 5 senses makes me feel claustrophobic and sends me into a state of near panic. Swimming without my contacts just renders me blind and gives me the same claustrophobic feeling. Then, I worry about drowning. I mean, I can swim enough to tread water, etc, but I feel like I need to be able to stand up if I am tired. So, during those times I have had to swim for exercise, I do the breast stroke, pretty much without putting my face in the water. I spent the first 15 years of my life at the Cape every summer, in the ocean, but I didn't really swim, like for exercise. And was always wearing a pfd when sailing, which was a big thing for me (I did Sunfish racing as a young teen). So, this is why I always laughed about 10 years ago, when people tried to get me to do a triathlon.

I could so help you! I'd modify your stroke or teach you a better form for backstroke until you got comfortable. I taught adult TOW (terrified of water) classes for years and never failed to get someone comfortable in the water, basic desensitization techniques... although a therapist who recognizes what I'm doing would be more challenging.

My wife also has a tiny head and awful vision, I got her some of these and they helped a bunch: http://www.speedousa.com/jr-vanquish.../style-7500602

[Crankin]

Ha, I know I could conquer it if I wanted to, I just don't. I don't even have a swim membership at my gym, too much $ for something I will never use.
Those are the goggles I bought at one time, thanks to everyone here at TE.
We do have a very nice kevlar canoe, that we haven't used in 3-4 years. DH did some repair on it last summer, when he wasn't working, so we will try to use it a bit this year. We only do flat water ponds, though. I always feel that canoeing for an afternoon is taking away from my riding time, though, at the peak of summer weather. Will force myself this year, after my cycling vacation.

[Pax]

You sound so much like my wife, she just sees "water things" as not very interesting. Although she's coming on board with the kayaking.