On Tuesday I sprained my ankle, immediately after deciding "just one more
hit, then time to go home".
I was immediately surrounded by concerned fencers, who were quite
dissapointed that they didn't get
to use anything from the first aid kit (my ankle was already bandaged due
to general weakness and a
bruised joint).
After waiting for several hours in a public hospital to get my ankle
X-rayed, it was declared to be not
serious, and I was issued with crutches.
I took the rest of the week off sick, partly due to the insistance of my
boyfriend, David, partly due to the pain
I received every time I knocked it on something, mostly due to the fact I
couldn't get my shoe on
over the swelling.
It was a restful week, spent mostly in bed, on the couch, or at the
computer, due to the inconvinience
of crutches.
Following a sucessful Xena marathon on the weekend, I am back at work on my
crutches. I have developed
a great dislike of those crutches, I swear they hurt more than the ankle.
Much to David's horror, I
have abandoned them over short distances. "See, I can walk fine!" (limp,
hobble, hop).
I am beginning to miss fencing. After regular exercise for 3 years, I'm no
longer used to prolonged
inactivity.
The crutches have done horrible things to my back, my chiropractor was
appalled. I've been so focused
on the pain in my ankle and shoulders I didn't really notice that my neck
had gone ridgid. The relief when
it was released was quite remarkable. I will be coming weekly until I
recover from the crutches.
With this in mind, I discard the crutches for good. "I can walk fine, stop
fussing." (limp, hobble).
Fencing withdrawal is beginning to set in. I frequently get the urge to
poke and whack things, things usually
being David whenever he strays within reach. He has become very good at
dodging
My limp is now barely noticable, the crutches have been returned to the
hospital. Unfortunately I still have
trouble on all but level terrain, my ankle is still very stiff and so has
trouble with ramps and is too weak to
propel me up stairs. I also have to watch out for cracks in the pavement,
snagging my foot on them is
quite a painful experience, and the aforementioned stiffness means I'm not
lifting my toes enough to clear
them normally.
This greater mobility allows me to pursue David when he dodges. He is
becoming quite good at parrying.
The limp is still doing nasty things to my back and giving me headaches.
Chiropractor is getting lots of
my business.
I can now walk up shallow stairs, and handle ramps. Still can't do fencing
footwork though, ankle is far too
stiff. Despite this lack I successfully held my own in a duel with
computer accessories against David.
Last night I dreamt I was fencing.
I climb stairs now, not quite with ease, but I climb them. Still getting
regular twinges from my ankle though.
The worst time is first thing in the morning, after a night of inactivity I
can barely move it at all. Once it warms
up it's not too bad though.
My ever increasing mobility enables me to continue my random attacks on
David. I must say he is being
remarkably tolerant, and it's very nice of him to keep massaging my calves
and ankles for me.
Fencing invades my thoughts during idle moments. I have drawn up a plan to
build an olympic-style fencing
venue out of lego, and am regularly e-mailing the club committee with
suggestions and ideas for the club.
They are also being remarkably tolerant.
With lots of warm up I can do footwork! No lunging yet, alas, but still
this is a wonderful development. David's
riposte's and counter attacks have become a problem, but I can get around
this by giving him a hug first, and
waiting until he lets his guard down.
During meetings at work I fantasize about fencing.
Fencing withdrawal has become chronic. When David wasn't looking I swung
some of my replica swords in
the lounge room. I am becoming increasingly prone to violent outbursts.
Fortunately David only seems to
be amused when I fling things across the kitchen and thump inanimate
objects.
"My ankle is fine. I can fence. I promise I won't lunge." If I don't hit
something soon (with a sabre, as opposed
to my fists), then I will go crazy.
Tuesday night I dragged David along to fencing practice, and did some foot
work, some blade work, and then
some actual fencing with extremely limited footwork. It felt good, but
alas I have lost much fitness and could not
keep it up for long, even if David would have let me. By the time we got
home I was fully recovered, and still
on an adrenalin high from the fencing, so poked and prodded David as he was
washing dishes, until he brought
soapy water into play.
Still no lunging, but I am fencing again, and I am happy. I suspect David
is too, although I still jab at him every
now and then just to help keep his reflexes sharp. Ankle isn't perfect
yet, and my back is still a mess from not
walking properly, but things continue to improve and I hope to be back to
normal in another month.
I'm not addicted to fencing, I could quit any time I wanted to.