Listen to your Gut

My words of wisdom for today:

Listen to your gut.

When you have that "something's wrong" feeling and you can't shake it, believe it.

A few weeks ago, maybe 3 weeks ago now, I noticed my foot was hurting. I couldn't pinpoint any specific event that caused it, I just noticed it. That's not to say it didn't hurt much; it hurt quite a bit. But I have a famously high pain threshold, and I tend to ignore little aches and pains as part of growing older and part of working out regularly. I did start icing and compressing this foot pretty much as soon as I noticed it. But, of course, I could walk on it, so I did. And I continued to work out on it.

A few days in, I said to my Hubby, "I think I may have a stress fracture" but I didn't have any 'proof' other than the pain. So, I kept doing what I do.

After a couple weeks of icing and compressing with no improvement, I finally decided to visit a doctor. So, I looked up orthopedists and podiatrists on my insurance's provider website and started calling around. I took an appointment with the one who could see me soonest.

First visit.... he examines my foot and talks to me. He 'thinks' it's a sprain. He tapes it, tells me to wear the tape for a couple days, then go for xrays and come back to him in a week. In the meantime, I can work out, as tolerated. (insert rolling eyes here)

In my mind, I thought the xrays should have come before the diagnosis and the okay to continue working out. But what do I know, right? I'm not a doctor....

Yesterday was my return visit.

My gut was right. I have 2 fractures in my right foot.

If I has listened to my gut, I'd be 2 weeks ahead in the healing process.... but no. I didn't listen to my own body; I ignored it; I didn't trust it.

Hard-learned lesson: Trust your body. It tells you when something is wrong, if you'll just listen! Don't push it down and push on; injuries heal with rest and time. Give your body rest, and time.