The Fortnight from Hell is Messing with my Skating

When I had to cancel my skating because I have to work this weekend.

 Last Wednesday, I was told I had to go to on business travel that Saturday.  My sore foot got me out of that.  But I was stuck in a video conference and had to get to work way too early because time zones. Then the regular shit piled up. 

 My coach's little student said she was worried about me, 

I've been gone so long but...

I think I will skate this Thursday-Sunday,

since  I have maxed out my overtime.

Die of Happiness

 

 

When the truth comes out

I KNEW IT!

XKCD

Foot Pain Diagnosis

What it feels like

What it is

Hallux Rigidus---

Stiff Big Toe

Left- Healthy  Right--Unhealthy

Actually, my doctor called it a classic case (pain in the big toe, pain in the joint, and pain betwee 1st and 2nd metatarsals). I thought it was just old age, but he said it was actually arthritis.  

I wish I had a copy of the X-ray. It was really spectacular. The joint had a bone spur that folded in on itself.

There's like a hundred treatments for this, including replacement of the joint. Fortunately, even though it hurts so much I occasionally am in intense pain, he says I have a mild case. He prescribed steroids for 12 days. If that doesn't work, then before Lake Placid, he'll give me a cortisone shot to get me through the week. If it gets worse after that, I'll consider surgery.

Temporarily, he told me to put stiff insoles in to keep my big toe from bending at all. See, that's why I go to my hockey coach podiatrist. He has practical advice too.

Woohoo! At least I'll have an excuse to avoid the Christmas show if I have to have surgery!!!

 

 

 

Edited All Spin Day in Lesson

So my right foot is still killing me, so coach decided to make it an "All Spin Day!" since I spin on my left foot.

First Spin

Second Spin

My coach actually said "Phenomenal" to this one

Note: I don't travel. Travel is scary.

Then coach started me on "Two foot sit spins"

 source

I can get all.the.way down. And I can get up. And I can do 3 rotations.

But coach says, "Arch your back,  tuck your  upper arms next to your body, but push your hands forward.

"Wait!!" I cried, "You want me to do a sit spin with Tyrannosaurus Rex arms?!"

Apparently so. And it works.

Flash Back 4th of July Fantasy Ice Show!

Basic 1 skater practices keeping his head up

Basic 2 skaters keep their eye on their caoch

Does this hat make my head look fat?

Costumes the Adult Skaters wanted for their number

Costumes they got!

Coach, I need some "patton" before I go on!

Skating director exhorts, "Go out, skate good, and remember have a good time!"

Happy 4th of July

Everyone on the east coast, stay as cool as you can! Good luck getting power back.

My Odometer

Damn You, Figure Skating!!

Edited: Olympic Figure Skating Judging

When someone asks me to explain IJS

But here's a video!

Skating with a Foot Injury

Somehow I injured my right foot. I don't know how. Just one day I was skating and my big toe started hurting at the joint. Coincidentally, I couldn't get to the rink for a couple of weeks, so I let it rest. That'll do it, I thought. Rest. Always a winner.

The pain got worse over the next two weeks, and  extended up to the tendon between the metatarsals of my first and second toe.  It may be 'extensor tendenitis'.

It could also be sesamoiditis

Thursday, I went to group and it hurt so bad, I couldn't walk in my boot from the bench to the ice. I went home

Saturday, I treated it with OTC painkillers, made adjustments to my insole so it raised my big toe to take the stress off. I could skate for an hour.

When I told my coach I believed wedging the inside egde of my insole would take the stress off my foot she said:

All the adult skaters getting off freestyle laughed when they heard that.
I'm going to assume it's a laugh of affectionate sympathy.

I have an appointment with my hockey coaching podiatrist on the 10th. Let this all be over with a cortisone shot.