Out of the Woods

Today I was liberated from the stiff plastic prison of a therapeutic boot. I’ve just returned from my last visit to an orthopedic doctor for a fractured fibula. It’s been four weeks living in that boot. My doctor said I could ween myself out of it and wouldn’t require physical therapy. I’m so relieved! Actually this news isn’t a surprise because my ankle really is feeling so much better. Being a yogi, I try to be aware of my body. I was confident I’d get my hall pass out today. I’m convinced that yoga helped speed my recovery in the minimum amount of time predicted.On September 8th, I was walking our dog in the neighborhood. Beatrix was walking obediently, when I stepped down on uneven pavement five blocks from home. I rolled my left ankle far to the outside and heard a sickening crack. Hit with instant pain, I sunk to the curb and made myself take deep breaths while I fought off nausea. Five minutes later attempting to bear weight, I found I could hobble home. Finally home I swallowed a couple of ibuprofen, wrapped a bag of ice around my ankle and laid on my bed to cry. I rested next to a stack of folded clothes staged to go in my suitcase. My husband and I were readying to leave on a hiking trip to Glacier National Park in Montana the next day

The ice, medication and rest helped, and I woke up an hour later feeling better. After showering I stepped into a stretchy ankle wrap found in our first aid box. I was to meet some friends for lunch that day. We’d planned meeting a month before. There was a little swelling, but I could walk on it, so decided it was probably just sprained. Luckily I could still drive. My friend at lunch who is a retired nurse urged me to have the ankle looked at before the trip west. Lori said, “Just so you know what you’re dealing with”. I’m so glad I took her advice.

I signed in at urgent care, had an x-ray and got the verdict, “cracked tip of the fibula with torn ligaments”. Presented with the boot, the doctor told me it would be a minimum of 4 and possibly up to 8 weeks to heal. He stated, “No hiking for you!” Shocked it was that serious, I went home to try to decide what to do about the trip and “break” the news to my husband Mark. Afterwork he came in and saw me sitting there wearing my boot. He said, “why didn’t you call me?” “I wanted to get a diagnosis first,” I said. Mark left to get me a prescription filled for pain medicine, then came home to fix dinner. Next he got busy on the phone and called the airlines, lodgings and rental car place to get our Montana arrangements canceled. He was on the phone a long time, but managed to get refunds and credits for everything. That alone made me feel better. We learned if you have a diagnosis and a doctor’s name, the airline will allow credits on your flights. Unfortunately, Mark decided to go to work the next day. Side note… the following day was my birthday. I was seriously blue (and black and yellow and all different bruise colors). Mark came home after a half day at work and announced we were going to the movies. We picked “A Walk in the Woods” to see vicariously getting outside in nature that dreary afternoon. Planning to be away, I’d already lined up sub teachers for my yoga classes for the next ten days. I lead six classes a week at four different places,-at least I didn’t have to worry about yoga. But actually-I did! Would I be able to maintain my yoga classes with a broken bone? Would the students be dissatisfied with my limits as a teacher? Harassing myself with negative thoughts, at last yoga wisdom took over. Patanjali’s sutra about countering negative thoughts with positive thoughts came to light. I was grateful I could get myself home after the accident, thankfully it didn’t happen in the mountains miles from help, I had a diagnosis and we got refunds on our trip, it was my left ankle- I could still drive, the pain was intense but not oppressive, I could bear weight and didn’t require crutches. The doctor said torn ligaments with bone involvementis preferable and easier to heal than torn ligaments alone, I had subs for my classes, I’m retired from full-time work so I could stay home and rest the injury, I have friends and a nice husband to check in on me. I got lots of healing hugs and get well wishes. I have some good books to read and a computer project I have to tackle anyway-ALL GOOD! Three days of resting passed and my body was achy, pleading for yoga. I wasn’t taking any medication for pain. I decided to try and see what asanas I could safely practice wearing the boot. It felt so good to stretch and move again! I found lots of postures I could do in a chair and on the floor. Maybe I could resume teaching sooner than I thought! Talking students through standing and balancing poses would be ok too. I felt I was past the worst days. I continued to do “boot yoga” each day with an intention focused on healing. I sought the help of Grace Tree’s gifted massage therapist Debbie. She came to the rescue when my body was most achy. She swathed my sore ankle in a castor oil wrap to aid healing. I was vigilant about icing 3 and 4 times a day, and soaking in lavender epsom salts. I started to point and flex the ankle in the bathtub. By now the bruises were scary colorful. This experience taught me anew about humility. I learned to drive the electronic “amigo” carts at Kroger. I depended on others to carry things for me. I had to scoot down stairs at home on my butt. I had to wait patiently for Mark to come home to bring in the trash cans and the mail. Then there was my yoga practice…. I learned you don’t have to be perfect! Yoga can be toned down and adapted and still feel satisfying. I have new empathy for those with physical limitations. Yoga is so accessible and appropriate for everyone. That’s why I love yoga, and will continue to practice it always.

I returned to teaching yoga classes on schedule. My students were compassionate. They told me they enjoyed our practices and were amazed how much we could still do together despite the boot. Their positive attitude eased my worries and inspired me to keep coming up with ways to heal and practice yoga. I meditated more while I did R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, elevate). I can ride my bike up and down the street without pain now. Having a regular yoga practice makes your body strong and resilient. I also learned firsthand that healing is in your mind as much as your body. When you yoke your mind and body you will heal faster. My quick rehab is certainly proof that yoga has extra credit. Although I’m sorry I missed my chance to be in the woods, I’m also thankfully to be “out of the woods”.