Just Call Me Eli Manning…

Because I’ve got the turf toe

Photo and Turf Toe Explanation

I’ve had pain in my toe (ever since I jammed it in a soccer game back in September) and just recently sucked it up to go see a podiatrist.  The podiatrist quickly diagnosed me with Turf Toe (although I don’t know that I agree with him).  What is Turf Toe you may ask?

What Causes Turf Toe?

Turf toe is a sprain to the ligaments around the big toe joint, which works primarily as a hinge to permit up and down motion. Just behind the big toe joint in the ball of your foot are two pea-shaped bones embedded in the tendon that moves your big toe. Called sesamoids, these bones work like a pulley for the tendon and provide leverage when you walk or run. They also absorb the weight that presses on the ball of the foot.

When you are walking or running, you start each subsequent step by raising your heel and letting your body weight come forward onto the ball of your foot. At a certain point you propel yourself forward by “pushing off” of your big toe and allowing your weight to shift to the other foot. If the toe for some reason stays flat on the ground and doesn’t lift to push off, you run the risk of suddenly injuring the area around the joint. Or if you are tackled or fall forward and the toe stays flat, the effect is the same as if you were sitting and bending your big toe back by hand beyond its normal limit, causing hyperextension of the toe. That hyperextension, repeated over time or with enough sudden force, can  – cause a sprain in the ligaments that surround the joint.

Typically with turf toe, the injury is sudden. It is most commonly seen in athletes playing on artificial surfaces, which are harder than grass surfaces and to which cleats are more likely to stick. It can also happen on a grass surface, especially if the shoe being worn doesn’t provide adequate support for the foot. Often the injury occurs in athletes wearing flexible soccer-style shoes that let the foot bend too far forward.

What Are the Symptoms of Turf Toe?

The most common symptoms of turf toe include pain, swelling, and limited joint movement at the base of one big toe. The symptoms develop slowly and gradually get worse over time if it’s caused by repetitive injury. If it’s caused by a sudden forceful motion, the injury can be painful immediately and worsen within 24 hours. Sometimes when the injury occurs, a “pop” can be felt. Usually the entire joint is involved, and toe movement is limited.

 

Yada yada yada.  So long story short, I need to refrain from doing activities that could exacerbate the condition.  Therefore, no soccer, tennis, contact sports, jump roping (this one made me sad), etc.  The doc thinks I’ll be healed in a year, but I’m actually afraid that I might have a stress fracture.  Our appointment lasted all of 3 minutes, so it is highly possible that he missed something.  I hate that!

Anywho, so sorry for being MIA!  I’ve been exhausted, probably because I’m living the single life this week and for some reason I get really tired when Hubbs is on work trips.  He gives me energy!!!  So here is a quick recap of the weeks eats!

Flank steak with roasted root veggies mixed veggies (corn, carrots, green beans and peas) and topped with avocado!

Turkey and kale meatballs with cauliflower rice and steamed spinach.  I topped the whole lot with some Kerrygold grass fed Irish butter.

And a chicken burger with a few rogue pieces of flank steak, roasted root veggies and roasted brocc!  Topped with avocado You can probably sense a trend here!  All of these meals are paleo too!

Whenever Hubby goes out of town, I go back into single mode and I cook way ahead over the weekend.  Everything you see above was made on Sunday and reheated daily for lunches and dinners I’m such a slug!

In other news, I went to the dermatologist this week (you’d think I was dying if you didn’t know better) for my annual check-up.  My mom had 2 cases of melanoma when we were younger, so I try to get checked regularly.  Well, this time, he found a “concerning” mole and decided to biopsy it right then and there!  I was NOT mentally prepared for this!!  Anyways, they numbed me up, cut it out, and then cauterized it.  So gross.  The smell of burning flesh is repulsive…I almost puked in the room.  Anyways, its on my back and the doc told me to leave the bandage on for 3 days and to keep it dry.  Umm, showering, sweating, etc.  Haha, I’ll try!  Well after a day it was disgusting.  And after this workout…

Thursday wod

A: mixed grip chin ups (@21X1) 8-12 reps x3
B: pronated grip negatives (3 sec down) 3-5 reps x5

AMRAP 15 minutes
3,6,9,12,15,18,21,etc
Thrusters
Burpees w/lateral jump over bar

I was anything but dry.  So I decided to change the bandage…hahaha.  Hubby, when are you coming home!?!??!!?

Have you ever had an inconvenient procedure that you could really use another pair of hands for afterwards?

Night!

Alyssa