Another week, another weekly recap! I’m still working through my Achilles tendonitis. Here’s how this past week worked out!
Monday: Labor Day holiday; I ran 5 miles with Ruth, 9:30 min/mile
Tuesday: Solo 5 miles, 9:45 min/mile
Wednesday: My first shockwave treatment on my Achilles at 7 am! You’re not supposed to run for 24-48 hours afterwards, so no running today. I did do a virtual 1:1 strength training with Discover Strength after work.
Thursday: 5 miles with Dustin after work, 9 min/mile. I went into this run essentially pain free after the first shockwave treatment.
I was feeling so good and thinking that the shockwave treatment was a miracle treatment!
But I did feel pain as I ran, especially when running uphill. I’d rate the pain as a 2/10, with 10 being the worst pain I’ve had with this injury. Much better, but still there. But progress.
Friday: I had my second shockwave treatment at 7 am (out in the suburbs), so I was up early for a quick 4 miler with Ruth, 9 min/mile average. I think this was her first time running in the dark (I did have my headlamp on). She was a bit hesitant at first, but then she was pulling and really into it!
VIrtual strength training session with Discover Strength after work.
Saturday: Cooler morning (55 degrees) but humid. I covered 10 miles at a 9:30 min/mile.
The Achilles wasn’t perfect, but felt okay. We did a ton of walking afterwards (apple picking, the dog park, a walk to dinner) which I think helped keep it loose. It was fun-filled Saturday, actually!
We picked apples at Deardorff Ochards in Waconia.
Reservations required, masks required when checking in, but can be taken off when picking apples, keep social distance.
Deardorff is dog-friendly too, so we brought Ruth and Matilda along.
Afterwards, we stopped at the Carver Park off-leash area in Victoria. It was so nice! Great trails, lots of acreage, but all fenced in (which is good, as Ruth’s recall is not very good.)
We made a brief stop at Enki Brewery in Victoria for a pint, since we never find ourselves that far west. We were the only people sitting outside on the patio!
That evening, we walked to Martina for dinner on their patio. They have a great space with lots of outdoor heaters. Delicious dinner, felt almost normal!
Sunday: My friend Vicki joined me (and Ruth the puppy) for a 5 mile run, 9:30 min/mile average. Great to catch up with her!
Later that afternoon, my quarantine running bubble of 4 went out to Waconia again (two times in one weekend!) to Sovereign Estates winery for a glass or two of wine and time in the fresh air. A great Sunday.
Summary: About 35 miles of running, 3 strength training sessions.
My experience with Shockwave Treatment (EWST):
I tried shockwave therapy (EWST) twice this week. The first time, I went into it thinking it was going to be SO incredibly painful, but it wasn’t as bad as I expected. And the results were positive! I felt great afterwards.
The second Shockwave treatment hurt a lot more. She definitely cranked up the intensity quite a bit.
When she first started at the second appointment, I actually screamed it hurt so bad; she turned it down a little bit. It’s not electric shock- it’s more like a tiny anvil that pulsates really hard right on the injury. Each session is like 4,000 pulses and she did two sessions both times. Since this was the second time, I was a bit more vocal about specifically where it hurt, so she was more precise in where she treated it with the shockwave device.
Holy moly. I think I have a reasonable tolerance for pain; I did break my tibia/fibula and think it was a sprain! But this definitely hurt! But I am really optimistic that it will work, as I felt s much better afterwards. The treatment is still considered experimental so I had to pay out of pocket ($50/session) but there are a lot of studies showing its effectiveness on Achilles tendonitis. Generally people do 3-4 treatments in a row and then see how they feel, which is my plan as well.
I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner Check it out below:
It sounds like treatment is going well. Fingers crossed<3 I think our dog would love a trip to the apple orchard. I’ll have to see if there is anything like that around here.
Thanks Becket- I’m optimistic! It definitely feels a lot better, I just want it to be gone completely 🙂
Anything we can bring the dogs along for, we do! They just like to be outside.
Sounds like the treatments are working, but OUCH. I’ve given birth three times (twice without pain meds), but not sure I could sustain that on my Achilles LOL I’ll be curious to see how the next treatments go for you …good luck!!
Haha, Kim, you’re way tougher! This is painful, sure, but short lived! Labor is much longer 🙂
That’s great about the progress with the treatments! And still, more miles than I ran this week 🙂 My insurance is the cheapest around, so I pay at least $50 for just about anything I would do/go see a specialist. But I’m not complaining too much because it’s so cheap! Apple picking season is just starting around here. I need to get that on my calendar! Very cool that you could bring your dog.
Yep! I love anything dog friendly as they just love to be outside and be with us.
I am quite happy with my insurance, but ‘experimental’ isn’t covered 🙂 That’s okay!
Glad to hear you’re finding relief, even if it’s painful relief. That’s not a bad price for something called experimental. My PT copay is $25 and that’s in network. Yay signs of fall!
Thanks Cari! Yes, I was expecting something more like $100, so was pleasantly surprised when it was only $50.
your shockwave treatment sounds a lot more painful than the prolotherapy I’ve been doing. The crazy things we do! I really hope it takes care of your achilles that is not a fun one to work through. Thanks for linking and have a good week ahead
The theory behind prolotherapy sounds similar though! But yes, this treatment is an OUCH for sure.
Sounds like a really fun week! So many fun activities. Bandit would be peeing on all the trees if we went apple picking (and I’d be afraid of bees).
Glad the shockwave treatment is making a difference for you!
There were a lot of bees! I was not a fan of that part of apple picking, that’s for sure!
Ahhhh! That sounds intense! I hope you see results.
I love apple picking. We don’t have it in Florida, but we will be checking out some orchards in October. It will be so nice. I love that you get to have heaters on the patio already. We won’t see that for another few months, if not next year.
Yep, we already need heaters in the evening! We had a bit of a ‘cold’ fall spell, but this week is heating up again. Which is good, as I still want to eat outside before we’re trapped inside due to Covid!
Ouch! I’m glad the shockwave has been helpful so far. It was like a miracle for my PF. I think I only had 2 or 3 sessions, but I don’t remember. I seem to have blocked it out…lol. I’d definitely do it again, tho.
I’m glad you had success Wendy!
Goodness, that sounds a bit hard core! Well done for getting through the pain. Love all your outdoorsy pics. We’re feeling a bit miserable here as have an additional local lockdown and big infection hotspots really close to where we live.
Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that Liz! I hope it gets under control.
I hope you continue to see positive results from the Shockwave Therapy. How fun to go apple picking. All the places around here closed about 15 years ago and residential neighborhoods have popped up. So fun the dogs were able to join you!
Interesting- why did they all close?
Glad the shockwave therapy seems to be helping, but its too bad its so painful! I think to get rid of an injury I would be willing to give it a try. Hope you are completely pain free soon!
I’m willing to try most anything! Thanks Lisa!
Glad that your treatment is going well! I always love hearing about your weekend adventures – apple picking looked like it was so much fun!
Thank you Kim!
I’m glad you are seeing results from the treatment and still able to do so much running. Apple picking sounds like so much fun!
Thanks Coco! I’m optimistic that its working!
Your shockwave therapy sounds intense and I’m glad it seems to be helping.
Thanks Debbie!
That sounds painful but glad it seems to be working. Crossing my fingers for you! Mine isn’t as bad but now I know what to do if it does- even if I have to pay for it.
Glad you had a fun weekend! So many activities. Too many for me. 🙂 These past few weeks I’ve been enjoying whatever free time I have to do NOTHING.
I hope yours doesn’t get bad Zenaida! It’s no fun.
SO glad treatment seems to be going well! The trip to the apply orchard looked lovely! What a fun (and safe) activity to do and happy the dogs could come too.
Thank you Shathiso!
Wow – $50 per treatment is super cheap – chiropractic appts are far more expensive. Glad you survived the pain so far and glad to hear you got some relief out of it.
I was really amused to see a wrench on the tray under the EWST machine in your photo. An odd thing to just have sitting on the cart!
Haha, I hadn’t noticed that.
Yes, $50 is cheaper than a massage and way more effective/targeted!