I bruised my big toe last Saturday July 10th. I could barely walk on it but the doctor said it wasn’t broken (thank god). However, it only gets worse when I run or bike. My IRONMAN is July 25th up at Lake Placid. Anyone know any instant remedies? I’ve done the usual heat/cold/ibutrofen. But, while it is getting better I only have a week and a few days left for the thing to heal. Today, I go to the acupuncurist. Hopefully, he can provide some help. Any other suggestions? Am I really there from all the training that I’ve done? Will it hurt my fitness level not to bike/run for a week at this time?
Usually when I have toe problems, I tape 2-3 of the toes together in a “buddy” system. I think I broke my little toe one time (tripped on a door frame really bad) and I was able to keep training by just taping it to the one next to it.
Dunno how effective this would be with the big toe, though.
"An Army without leaders is like a foot without a big toe. And Sergeant Hulka isn’t always gonna be there to be that big toe for us. I think that we owe a big round of applause to our newest bestest buddy and big toe Sergeant Hulka."
I can sympathize on the toe thing, I managed to break my little toe on my right foot a week and a half before the Great Floridian IM-distance race. Yes I know the toe is mostly cartilage, but it still hurt like a #@$!@%. I taped and wore socks that kept my toes a bit tighter in the shoes…this might or might not help with the big toe.
As far as hurting your fitness level…you should be tapering like a madman right now and doing very little. Other than a ride or run to remind your body to store glycogen next week I wouldn’t expect that taking time off to heal your foot is going to hurt you. If you skip that ride (maybe Wednesday or Thursday) you’ll be in deep doodoo for the race.
Find a sports medicine or naturopathic center with a MICRO-current machine. The thing uses very hign frequency electricity that increases intracellular ATP production by 500% and reduces swelling and inflamation so fast it will make your head spin. A few treatments ands you won’t remember the pain. We have one here in the East Bay (San Francisco) at the ofice where my wife works and they treat triathletes and cyclists pretty regularly now. I’m going in today for a preventitive treatment to get the ol knees juiced up for an adventure race tomorrow.
Good Luck at LP.
Karma
Keep icing it and go to a medical doctor. Good luck @ LP. The hills will love you. The lake water should be a relief on your swollen toe. If you live near the ocean walk in the cold water this will keep you in shape before the race. You should be really tapering now…you will need your rest. Take motrin also & keep the foot up at night.
Feel Better…
Smitty
I dropped a 25 lbs. cement block on my toe last year a week before Sea Otter (road and mtb). Granted I did not have to do any running, but it was a little better after a week and I focused my mental energy elsewhere during the race. Go out and do the best you can do - other things will probably take your mind off of it - good luck at LP.