I'm a runner who had toe surgery; ouch, can't run!

For the past year and a half I have been an avid runner.. as of last week I was running for an hour five days a week and cross training with strength training and a bit of a stationary recumbent bike.  I had to have surgery on my little toe and my doc says it's doing "perfectly", but I have to keep off it as much as possible.  I knew I would miss running, but it's ridiculous how MUCH I miss it!  I am able to do calisthenics such as push ups, sit ups, and the like.  I have also taken to doing leg-lifts with weights on my ankles, but not running is driving me crazy! I had thought I could use the bike since I can put the heel of my foot on the pedal, but at this point my doc doesn't want me doing the bike yet so I'm not getting ANY cardio.  Oh, and the reason for the surgery was that I am diabetic and kept getting infections in my toe.. my doc felt that if he didn't re-shape the bone I would end up losing the toe.. the foot.. or worse.  I feel good about the surgery as it will keep me running for a long time, but not running NOW is driving me crazy.  Any suggestions on something to get my adrenalin and heart going while not standing on my feet???? 

Have you tried pool running?  It's not nearly fun as road running, but it takes the pressure off your feet.  You can do it in the deep end, or slow swimming lane with a belt, or in the waist deep area of the pool, for less impact.  I often pool run when I don't feel like dealing with the weather.  Last winter I was replacing as often as one run per week with a pool run.  It didn't seem to affect my goals in an adverse way, either.

Or, you could try cycling.  I find the cardio benefits can be just as good as with running, and you can thrash yourself pretty good on a hilly ride.

How about a rowing machine?

Clint

Thanks for your insights!  I asked my doc about cycling because it's part of what I do for cross-training.  He said "nothing that impacts the foot".. (sigh)..  The pool-running may work, but I'll have to run it pas the doc as he wants me "off my feet" (in water is off my feet, I THINK).

I hadn't thought of the rowing machine.  Awesome!  I don't have trouble doing leg-lifts with weights on my ankles and I got the formal "o.k." from doc to do anything with the upper-body.  I'll look into that, thanks so much! 

I get the stitches out next week and I'm hoping he gives me some more room for activity, but I don't want to wait a week to do what I CAN do.. thanks again! 

Well, if the doc will let you in the pool, swimming is a GREAT cross training exercise, and you can make it all upper body if you want.  Even if all you do is go there and thrash for an hour. :)  But I figured that with having stitches and a semi-healed wound, swimming would be off limits.  I do 45 minutes of swimming 2 or 3 times per week, so it's one of my regular activities.  Probably go back to a full 3x per week once the warm weather activities go away in the fall.  Never been big on treadmills or exercise bikes.

BTW, I noticed on your profile that your toe infection was caused shoes rubbing on the bones in your foot... You've been properly outfitted for shoes?  I was suprised when I went to a local running store, and they fitted me in shoes that were a full size larger than I normally take.  But you know more about running and equipment than I do... I'm just starting out.

Clint

Some gyms have machines that you "cycle" with  your arms.  It's not nearly as effective cariovascularly as running, but it does give you something to do.  When you'd normally be out.  I had to use one for a while.  Stress fracture after the last marathon :-(

I'm pretty sure my shoes fit o.k.   It turns out I have a "hammer toe", so the bone would be in the way no matter what size I was wearing.  The nuisance became infections because of having little by way of an immunity system due to having diabetes since I was four, and renal failure due to the diabetes.. so the slight rubbing, which wouldn't bother most people, caused the infections; it's amazing how being obsessive about running has helped my overall health, so now I just have to be sure I keep my feet (grin).   

I have to admit I tried swimming at one point and found that I sink more than I swim.  But I'm willing to give it a try again through my recovery period (which my doc says will be 6  - 8 weeks before running again).  When I see him next week after getting the stitches out I'll see if he allows more stress on the foot (heck, he not only doesn't want me RUNNING up stairs, he doesn't even want me WALKING DOWN them for now!).

I just bought a  Fitness Quest "Total Gym".   Brought it home tonight. I figure I can get working with this and then keep up with it for strength and cross-training once I can run again. 

I'm a bit nervous about losing the muscle I have built up in my legs, but if I have to start over again it will be worth it.. I don't like having to start over, so we'll see how it goes. 

Hey, Chessychips; how did you do with recovering from your stress fracture?  How long did that take?