Just had my 8 week follow-up appointment. Really great news. The bones are almost fully healed and all the soft tissues are healed. I can now put 25% of my weight on my left foot.
How do I figure out 25% of my weight? First I weigh myself (I'm 200 lbs.). Then I find 25% of that (50 lbs.). With the boot on, I press down on the scale until I reach 50 pounds, and that's what I target as I walk (with crutches still). It's not exact science, but the idea is to ease my foot back into being used.
The bones are close, but not fully healed. Putting all my weight on my foot would be a really bad idea. However, for my bones to heal completely, they need to start experiencing pressure again. So this partial weight will help me heal.
In two weeks I can put 50% of my weight on it. Then in 4 weeks (drum roll please) I can finally ditch the crutches. That will be 3 months of crutches and let me tell you, will not miss them when they're gone.
I have to still wear the boot, but only when I am walking. If I am watching TV, at work, sleeping, etc., I don't have to wear the boot. The bones are strong enough now that I cannot injure them unless I walk on them. Frankly, I stopped wearing the boot to bed a week and a half ago, but I wrapped my foot up tight in an Ace bandage. I don't have to do that anymore either.
I have to start moving my foot up and down and in a circle to reduce stiffness. It's a little sore when I do this, but I know I'm not inuring anything. Moving my foot in a circle is tough. I couldn't move it in a circle much before because of the coalition, and still can't. But I have to try as part of the therapy. Obviously the circular motion will always be limited because of the fusion.
All in all a good visit, with good news. I'll post some pics of my healed up scars soon. Things are looking up!
