I have a confession. I've been cheating.
On my boot that is. A month ago, I was given the go ahead to start putting 25% of my weight back on my foot. It felt great to use it again (still had the dumb crutches though). After two weeks of 25% I was to go up to 50% for two more weeks. I cheated though.
In the third week I was doing more like 75% and in week four I ditched the crutches. It was a little achy, but it sure was nice to get my own cup of coffee again.
About a week ago I went back to the doctor. (I went in with my crutches even though I hadn't used them in over a week.) They said I could try full weight bearing in my boot for 2 days and then try tennis shoes. TENNIS SHOES! I was so excited I almost kissed the nurse.
So, I had already been doing the full weight in the boot for probably 10 days so I rushed home and put on my Nikes. Ah yes, I had forgotten the feeling. I stood up and took a couple of steps.
It hurt.
But I was determined to keep going. Therapy hurts, isn't that what they say? So I tried walking for a few days. The weird thing is that it felt like I was walking on the outside of my foot -- I had walked flat-footed for so long. Seriously, it was a very strange sensation.
Bad news is that the pain became progressively worse and I called the doctor. I'm back in the boot and back down to 50% for a couple weeks again.
Crap.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
8 weeks follow-up
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!
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!
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