New year New Ankle

Well, it's been about 2 1/2 months since surgery and I am one week out of the boot and feeling really good.  I am now sporting a very fashionable (not really) air cast that get this...fits in a shoe.  Well, not all shoes but it's enough to get me excited.  I gotta tell you the moment my bad foot got in a shoe again felt crazy weird and supper exciting all at once.  And then I started walking and have a nice little limp to go with my new pimp walk.

All in all, my pain level when compared to the first few weeks is very minimal.  I do still need to elevate my foot about 20% of the time or it just gets very uncomfortable.  Generally, i also still need to elevate it at night which isn't that comfortable, but it could be worse.

Now, here's the really exciting new...it's time for Physical Therapy again.  Yup, that's right I'm back where I started.  Well, we will see how it goes and honestly my ankle is still very tender to any kind of movement so let the pain begin.  I will try to provide updates every couple of weeks and keep you posted.

Cheers,

Shannon

Happy New Year and week 8

New Year, New Ankle!

Well, Christmas 2011 has come and gone came and now it's time for a new year and a new ankle.  Or at least that's what I keep telling people.  2012 will be the year for new ankle (so to speak) to hit the pavement and start running...or something like that.

Anyways, I am feeling good thus far in my recovery.  The pain is constant still, but I barely notice it.  I am still elevating my ankle everynight, but I have noticed I can go about an hour without elevating it during the day.  Also, the swelling is looking a lot better and I am certain that within a few weeks that will be just about gone as well.  Honestly, it seems like my recovery has taken forever but really considering what they did to the darn thing, this has been a quick recovery.

Okay, well no New Years parties for me.  It's hard to dress up when you are rocking the walking boot.

Smiles and Happy New Year!

Shannon

It's beginning to look a lot like...week 7

Happy Holidays all!

Well, it's just a few days from Christmas and my dream to walk again is as close as it's going to get.  I am walking, but it's certainly not pain free.  Of course a lot of the pain is coming from my broken toe that I just keep slamming into walls.

All in all, I'm feeling good.  I will tell you if anyone ever gets this procedure done that the pain will increase once you get back on your feet.  I had to learn the hard way of course and completely over did it the first couple of days.  I would just constantly think of ways to get up and walk, perhaps because I hadn't been able to for so long.  Either way, I still got the best Christmas present I could ever ask for and that is to simply....walk.

Cheers,

Shannon

Back on my Feet - Week 6

Walk this way!

Well, I'm back on my feet!  I had my 6 week follow-up appointment with my doctor and the first thing he said to me was "So, are you ready to start walking or what".  And with that I am back on my feet and loving life.  I have a whole new appreciation for every step I take even though it's painful and a bit off balance.  Walking is great!  The doc did say I need to stay in my boot for another 3 weeks and trust me I definitely do need to stay in that thing.  Walking without it just seems strange.  I will keep you posted on how the next few days goes, but for now I'm just walking and that's the best Christmas present I could ever get.

Shannon

Ouch

I've fallen and can't get up...

After nearly 6 weeks of using crutches I finally had a fall.  It's quite funny actually, I mean everyone said it would happen and here I thought "not me", ha!  Well, the good news was that this time my dog was not involved and the only one to blame would be me.  The end result, a possibly broken pinky toe.  And boy does it hurt.  Of course, pain these days is fairly often and i'm sort of used to screaming out in agony so when I did scream as usual i was ignored.  So, here I am hoping or crawling around because i can barely use my one good foot to steady my step.  No one said it would be easy.

I don't know if it's broken, but it hurts like a mutha @#$@#%

Week 5

Almost to the promise land!

...and by that I mean it is just one more week till the doctor finally lets me partial weight bear (pwb).  I'm ready and feeling good about it.  In general, the pain has been the same the last 2 weeks.  I have my moments where it hurts, its achy and I feel like there is no chance I will be able to put weight on this thing, but then there are times of the exact opposite.  All in all, recovery takes time and once I get my feet on the ground I am sure it will be painful, but that's to be expected.

What could make my injury more annoying, well how about the common cold.  Yeah, I'm not sure what kind of bug is trying to get me, but it really sucks to be sick when you are already kinda sick.  So, I've been doing what I do best, lying in my bed with my feet up and full of drugs.

Random Thoughts

So, I think it's funny how everyone tells me how well I get around on my crutches.  I mean is it expected that I fall every time I attempt to crutch.  I know i know, people don't really know what to say to someone crutching around so they say "wow, you get around well on those" or "it looks like you are doing good on those crutches".  I don't know, I've just heard different variations of this over the last couple of weeks and I wonder what makes people say it.  Or maybe I do really get around great on these crutch...haha.

The weeks still young and there is more to come, but for now I'm still fighting the common cold so sleep is calling.

Week 4

Doors never open on their own!

After 4 plus weeks of crutching around I have concluded that I am over it!  Children stare at me like I am a disfigured monster (some adults do this as well).  Although, I am treated nicely by many it starts getting annoying very quickly.  I mean people will run to open doors or assist me in any way and that is just very cool (sometimes annoying, but overall cool).  And then there is my biggest annoyance, the lack of handicap automatic opening doors.  I never noticed how many doors didn't have auto open buttons, geez it's hard to get in a building on crutches when you have to push the door.  I don't know how permanently disabled people do it.  I have a new found respect for what they have to go through.  It aint easy, nothing really is when you are disabled.  I am thankful I will be on my feet soon.

Overall, the week started off good.  I have been managing the pain alot better and in fact it's just getting better in general.  I've finally found a balance in which I can sleep through the night with out waking up in pain and that is awesome.  I've also noticed that I don't seem to need my feet up all the time.  I would say in an hour I need my foot up for at least 30 minutes of that time.  So, that's a huge improvement.  Also, I've noticed my scar is healing and scarring.  I've been massaging it and using Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E oil daily so we will see if that helps.  Lastly, I decided that after my doctors detailed explanation last week regarding my cartilage issue that I would start taking something to stimulate my joint tissue and cartilage growth, and that would be none other than Glucosamine.  I'm taking 3 pills a day, I will let you know if I notice any difference.  Just doing all I can to heal, so we will see.

Here's another big recommendation for week 4, get a pedicure.  I did and although it was a little scary, the women doing it was very gently and I think did a great job of cleaning my foot up and making it presentable again.  Yay pedicure!

Well, the week is still young and I will check in with updates on how things are going soon.