May 05 2012
11 Month Update (or should it be 15 months…)
This should be a 15 month update, but it is 11 months since my surgery. I have really noticed things have improved this last month. I’m back to climbing, I have lost strength and confidence but the joy of getting back into it makes up for that. I can dance all evening and no longer need to sit down now and again for 10 minutes to recover.
I would love to think I could aim to do some long distance walks in the near future, I’m still hesitant to take too many risks and still have plantar fasciitis on the left side although much improved. I do get the odd pain in the unoperated AT side which kind of lurks but right now its outweighed by the joy of what I can do.
I am doing things now I have not been able to do since the end of 2010, it just amazes me to be getting anywhere near back to normal.
I still don’t enjoy standing up in a stationary position for too long, makes my leg ache. The biggest improvement at 11 months is recovery time. I still get some pain and swelling, but I recover a lot more quickly than I did at 10 months. Can’t believe the next update will be one year. Hang in there guys and keep healing.
At this phase, I think we all really have to take the “long view”; it’s really hard to see progress day-to-day. But if you think back a month or two; then the improvements are a lot easier to recognize. It sure does sound like you’ve turned the corner and are on a good path to a full recovery. Keep up the good work!
Ali - Ryan is very right. Measuring gains is more a matter of looking back at how far you have come. I am struggling to find the time to do my 12 month update but I usually can have a quick glance to see if my old friends have added something. I have done some reflection of late and although I am able to do most things I still feel I am some way off a full recovery. Like you I am getting some pain in my other AT. The canyon trip and the brief holiday north was a welcome break but I worried if I would strain my other AT. Back to work now. Winter is on us and we are waiting for timber to get the house to lockup. We have power now though and can run appliances like a fridge but with sub zero temps we really don’t need a fridge.
I always had faith that you would get through this. I would suggest this injury has not changed you preferring to see it as an evolution. Look forward to the next installment.
So encouraging…….good luck as you inch closer to that pivotal 1 year mark….
Thanks guys. It really does get better and the time really does go quickly.