Feets don’t fail me now
October 10, 2008 by catnboot
Feet are so underrated and so taken for granted. I am at 11 weeks now and am in two shoes for almost 2 weeks. My foot feels very stiff and, of course, hurts.
The physical therapist used a patch that has a small battery and she connects it to a small gizmo that sends stinging bees through my incision site. I then have to leave the patch on for another two hours. In two sessions of this it has reduced all of the knots and swelling. But the day or two after it is stiffer and more painful. I hope this is progress.
One of the harder things I am asked to do at PT is to balance on one foot, the bad one. I asked the doctor if I could ride a bike. He said yes. I asked what about falling and catching myself on the bad foot. He said no bike riding. Stationary bike ok – but no standing up riding. Swimming is ok. Good I got permission to swim in October.
I feel like I have accomplished so much in 11 weeks. I can put out the garbage by myself. I can go up the stairs, let the dogs in and out and in and out, carry my dinner to the table, go to the grocery store (whoo hoo) and sleep without the boot. I wonder if I will make as much progress in the next 11 weeks. It feels like progress has slowed down. The pain and stiffness gets better during the day when I move the foot around but returns each morning after a night of inactivity. When oh when will I be normal again.
catnboot,
I am 18 weeks post-op and still experiencing the things you are describing– tightness in morning, and by 4PM incision starts tightening up and is very painful/burning. Have had 20 PT sessions and my experience with PT is pain afterwards and for the next couple days….then my ankle seems to not be as painful until the next PT session (going twice a week). My ankle is sooo tight that I am still not quite at 90 degrees while standing feet flat on the floor ;( I have never had the patches put on at PT, just ultrasound. Have you told the people at PT about how your ankle is stiffer and more painful a day or two after your session? What do they say? I agree, the balancing on one foot is difficult and painful for me too. They try to tell me to “relax” while I’m balancing lol….. The stair stepper is the really hard exercise for me and the squat machine….
It’s good you listed all the things you see that are improvements….concentrate on them and just realize all the other stuff is just normal progress on our journey.
Take care,
Marianne
You’ve come a long way since your 1st rupture in May and 2nd surgery in July. You’re doing well! I’m just about 3-1/2 weeks post op and looking forward to being 2 feet again. After reading your blogs, I count myself fortunate but will be on the lookout & not going too fast. I don’t want to end up having a re-rupture like you had to endure!
I totally agree with you on wondering when we’ll be normal. I think that one day we’ll see great progress and be limp-free. It’s hard to see when that day will be when we’re so unsteady and unable to do things that should be easy..like balancing. Oh, you are so right about feet being underrated…who would have thought??
im 20 weeks post injury , 18 weeks post op.
i returned to work 2 weeks ago and my job involves being a physical therapist in a hospital , i get to help people in the ICU and med surg unit - to help them get up out of be an d walk. I work alternate 10 hour four days a week/ and 8 hours 5 dyas a week.
my foot still hurts after working a while . i start out with no limp in the am and limping after lunch has passed . but everyday it is getting better .
my range of motion in the ankle greatly recovered after i started working walking a lot and doing the proper walking pattern helped a lot.
my doctor allowed me to ride my road bike 16 weeks post injury so that is my means of exercise - about 20-30 miles 3 days a week.
in your case you might feel like you might hit a wall along the way but progress will be hard to notice as the increments are little and time frames to achieve them are long .
youll be all right.