Written October 22nd:
I’ve been back at work and most recently was challenged with a long trip to an important business meeting – 4 to 5 hour drive from home. I took up all of the backseat and was lucky to have colleagues to drive and patiently manage my encumbrances (chair, crutches etc). All went well, although it was a very long time sitting with my legs across the back seat of the vehicle….gets pretty tiring pretty fast. All is well tho, weathered the trip ok. I was pretty tired when we got to our destination – and even more tired when I got back home but it was well worth it. I am a firm believer that (keeping medical advice in mind), you create many of your own limitations – so I am continuing with most of my usual activities wherever I can.
It’s been a long time coming…….the air cast. Today was exciting, a little uncomfortable and a big relief when it was all over. The mystery of what ever was happening underneath that fibreglass cast is now over – and I have evidence attached to this post.
Usually I forget my camera until it is too late to record something memorable, but at the last second – just as my cast was being removed I hauled out the camera and voila – this photo essay. This may be old hat for some, but for those who have not had the cast removal and replacement experience I will share with you……

The first picture was taken just as the cast had been cut. They use a wedge shaped saw blade that moves back and forth to cut through the outer layers of the cast. It feels kinds of strange, and I was a little worried it would leave me with a permanent reminder somewhere on my leg – but no concerns…..worked like a charm. Next, the nurse used a set of pliers designed to pry to cut edges apart, and lo and behold – my leg. It was a delight to see…..even if it was not so pretty on the backside. My ankle is still quite swollen (which was a surprise), and if I had given any thought to the audience today I would have considered an up to date pedicure. The missing polish is due to some fancy balancing I had been doing on my toes to navigate stairs (very carefully I might add)….
The surgery site is still pretty nasty looking. The Doctor examined my leg and said all is as it should be – this was part of the normal course of things.

Next step was a wipe down with an alcohol soaked cloth. Nice and cooling, but not the same as a soak in a tub. Then (fashionista’s beware), the air cast was unveiled. It is a thing of beauty, almost a work of art. Definitely futuristic, note the sculptured lines, the “je ne sais quoi” about the colour (yes that is about all you can say about grey, isn’t it)…..and those hefty velcro straps. The cast has 2 pieces of ¼ inch foam on the front that overlap and are held in place by a plastic shin guard and the Velcro straps. Before cinching me up, there were a few pieces of foam that were custom cut to support my foot at the heel – but I have to say, even with the best efforts of the nurse, it was pretty uncomfortable. After spending the last few weeks in the “en pointe” ballerina position, “first position” wasn’t looking or feeling too good. It will be a few days before my foot repositioning, now at 90 degrees, is tolerable. Things have settled down as the day has gone by, but it really is quite uncomfortable and I have been taking back to back T3’s to soften things a bit.

The other wonderful thing about the air cast is the ability to start physiotherapy (expected in a week or so). I probably won’t be jumping for joy that day (probably a little unpleasant), however it all means progress. Now, with my trendy cast in place (but still not weight bearing), I am moving along in the healing continuum……and it’s all VERY GOOD!
That’s my friendly cast master in the background….
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