week 8:Get off the Crutches, Woman!
Today was my week 8 post debridement and repair surgery check-up. My Doctor walked in and joked that he’s been checking the police logs, and he can see that I haven’t killed anyone in the 8 weeks of no running, so I must be doing OK. Ha!
He was NOT happy that I am still not FWB. It’s sure not for lack of trying! I asked about the possibility of that forefoot pain and stiffness being gout. He said it could be. We will watch it for another week, and if it’s still an issue we’ll do some tests for gout. He thinks it might just be that the foot is just not used to bearing weight and it is rebelling a bit. He said is is very good that the FWB attempts don’t hurt my heel or AT area. He DID write me a prescription for PT for “Gait Training in the Boot” to help get me off the crutches. I start tomorrow! I can’t wait to ditch the crutches! (I’m happy because he hasn’t been too big on the idea of me starting PT up till now– he really wanted me to wait a while longer) I like my Therapist– and since he knows me and what I have been doing right along, I feel like I will make faster progress now!
So, the good stuff today besides the PT prescription were: #1- The x-ray showed that the bone and tendon are healing well. I am not forming new “boney growth” where it doesn’t belong and the screw is staying put. #2- I get to sleep Sans Boot from now on! #3- my ankle ROM is good and the tendon feels strong. #4- the inscision has healed beautifully. I should be able to start walking around the house w/o the boot by my 3 month appointment.
The “bad” stuff is : #1-still no pool running, although I got the OK to swim with a pull buoy. (ugh, but I’ll take it at this point!) #2- still no spinning or any type of stationary biking. #3-the calf atrophy is considerable for this point in recovery (looks like my forearm, and I’m pretty thin!)
The Doctor did say that once I get comfortable with FWB, I can start hiking on my beloved trails! If I can’t run my trails, walking them will be the next best thing! This is my “carrot” now 
