Never had a cast!

I know I’ve been very remiss on updating of late. I’ve returned back to work, so needless to say I don’t have as much “time to myself” as I did those first few weeks! So here’s my update. At 8 weeks I had the last wedge taken out of my boot and a flat insert was put in to fill the hole on the bottom of my boot. So far I’m OK with this, but then my Doc threw me for a loop. I’m to ease out of the boot as soon as possible, however, here’s the kicker, I’m not to do any foot extensions with a band or toe raises. So riddle me this Batman, how do I “walk” without going up on the ball of my foot?? I am sometimes not the sharpest knife in the drawer and this was a time I was more like a spoon for I did not catch this until I actually tried to walk! Now, I have been in two shoes a couple of times, in fact, I wore shoes to an entire workday. The feeling of being in shoes was great, but I think I could crawl faster than I’m limping now. I have no pain in the tendon when I try to walk, just after a few hours the soft tissue behind the ankle starts to give me a little discomfort. I still have the numbness in the right side of my foot and it looks like I’m going to have to live with. I tell you what, I can fly with the boot on now! I was finally able to get in my pasture and work my horses some this week. I know it will be a long time before I’m back in the saddle, just doing ground work with them was uplifting. Since summer is coming to an end, I went ahead and turned my tags in for my Harley since I know I’m a long way from riding that too! BUMMER!!! For my dear friends that are just starting this journey, keep the faith! The progress may be slow, but it does happen!!!!

I’m coming up on my 5 week milestone and I’m happy to announce that I am really doing great. I am down to my last wedge in my boot and this Friday I will be wedge free and starting my last week in the boot full time. I am able to stand pain free with my full weight on my injured leg. In fact, this morning was the first shower I was able to take standing since July 6th! I still have not tried to walk, and though I really want too, I am taking everyone’s advice on here not to push myself to hard. I’m sure a lot of you feel I already am :0) My doctor feels I’m about 3 weeks ahead of his schedule and is very happy with my progress. Don’t get me wrong, I simply want to get back to wearing shoes. I don’t expect to start running again for many months. I am however, still experiencing numbness from my heel to my two little toes. My doctor thinks that go away with time, but he’s not sure. I am able to move all my toes, so he is not too concerned with this.

I know I have been pushing the boot, however, I have found one huge downfall, the PRICE my doctor charged me and my insurance company for it. You can buy it on-line for $350.00 from the link I posted before. My doctor charged me and my insurance company $700.00 for mine! I just about fell out of my chair when I read my bill!! So if you have not had your surgery, and you are considering the boot as a possible treatment path, discuss with your doctor the costs before hand and tell him to order it online!! Talk about a mark up!!!! OUCH!!! But I will say again, even with this new development I still am happy that I went with the boot over a cast!!