I have the Nike and Apple chip and have started logging my mileage again.
I did 4.9 miles today, slow and steady wins the race.
Here is the link to my challenge on Nike, I set it low so it’s attainable.
I’m committing to 5 miles a week.
Join me!
http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_US/plus/#//challenges/detail/745742393/
Today is my 7 month marker after surgery.
Walking better, less limp and blown away by the fact it has been 7 months.
My daughter posted on Facebook to me:
“Achilles: I’m the best warrior the world has ever seen, but I get shot in the effing heel and I die. Dying from getting shot in the foot, are you serious?”
I missed this place!
I took a step back last month and have been in pain on and off.
Mostly when driving I get these sharp shooting pains and training has been impossible.
I’m 6 months and 3 weeks out and getting a bit pizzed.
Seeing the DR on Wednesday and demanding an x-ray to see if the metal bone anchor is trying to get out.
Several things happened;
I got a new job which required more on the feet time than I had anticipated
My kids are back in school and activities
My Team in Training season kicked off on February 1st.
Under the ADA guidelines (Americans with Disability Act) my employer is obligated to provide me with modifications at work.
I needed to get back to work, I still teach one class and have a volunteer to help me out.
But I went down in hours so I was offered a job in the reception area of my company.
I like the work but in the end I was standing a bit more than I should.
I’ve been able to sit more and to walk less.
I’m enjoying the contact with people other than in my program a lot, I was told I bring a lot of maturity to the reception.
That had me cracking up for a bit, but come to think of it the majority of the staff there is under 25.
Whole new set of rules, need to wear nicer clothes. It’s like going back to my retail days in a way.
On the healing front, it’s been a lot of “two steps forward. one step back”.
On my PT days I’m wiped out afterwards and even though I’m not in a lot of pain there is a fair amount of discomfort from the scar.
The fact that I just can’t find a pair of shoes that adhere to the strict rules of Dr. B. and the inability in me to wear running shoes during the day are not helping in easing my foot issues..
I just can’t get past that look.
Today marks 5 and a half months since surgery and I do feel improvement every day, I may have been a bit in a hurry to get healed faster but lately have resigned myself to the fact it will take a bit.
I’m not training actively, being support for TEAM has been my goal.
Yesterday I had my 4 week re-check and Dr. B was pleased and displeased at the same time.
The amount of scar tissue internally on the achilles is very pronounced, something Igor does not address enough according to Dr. B.
Back I go now, once a week for stretching, massage and scar work.
I had my first session yesterday and learned 2 new words; functional pain.
Part of the good news is that I do not need heel lifts, I can go back to wearing my regular shoes.
But as with every new development I need to ease into it.
My brand new bought right before surgery clogs fit and even though it feels weird to be out of the ugly “good” shoes it’s a step towards normal again.
I’m all for normal!
Today I walked a 20.14 minute mile, took me 35 minutes and I went 1.72 miles.
(This according to my Nike chip)
Yesterday, one week removed from 5 months post-op, was the first day I managed to walk without a gimp or a foot that wouldn’t hinge.
It was with my Team in Training buddies.
I stretched a few times.
I feel on TOP of the world right now!
Last I blogged I had my first full day of work behind me and was driving for the first week.
What happened in the last 3 weeks?
I had to go to a new PT place because Igor went to visit family far-far-away for 3 weeks and I needed to be tortured treated more.
Dr B. sent me to a new place and there I was put in the small but capable hands of Ninja J.
At maybe 5 foot 4 and weighing maybe less than one of my dogs he seemed kind and gentle.
NOT!
The amount of work surpassed Igor’s.
First there was stretching the calf by hand, then ultrasound, massage and the exercises.
Things that seemed effortless months ago were not so right now.
Balance on one foot? I can do 30 seconds on the left (good) foot, 3 seconds on the right foot.
Walking backwards slowly, lots of stumbling.
I got to bike for 5 minutes and felt drained.
But after 4 visits and 2 weeks things were looking a little bit stronger and better.
Wednesday I biked for 10 minutes at the gym and did my exercises and stretches.
Friday I went to PT and to work.
Saturday California experienced “winter”
I had a training about 40 minutes away which involved driving in the pouring rain.
I parked in the handicapped slot, walked out and almost fell because the tiles were slippery, however I do have balance and I did not meet with the ground and test gravity.
Sunday was work and a birthday party to host.
Resident Teen was drafted to help but after 3 hours on my feet I was done.
The beginning of the 16th week also meant a lot of rain.
I drove to work on Monday and it wasn’t pretty.
The drive was pretty ugly and it took a lot of concentration to drive 6 miles.
I returned to the PT place of Igor because the Ninja place was just too far to drive.
Tuesday the heavens opened and the rain started for real.
By chance my remote connection to work decided to grant me email so I made the decision to stay home and work on the backlog that I had acquired.
Wednesday wasn’t any drier but I had made the commitment to go to an info meeting for TEAM so I braved the elements for it.
It was nice to reconnect with the TNT people and to share my experiences with new people.
I’m looking forward to the new season, even it might mean little or no training.
This season I’m Honoree Captain and looking forward to it.
Thursday I worked in the afternoon and was blessed with the help of a volunteer ( got to love the Americans with Disability laws) I figured out that my running shoes work the best on the concrete floors.
Friday was 16 weeks since surgery and some awesome news.
My foot fully flexed was at 0%, not good, but now it’s at 4%.
The Dr. wants 5%, Igor is sure we’ll get there by next week.
Man, it is getting to me. I’m opening “about me” or otherwise titled posts and it’s Spam!
Worse, I once started reading the German Spam left not too long ago because it looked like a honest post and it was porn!
After the successful ride around the parking lot of the car dealership last Sunday it was time to put the show on the road again.
The opportunity to drive by myself presented itself on Wednesday.
Husband drove me to the clinic and it occurred to me I could have driven there myself as he had the day off.
I saw the surgeon and he was happy with my progress but a bit guarded at the same time. He is having shoulder surgery so I’m chalking his lack of enthusiasm up to that.
My foot still swells up to the point of uncomfortable times 10000 and I’m going to get a very sexy sock for that next week.
Right after the clinic it was time for another round of Fun with Igor aka Physical Therapy.
And my first time to drive in almost 11 weeks!
See proof! http://onetwothreebeyond.blogspot.com/
This session of PT was a long one. Stretching, massage, ultrasound and to top it off….exercise.
I did leg presses without getting faint this time. Getting better at standing on the balance board too.
Least favorite was 20 toe raises I had to do on the leg press machine. Igor’s assistant promised me that a month from now I’ll be doing them on land. Little moment of light headedness passed fast luckily.
The driving was fine, a bit odd but the fact that everyone and their brother was shopping for Christmas made the road almost empty.
Another goal done, moving right along.
For the past 2 or 3 days getting up in the morning has almost been like before.
I was in the habit of putting on shoes right when I swung my legs out of bed. Walking barefoot was terrible pain and stiffness.
Those first steps were excruciating sometimes.
No matter how much PT I had with Igor before surgery, I was in pain when I slept, had a heel strap or fresh getting up in the morning.
It’s a little too early probably to say but I think major improvement was made with the surgery.
The amount of bone taken off was substantial and there is more range of motion, Igor told me I was at 2% whereas I was at 0% all last year during treatment.
I have no pain when I’m resting my foot on the bed, no pain when getting up on bare feet (yes I’ve tried that)
And, most important, only scar pain from the strap on my shoes!
Friday marked week 11 and looking back things are moving along.
I ditched the boot over a week ago and am starting to trust my right foot more.
One of the things I must concentrate on in the week ahead is walking as ‘normal’ as possible.
Accept the fact I’m slow and not be afraid to move with small steps and use the whole foot.
It’s tight but that is to be expected.
Friends have taken me shopping for gifts, we did decide to keep it simple this year for the kids and ourselves.
With no income from me for almost 3 months and my immobility that proved to be not a hard thing.
If I don’t have it to spend and can’t drive there we’re set!
This weekend we’ll tackle getting the tree set up, decorations put out and the car situation sorted out.
I’m still not driving but want to do that this weekend, I was advised to go to an empty parking lot and slowly drive around and practice.
It will be like old times when I first learned to drive.
We have started car shopping too, one car in the New Year is not going to work.
So far the car I had my eyes on sold right before we got to the dealership. They are looking to get me the same in red and I’m hoping it will be there today.
I’m well on my way to wheels and working feet!
I decided today to just laugh at my speed of walking and the motion I can generate.
No sense to get frustrated just yet.
Husband and I took kids to various schools and he dropped me off at the PT place.
I was a bit early so I decided to go to the bank, CLEAR across the parking lot, to get some cash for lunch.
Easy for the old me with 2 ‘normal’ feet, even though before surgery I was having issues walking painless.
The new and recovering me forgot that this was day two in shoes and that the ankle didn’t bend as before.
I almost got stranded in the parking lot as I had neither speed or a fluid motion.
It took me 15 minutes to make it back to Igor and my PT appointment.
I had the PT works, stretching, massage, exercises and electrodes.
My friend picked me up and we went to hang out at Starbucks for 2 hours.
I should have stopped doing anything after that but I had made a ‘date’ with another friend to go Christmas shopping for my kids.
So it was go-go-go for me as we tackled Target where I deflated after 40 minutes and my leg in no uncertain terms told me it was DONE!
She took me to my favorite yarn store where I was hit with a wave of extreme exhaustion despite the fact I was sitting down and knitting.
Home again and early to bed for me.
