12 weeks, discharged from the hospital - bye bye crutches
I feel as though I have reached a huge milestone. Several in fact! I came out of the clinic with a huge grin on my face, ditched the crutches in the crutch bin, got in the car and drove home, made a coffee and carried it to my chair - 3 things that I know many of you are desperate to do and guys you will! This day is just around the corner!! I want to dance a jig but woooohhhh eeeeassy there.
I survived New York at 10 weeks. It was hard but I took both crutches and used them all day every day, took lots of taxi’s and hopped on and off the tourist bus. Every one was so kind and polite, I doubt I would have got the same response in every tourist city. The crutches were magic, Harry Potter magic. We jumped what must have been a 2 hour queue through immigration at JFK, were whisked to the front of queues in The Empire State and Top of the Rock, took special staff only lifts, had a rest in a wheelchair in MOMA….. I was pampered like a princess. The sore and swollen ankle was helped a little by support stockings and hotel ice cubes, but I kept using the crutches and elevating it as much as possile.
Once home I went back to just one crutch, which I still needed on the hill up from our house as I just didn’t have to power to get good leg past bad leg, I have only been completely independent of the crutch for a week outside and my walking gait appears good briefly, then my hips go wonky fairly quickly if I get tired or loose concentration.
The physio is pleased with my ROM and I have been told to reduce the stretching to once daily as my dorsiflexion is almost normal. I am to continue with the collagen alignment excercises (now using a step) and I need to continue to build up my calf and I’m ok to start swimming again.
My balancing practise is paying off and I have gone from managing about 5 seconds on the bad foot to over a minute in a three week period and my latest new exercise is walking backward barefoot!? Clear the decks! Who left that hoover there?
I started driving at week 12 as advised by the doctor and it was like riding a bike, only with more wheels. Here in the UK where we have 3 foot pedals we are all doomed to being a passenger until we can do an emergency stop in just shoes. I had sat in the driving seat at week 10 an put my foot on the clutch and it felt sooo wrong, clearly not quite ready, by 12 weeks I knew it was ok just by trying the pedal whilst stationary on the drive.
Good luck to everyone, for those who have shoe envy - this is just temporary, I know I still have a good way to go, my top walking speed is slow, my walk is wonky but improving, down stairs walking is still stiff but better than last week, but milestones come in leaps and bounds. Happy Healing to all.
.
Filed under: Uncategorized and
But your stumble sounds scarey - it’s that thought of going backwards in the recovery that has made me very cautious about wearing anything high, but it is nice to put some pretty shoes on for a change 
)
That is awesome news…I am happy your recovery time is going so well. I am at 3 weeks, when were you able to transition from the boot to regular shoes?
I can see why you chose to keep with crutches for so long. 5-star treatment!
What a fun blog, glad to hear you are progressing well.
You are a rock star, Micah! Congrats on a successful trip! It sounds like you are doing great at home now too. Walking backwards? Seriously? That’s awesome! I tried just standing without a boot on and it felt so weird and weak. Keep up the good work!
Well done Micha
Your on your way
RRR
Thanks for the lovely comments friends. Rock star Kelly? Lol! Soldier J I was 3 weeks cast, 4 weeks boot then in shoes from 7 weeks, seemed to take an age to kick the crutch out doors though.
Hi I am almost 6 weeks post op and will be flying from Australia to Europe next week (just shy of 7 weeks). How did you go flying to New York did you have any pain or swelling from the flight? Thanks
Hi Marissa,
Welcome to the club, although I am sorry you have your injury. You don’t say if you will be in the boot or in shoes when you fly. I was in shoes when I flew at 10 weeks.The way out was fine as we flew in the morning so the legs were well rested, we had booked aisle seats in the middle row of the Jumbo which was great as I could stick my leg into the aisle when awake to stretch it, and there was a little ledge that I could just rest it on for a while to partially elevate it. The aisle seats also meant I could get up and walk when ever I wished and not ask neighbours to move.
I also put my legs across my husbands lap at times which was good. Our flights were full, but hopefully yours may not be and you may get a full row!
If you are in shoes get a selection of compression stockings, I found the medical ones the hospital gave me were better ( more comfortable and more even reduction of swelling), than the ones I got in the pharmacy, have your spare ones in your hand luggage. You perhaps can wear them in the boot, I don’t know?
On the return flight we were in a smaller plane and flying at the end of the day, it did swell then and was very uncomfortable, I ended up taking paracetamol and asking for ice for it. Also the seats were pre booked and we had window seats, but the very nice lady with the aisle seat agreed to swap with us
Also do ask the airline for assistance at the airports( I booked it the day before we flew), it was an excellent service and we were met by wheelchairs and escorted to the front of all queues, I was hoping for an upgrade, but sadly that didn’t happen.
Also I would consider taking asprin pre and post flights, there is mixed evidence re it reducing thrombosis, so if you are not allergic etc you might want to take it, see what your doctors suggest.
I suggest taking a sealable sandwich bag to put ice in, airport staff and hotel staff all very accommodating.
I hope you have a great trip,
Micah
Great blog micah,
Very helpful and strange to have virtual soul mates. I am 4 weeks, netball, no surgery.
Shocked to read how long they suggested off work. I was hoping to go back to work when the boot comes off at 10 weeks. Is that over optimistic? I would have to be on my feet a bit.
Really missing the car and toying with trading in my car for an automatic but driving at 12 weeks sounds just about manageable.
Hi Nicky,
Sorry to hear about your injury. Yes it is a little strange having virual soul mates but also lovely belonging to such a supportive community, when people haven’t posted recently it leaves you wondering how they are getting on!
With regard to returning to work I think everyone is different, with different job expectations etc. You’ve got to think how am I going to get to work, will I be able to rest when I need to, will I be putting my self or anyone else at risk by being at work, will my employers adjust my hours or job demands in order to make it easier? if you get paid sick leave and you’ve not already got excessive sick leave you may benefit from an extra week or two to get your life back in order once you are more mobile and time also to keep on top of the exercises.
Looking forward to seeing your updates
Micah
OK thanks,
do get sick pay so don’t need to hurry back. Just feel bad leaving all the work to my colleagues. But really don’t want to risk a re-rupture.
How weak and unstable do you feel when you are first out of the boot? My whole leg has withered. I can’t imagine walking.
And what shoes did you wear? When did you get back into normal shoes?