The long journey back to life as I used to know it…

Hello

thought it was time for a new post. Been doing a lot of reading on this blog and not enough contributing so here it goes. Went for my first appt with my doc after surgery. Exactly two weeks and one day….knew I was getting off my cast and getting the staples out, at least I think I had staples…how would you know with a cast? Anyway….doc’s asst cut off the cast with a freaky looking saw. At first I was afraid he would cut my  leg, but after a quick google on my blackberry before he came back to start, I found out this saw can not cut skin. Once I read that I relaxed, he cut down the back of the cast, I was on my belly, then started prying this thing open and jiggling me around a bit. No real pain just a tickling feeling with a little nervousness since I’ve never had this done before. Then he cut the bandage off that was under the cast, no big deal here either. Then he pulled out the staples, about 8 of them to be exact, a little pinching feeling but nothing my 4 yr old son couldn’t handle. I finally got a good look at the incision. My doc did a nice job and it was healed up pretty nicely. No signs of blood clots, or infection…whew that scared me the most when he explained that there was a chance of those two things after surgery. Then finally my doc made an appearance, did the Thompson test and low and behold Achilles workie like newie….. He advised that it felt really good, was thin and did not appear to have much scar tissue. I think elevating 99% of the day helped with that. Calf was skinny and when I say skinny I mean skin+bone and not much else…but I had always had skinny calves before this. Pushed my foot to neutral position, asked me what color cast I want, I say blue…he wraps the new blue cast and shazam, I’m outda door.

Now the moment of truth, my doc wanted to cast me for another 4 weeks…4 weeks, he is nuts. I brought all the information I have gathered from this site with me, including the brochure for the Vaco cast. I said ‘doc, I really want to get this boot” I need to start putting some weight on this leg in one to two weeks. I thought I was in for a battle…he said “Mark, I have already spoken to the brace rep, and I’m getting it for you, I just need to be trained on how to adjust it” . He said call him in a week, and then I will go back in to get this shiny new blue cast of and get the coveted VACO cast/brace. I will call him tomorrow to make sure I was not halucinating…

Today, went to the gym and worked out. I am trying to go 3-4 times a week to keep the rest of my muscles in shape. Did some one legged quad extension with my good leg and let my bad leg just lift the cast. Worked out with weights for about 45 minutes  doing shoulder,tris,chest and bis, and then did 15 minutes on the hand bike, don’t know clinical name for hit but it looks like a bike that you peddle with your arms. Got real winded and knew I burnt some calories…felt great as always..really need the endorphine release.

I know I write novels but feel I need to share and give  back to all those who write so religiously. It is the christmas morning like expectation of a new blog or entry that helps me stay sane throughout the day. My goal is to play golf in the month of June, I feel like each day that passes makes this more realistic. And I am trying not to wish away these days or months to be healthy again, I am trying with everything I have to appreciate the things that I never had time to appreciate before….and some of those things are pretty awesome.