Checking in. . .

December 29th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No comments

Yeah, I know. . .it’s been a while. I noticed a funny thing. The more mobility I have, the less I sit at my computer.

 

I have decided to forgo PT (loud gasp!) I don’t have the time or the money ($60 a session, twice a week?!?) and my Dr. wasn’t really jazzed about it either. He said about 50% of his patients don’t go.

 

As far as progress goes I have determined that my tendon has healed a lot quicker than my mind has. Sometimes when I’m not paying attention I find myself putting more weight on my foot, or twisting it at an odd angle or going down steps “bad foot first” without realizing it. I’m still not up for pushing trucks yet, but I think I’m just “babying” it in my mind. I certainly don’t want a re-rupture though.

 

Physically the incision site is healing up nicely. My scar is turning a dark brown and is not raised at all. I still have some scabbing right in the center of it that itches every so often. The tendon itself just feels “tight.” The swelling around the tendon is about half of what it was a few weeks ago and I can lace my sneakers up a bit tighter now. I do some mild stretching and still apply heat packs to it in the morning as soon as I get to work. I ride my motorcycle to work and my ankle is pretty stiff from the cold when I get in!

 

I have been taking my dog for short walks in the evening. I can go about a mile before things start to hurt and the limp gets really bad (besides, my dog is fat and that’s about as far as she can go!) The next morning I have a bit of heel pain if I over-exert myself.

 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and you all have a prosperous New Year!

Wow! And a Recommedation. . .

November 28th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 2 comments

First off. . .WOW! 12 “Hello World” posts in a day. Were there really 12 ATR’s over the weekend? That sucks. This is a club I’d like to see remain a small one.
Now for the fun stuff. I rode my motorcycle today. It was awesome! The shifting was a bit rough and my balance was a bit off, but I rode. I only went around the block a few times, early in the morning but it was great! I’m still not well enough to ride on the streets though. I’m not ready for full riding, I have to think about my shifting foot too much and if I needed my left foot in an emergency I would be in a really bad spot.
Now for the recommendation. The soles of my feet have been killing me. I mean sore almost to the point of crying. I bought a HoMedics Shiatsu Massager.

It was $50 at Bed, Bath and Beyond. OMG this thing is awesome. 10 minutes and my feet feel great. I’m taking it to work with me.
I know it doesn’t take the place of a professional, but in a pinch it works really well.

I’m walking

November 23rd, 2008 | Uncategorized | 7 comments

Not sure if this is going to work or not, but here goes nuthin’. . .

Walking! from Artistic Video Productions on Vimeo.

The Boot Is Outta Here!!!

November 23rd, 2008 | Uncategorized | No comments

With apologies to Bill Shakespere. . .

“To PT or not to PT, that is the question;
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The bends and stretches of outrageous exercises,
Or to take foot against a board of wobble,
And by massaging, relax them. To hurt, to itch;
No more; and by a PT session to say we end
The stiffness and the walking with a tender limp
That the healing tendon is heir to — ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To walk, to run. . .”

“Ditch the boot” that’s what my ortho said to me on Friday. So now I’m not sure if I’m FWB or 2 Shoes? I certainly can’t wear 2 shoes. My left foot is still pretty swollen. I have been walking around the house, putting my full weight on it. It hurts in the morning, but after a few minutes of walking, it feels pretty good. I have been very conscious of actually trying to walk naturally and not limp or baby it.
I have been using mild heat instead of ice and that seems to loosen things up a bit. It feels really good.
My ortho said I go to PT or not. He said sometime the best PT is just doing the things you normally do and many of his patients don’t even go. I’m going to try it and see if it helps.

It sounded like a good idea. . .

November 14th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 2 comments

The muscles in my arch and around my ankle were really sore today so I put some IcyHot on it.  Not a good idea.

Leg Cramps?

November 11th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 4 comments

I was walking in the boot today (I can go about a 1/2 day without crutches!) and got a massive leg cramp in my calf (the bad one)

 

Is this normal?

 

I hope so. . .