Week 7: Feel like dancing
October 15, 2008 by shelley
A great week this week. Went to Ottawa for Thanksgiving and attended a wedding. Just what I needed mentally.
I have been feeling a little trapped going on 8th week of depending on others to drive me around if I want to get out of the house, or get the kids out of the house. So going away for the weekend, and especially leaving the kids with the in-laws for the evening for a night out with my husband was WONDERFUL! I felt(somewhat) normal again. I even got to dance a little bit (I LOVE dancing). Well, if you would call it dancing. It was still lots of fun!
I bought my CAM walker today (removable boot) for my appointment with the doctor next week. He told me to come in with it because they will be removing my fiberglass cast and I will be leaving with the boot. I am so excited to get into this stupid boot. ha ha.
My husband is laughing at me because a few years ago, he tore his plantar fascia (the tendon in the sole of his foot) and had to use the boot for a long time. But he went straight to the boot no cast, so to him the boot represented restriction of movement and generally a pain in the butt.. he hated it.
As for me, I just can’t wait to get into the boot. After what will be 9 weeks in a cast, the boot represents one step towards freedom. Showering BOTH legs, physio… Oh the little things that make me happy these days. LOL.
Well, that’s it for this week. Happy healing everyone!
Hello Shelley,
You missed a bit! - sleeping. Will you be able to sleep with boot off, make sure you ask. Its a great feeling
I like dancing too, last week I went to a birthday party and stood still on the floor whilst everyone danced round me!!
My op is tomorrow so I’m sitting here feeling a bit apprehensive at the moment.
PS-Dennis, I suppose I’ve had a false start on the Marathon so its back to the start line for me as from Oct 16th. As they say in the Queens English - Bollocks
Richard
Congrats! So you prefer the boot over the cast? Isn’t the boot heavier? I was in a splint before I was put into a boot. There are pros and cons to each. I definitely feel more protected in the boot but I like how the splint was lighter. Best!
Shelley,
Did you have to pay for your boot? You mentioned you bought it? Definitely ask if you can wear a night brace rather than the boot to bed. The boot always twisted my knee and was very uncomfortable. I was told I could sleep without it if I was confident I wouldn’t jump out of bed during the night and forget. I found that my tendon would naturally shorten while sleeping as my foot angle wasn’t maintained so it made it stiffer in the morning. Keeping the AT stretched at an angle even when sleeping helps you recover your ROM faster.
What is a night brace?
Shelley-
You’ll be in two shoes soon enough. No racing! That’s what got us in this predicament in the first place, right? Glad to hear you will be getting rid of the cast. Life definitely does start seeming much more normal after. My strength has been starting to come back in the foot, although I still have a long way to go. I have been driving, though short distances, and the foot and ankle feel good when doing it. My doctor said it was OK to start, btw. You’ll have your freedom back very soon.
Keep up the great attitude.
Steve
Thanks for all the comments..
Richard:
Funny about checking the ATR blog every 5 minutes. I was like that as well at the beginning. Sounds like your surgery went well. Glad to read that.
I will find out about sleeping without the boot when I see the doc tomorrow
tiancai:
I prefer the boot because I can take it OFF! Had a bath Monday for the first time… so wonderful.
hobblit:
I will ask tomorrow about a night brace instead of the boot for nighttime. He never mentioned anything like that before. I paid for the boot ($200) but hopefully I will get reimbursed by insurance. My casts were covered, but my crutches, shower chair, etc weren’t because I’m not covered for equipment. So hopefully the boot is regarded as a cast, not equipment.
SteveW:
Must be nice to be driving now. That is what I’m missing the most right now. It’ll be so nice to go somewhere (anywhere) by myself. It will feel weird I think… like I’ve forgotten something. ha ha.
I can’t wait to find out tomorrow what I’m allowed to do now, ie: physio exercises, maybe stationary bike, …
But you’re definitely right. Rushing things and doing too much is what got us here, so gotta take life a little more slowly and enjoy each “step”. (No pun intended)