post op day 53 - hokey pokey

Energy level: tired in the am, but good energy by noon
Pain level: 1

What an exciting day!  My first physical therapy regiment is the “contrast bath” which is supposed to stimulate the nerves but placing the foot in warm water (105 F) and then dunking it in cold water (60 F).


The Contrast Bath Hokey Pokey

You put your left foot in (2 minutes warm water)
You put your left foot out
You put your left foot in (30 seconds on ice water)
And you DON’T shake it all about 

They recommend shaking it all about only in the warm bath, not the cold bath.

The first warm bath burns and the first cold bath stings.  Oddly, the second warm bath stings and tingles.  The effects lessen with each dunk.

I do both feet as I figure what is good for the goose is good for the gander.  The first dunk seems to overwhelm the nerves in the recovering foot, so the companion foot going though the same treatment actually brings much comfort to the injured foot by helping the injured foot know what to expect and what is what is normal.