WEEK 17 | POST OPERATION

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 1 for walking
Epiphany: Carrying things is my new favorite activity!
Milestone: Walking without a cane!!!! Woo hoo!

WEEK 16 | POST OPERATION

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 2 for walking
Epiphany: It’s amazing how quickly strength can be lost and gained.
Milestone: Can balance on one leg for about 10 seconds. Yippee!

post op day 100 - up stairs

Energy level: good
Pain level: 1

Wow! I can't believe it's been 100 days since surgery!

What can I do after 100 days? I can go up stairs like a normal person!

Left foot on one step, right foot on the next step.

Woo hoo!

On the downside, I still do the wedding march going down stairs. Funny how going up and down engages different element. Going down stairs takes more flexibility, but going up stairs takes more strength. My left calf is almost back to it’s normal size and ankle strength is double what it was last week, but half of normal strength. Fortunately I have a surplus of stairs to exercise my ankle to help regain its strength.

♫ Climb every mountain! Climb every step! ♫

post op day 99 - cookies

Energy level: ok
Pain level: 1

More progress! I can get out of bed and with minimal assistance from the cane AND I can do it barefoot. I really wish I had that electric blue night splint weeks ago!

It’s another chilly foggy day in San Francisco – a good day for baking.

Today’s cooking challenge in Kitchen Stadium: cookies!

Why is this a challenge? Well, this particular recipe makes 130 cookies, which means this will be a minimum of three hours on my feet in the kitchen. In preparation for this feat I do my stretching exercises and I’m able to get around the kitchen barefoot without a cane. Woo hoo!

The swelling in my foot gets a little uncomfortable around batch four, so I take to soaking my swollen foot in cool, 65 degree water between batches.

It’s great to be cooking again!

Seriously folks, if you haven’t tried the famous urban legend $250 Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, then you are missing out on the best cookies ever! The secret is in the oat flour and shredded milk chocolate bar. Also, be sure to use Guittard chocolate chips.

Enjoy the sweet life!

WEEK 15 | POST OPERATION

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 2 for walking
Epiphany: Old ties make great yoga straps! Keeping ties scattered around the house encourages stretching the foot throughout the day.
Milestone: Walking with a cane at almost a normal pace.

post op day 98 - pt & cane

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 2

It’s not normal to have this much swelling. The Physical Therapist says that I ought to consult with a podiatrist.

The pain I have on the left top of my foot is due to walking off balance. I find this funny since my Sketchers Shape Ups shoes are *designed* to make me walk off-balance. The concept behind these shoes is that every off-balance step requires various muscles to engage to maintain balance, thus putting all those lazy muscles to use! Knowing that this soreness is due to engaging the muscles on the top of my foot is oddly comforting. Hum…. I never really considered having muscles on the top of my foot before. When I think of feet, I think of bones and ligaments …. the plantar fascia and…. Now: muscles! I find it fascinating that muscles that are so tiny compared to a meaty bicep do so much work.


I know that I walk funny, but the Physical Therapist likes my walk. He says it’s time to move on to the cane! Woo hoo!

I had been dreading the ugly dull gray cane, so I am pleasantly surprised when he pulls out a purple floral cane. It’s absolutely gaudy and I love it!

We’re talking about cycling and he tell me, in the nicest way possible, that I’m a bit of a whimp. (like I didn't already know!)  After a vigorous workout on the stationary bike he suggested that I do the Ocean Beach Bike Path this weekend… but then quickly retracts that with: “well, mentally, you are not ready for that.”  Indeed, after falling off the stationary bike and having a sprain that was just as painful as the break, I won't be taking the bike on the open road until I can fully trust my left foot again.

Today’s challenge: can I make it to work with only a cane? Yes I can!  However, after just an 1/8 a mile I’m felling the swelling and dreaming of ice.

It's Friday night and it's high time to go out for diner and a movie.  It's nice to end a long week with dragon rolls and training dragons.  I'm sure that working with dragons will be a piece of cake with my new pretty sparkly cane.

post op day 97 - h2o aerobics

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 2

The night splint is a miracle! When I get out of bed I only need one crutch instead of two! Woo hoo! I didn’t win the lottery, but I can put on pants one leg at a time! Yippee! Progress!

Long gone are the days of coffee shop mornings. Today, it’s another ½ mile hobble to the office and an ice pack to start off my work day.

I look forward to an evening in the water with Coach C, Butt Kicks, High Knees and Frog Legs.

I’m feeling so confident today (thank you, night splint!) that I walk to the pools edge and get in like a normal person. However, at the end of the session, the pool’s edge is slippery wet and I don’t take any chances. Like a primordial goon, I crawl out of the pool on my hands and knees to get to my crutches and scuba shoes.

Most people wear flip flops to the pool, but given my klutzy condition I have found the booties I wear for scuba diving to be the perfect fit for hobbling to and from the pool area.

Who said scuba booties were just for scuba diving?

post op day 96 - sleeping splint

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 2

It is so great to be back using public transit! However, the ½ mile walk is causing some swelling. The ice packs in the lunchroom fridge give a little extra incentive to make it down that last block to work.

I have a lunch appointment with the creepy prosthesis shop for a night splint. It turns out that at night I’ve been undoing all my efforts to stretch the foot during the day. This night splint will prevent my foot going to its natural neutral sleeping position.

They call it plantar fasciitis, but I call it the hobbling effect. Apparently my foot fibers cramp up when the foot is in a neutral position. The fibers adapted this behavior due to being non-weight bearing. I suppose this is equivalent to the foot going into self preservation fetal position. The foot lives on, but without flexible plantar fascia fibers, it ceases to fully function.

The folks at the prosthesis shop are in a cheery mood, and that just adds to the feeling that I’ve stepped into the twilight zone. I guess I’m just used to doctor’s offices being so neat and sterile. I have to blink twice when the fitter tells me to have a seat on the padded table that is cluttered with children’s books, toys and a tiny pink prosthesis shoe insert. There is a mysterious clear liquid… water I hope... with tiny muddy foot prints.

My new night splint is eclectic blue which makes me think of Debbie Gibson.

It’s been years since I’ve lived in this part of time and I decide to take MUNI back to work. Oh, how I’ve missed the aroma and the colorful characters of the 38 Geary bus. I love that all the recorded messages are in English, then Mandarin, then Spanish and that the smiling, petite Chinese grandmother almost ends up sitting on my lap with every lurch of the bus. She seems to be enjoying the ride.

By the end of this excursion, ice and two Tylenol are needed to dull the irritation so I can focus on work.

post op day 95 - h2o aerobics

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 1

Did I mention that water aerobics is THE perfect physical therapy?

One of the things that has bothered me most throughout this ordeal are the lopsided effects. It feels so good to do things equally with both sides of my body – for now that includes about 75% of the water aerobics exercises. I still can’t propel myself off the bottom of the pool with just my left foot, which means that I have to cheat at Jumping Jacks, Tick-Tocks and Moguls.

Coach C is fantastic! In addition to her teaching and enthusiasm, she reminds me of simple things like to keep my shoulders back. It is hard to think of other parts of the body when I’m so focused on my feet. Also, it has been gratifying to have a coach note my progress. Just 2 weeks ago I really struggled with coordinating left arm with right leg movements and now I’m the perfect Toy Soldier! Woo hoo!

I’ve never felt swimming was an aerobic activity, more evidence that I’m out of shape comes with actually feeling my heart pump as I swim. On the plus side, my left foot feels more like a propeller and less like a rubble ankle.

It’s good to have my swimming feet back again!

post op day 94 - lottery

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 1 for walking with one crutch

Today is the day that the doctor pegged for me to be done with this ordeal. I’m “walking” but I still have a ways to go. It’s hard to say how much I was set back by the sprain from 3 weeks ago. On the other hand water aerobics has propelled my progress with just 4 sessions.

To commemorate 05/10/2010 I set out on one crutch to buy a lotto ticket. This outing is also my first lunch away from the office. I’m feeling pretty confident that I can manage a lunch tray in one hand and a crutch in the other. Ah! The freedom of losing one crutch!

Although I always wait for a fresh green light to cross the street I still don’t always make it across in time.

To the guy in the big black SUV with two normally functioning feet: Honking the horn isn’t going to make my feet go any faster- trust me, I wish I could go faster! I’m hobbling as fast as I can.

Could it be that one crutch is a safety hazard? When I have two crutches I can pick up the pace when necessary. But… the downside is temptation to use the extra crutch … well… as a crutch! (hee, hee – bad pun). Seriously, the point of being on one crutch is to get beyond the comfort zone and wean me from crutches all together.

San Francisco drivers: you will just have to be patient!

post op day 93 - wii progress

Energy level: Normal
Pain level: 2 getting out of bed
                1 for the rest of the day
 
Getting out of bed is always hard.  While I can walk okay with the help of my super squishy shoes, I just can't do it bare foot.  I have to use crutches for nature's first call of the morning.  After a few stretches my feet warm up and I'm ready to go.  However, all the week's walking is catching up and I'm a little sore all day long.

A surprise for this morning!  I look down and for the first time in over a month, my feet are almost the same color! It’s been almost 6 weeks since I’ve had a healthy color in my recovering foot and I was just wondering if that Easter egg color was going to be permanent.

A Wii session shows that my balance is 43% / 57%.  I succeed at skiing, but fail the hula hoop exercise.

I’m in need of a light ice session after about 10 minute of balance games.  It’s great to have enough ankle and flexibility and left-foot-weight-bearing to attempt some of the games.  I consistently fail at anychallenge that requires me to lean all the way to the left. 

Failure and progress at the same time!

post op day 92 - wine & art

Energy level: Normal
Pain level:  2

I wake up and my right rib cage is sore.  This pain is evidence that walking with one crutch is a lopsided experience. 

Nonetheless, I am anxious to get outside and get back to some normal activities.  There is an afternoon gallery opening in beautiful Orinda and I want to explore my new found ability to hold a glass of wine in one hand and walk and talk about art.

Sadly, I find my limit for standing is about half an hour before I feel the swelling put enough pressure on my foot to make me uncomfortable.

It’s great to be out amongst friends and art again!

WEEK 14 | POST OPERATION

Energy level: Normal! Yippee!
Pain level: 2 for walking on sunshine!
Epiphany: Keep icepacks at work - you never know when you might need an afternoon break
Milestone: Walking with a cane

post op day 91 - clutch

Energy level: good
Pain level:  1 for 100% weight bearing

I just discovered another tool for physical therapy!  The clutch! 

If I had automatic, I would have been driving weeks ago.  It is only now that I feel confident that I have the strength and flexibility to work the clutch without being a safety hazard on the road.

Last week’s taxi disaster left me feeling helpless and has driven me to take matters back into my hands and drive myself to physical therapy.  I know that my ankle is weak, but I didn’t really know how weak it was until I attempt to push in the clutch peddle.  It takes a little more effort than I expected.

Interestingly enough, one of my new exercises at the PT’s office is a very similar motion to working the clutch, except this time I have to pump my body weight on a sliding platform.  My ankle trembles with weakness on even the smallest incline. 

Wow!  I never really thought of my ankles having muscles before!  I think it is because the calves get all the attention.

post op day 90 - h2o aerobics

Energy level: great!
Pain level: 0 for non weight bearing
                 3 for 100% weight bearing

Class was canceled so I take the opportunity to practice running in the pool at my own pace.  I really focus on evenly engaging the bottom of the foot.  The slow motion really exaggerates the flexing  of the foot.   This new range of motion spurs a strange pain on the top of the foot. 

I never cease to be amazed at how all parts of the foot are necessary for walking.  Even my middle toe is a tad sore.

post op day 89 - i'm walking!

Energy level: good
Pain level: 0 for non weight bearing
                 3 for 100% weight bearing

Today’s challenge: Escalators!

It’s been heaven being driven to and from work last month, but alas it’s time to resume public transit and face my arch enemy: the escalator. Much has improved since March and I’m ready to overcome moving steps & vertigo. Given my klutzy history I have no business hopping onto any moving staircase with on leg. But the time has come to put my foot down and cross that bridge.

Great news! I can make it to BART without breaking a sweat. Woo hoo! Rewind to 6 weeks ago, the same quarter of a mile left me sweating and so exhausted that I couldn’t muster the coordination to hop onto the escalator. There’s a huge difference between being non weight bearing for a ¼ mile and being almost fully weight bearing for the same ¼ mile.

It’s a little unsettling getting onto the moving steps, but I make it! Vertigo – checkmate – you loose!

Being able to trust my weight on my recovering foot makes a huge difference. Later in the day, high on confidence, I am inspired to take a few steps forward and I do it! I walk!

Okay, it feels more like a waddle than baby steps, but the important thing is one foot goes in front of the other without any crutches! Yee haw! It’s a level 3 for pain – right at the cusp where the pain signals my brain not to cooperate.

Wow! It feels good to be on two feet again. The key here is getting all the connective tissue on the bottom of the foot (the plantar fascia) to release its death grip. It has been stubbornly bunched up for months and I want my elasticity back!

Stretching helps, but the real gains are realized when every fiber of the foot is engaged with 100% weight bearing walking.

post op day 88 - h2o aerobics

Energy level: Great!
Pain level: 0 for non weight bearing
                1 for 50% weight bearing

I really look forward to the leaps and bounds of progress that are a result of my Water Aerobics class.  There are several exercises where I still favor my leg, but I’m feeling real gains in flexibility which is the secret key to walking. 

This ordeal constantly reminds me of my instructor’s observation of teaching at the old folks home where seniors shuffle around because they can no longer bend their ankles forward.  In fact, I recall watching my grandmother trip and fall over a small rug because she was shuffling instead lifting her feet.  That frightful fall resulted in a broken hip.  Not flexing at the ankle is dangerous!  I’m thankful that this water aerobics course gives me the opportunity to go though the full motion of walking while my leg slowly regains its strength.

After class I’m chatting with a girl about passions and hobbies.  She asks if skiing is my motivation for getting better.

Well, actually, no. 

My motivation is to be able to walk with free hands.

My dream, my goal is nothing more than to be able to carry a glass of water across the room.

post op day 87 - 1/2 mile fun

Energy level: Great!
Pain level: 0 for non weight bearing
                1 for 50% weight bearing

Today’s adventure:  The dentist! 
Technically I CAN use just one crutch, but today’s trip is going to involve several perils, so I’m not taking any chances and I’ll be using two crutches.  Challenge number 1: Catching a bus and hoisting myself up the bus stairs.  That is a challenge in the older buses were the first step is at the level of my knees, so I kneel on the first step and then stand and then kneel on the second step.  The space is just too steep and narrow to use the crutches.

It's all downhill from the bus stop - two blocks makes for a lovely downhill walk.  I’m glad to have my bike gloves on to help cushion my palms.  I’m able to put a good amount of weight on my foot nowadays,  which is also is a great relief to my palms.

After my teeth are pearly white clean I have the choice of going back two blocks UPHILL to the bus stop or I can walk 6 blocks downhill to get back to work.  I’m feeling strong and energetic so I take the 6 block challenge.  My energy fizzles out after four blocks and I progressively put more weight on the crutches and I feel my foot begin to swell. 

Back in the day when I had two good legs this was an enjoyable 12 minute brisk walk.  Today it takes 45 minutes to go from point A to point B.  I chalk up quite a few extra minutes waiting for the walk signs to give me the green hand.  I'm not taking chances and always wait for a fresh green light to give me maximum time to cross the street.  I can go quickly if I'm not weight bearing and swing the recovering leg along, but the more I practice normal walking the faster I'll be on the path of walking without crutches at all!

I long for the days of darting though the crosswalk and making it to the other side a split second before the light turns red. 


My reward for this journey is two ice packs that I keep in the break room fridge just for occasions like this.

post op day 86 - one crutch!

Energy level: good
Pain level: 0 for non weight bearing
               1 for 50% weight bearing

I did it! I finally walked with one crutch! Turns out it wasn’t a coordination issue, it was only a pain issue! I’d like to thank the academy for it’s support, my physical therapist for explaining the need to stretch the plantar fascia, my husband for his patience and my squishy shoes – it would not have been possible without all of you! It’s a miracle! It's like a light of a new day, out of the blue, breaking me out of the spell I was in, making all of my wishes come true! Okay, I’m not the Greatest American Hero, but I feel like I’m walking on air!

I jump on the Wii Fit and it confirms that I’m 49% weight bearing on the left foot and 51% weight bearing on the right foot.

Woo hoo! That’s progress I can believe in!

post op day 85 - 1 foot, red foot

Energy level: Great!
Pain level: 0 for non weight bearing
                2 for 40% weight bearing

I’m feeling real progress every day now! I can  do a mini 5 minute session on the bike with a bit of resistance.  At the grocery store I hop around on crutches instead of going for the motorize cart and don't feel exhausted.  Woo hoo!

My left foot is still a darker color than my right foot, but it is more reddish than blue. I’m hope that red means that oxygenated blood is swirling around in my foot.

Let's hear it for OXYGEN!

WEEK 13 | POST OPERATION

Energy level: Good – almost back to normal
Pain level: able to tolerate a little more weight everyday now!
Epiphany: Water aerobics is a most awesome form of physical therapy!
Milestone: Walking with one crutch