post op day 118 – cold turkey

Energy level: normal
Pain level: 0 for most of the day - 1.5 after a half mile walk

My physical therapist likes the way that I walk. I have a minor limp, but he thinks I should go cold turkey and tells me to ditch the cane. He also gives me a “clean bill of health” and sets me on my way.

Physical therapy has officially come to an end. Or, Rather there’s nothing more they can do for me; they have taught me all that they can.

I didn’t expect it to end like this. I thought there be a few more “let’s see you in three weeks”. I leave my pretty purple cane at their office to pass on to the next gimpy gal.

Without the cane I feel like I have lost my security blanket. Simultaneously, I feel awash with sense of freedom and loss.

The only thing holding me back now is that bloody plantar fasciitis. It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.  His best guess is that I’ll recover from plantar fasciitis in 6 – 9 months.

I’m not going to wait around for that! Most of my physical therapy has consisted of strategic stretches to regain a normal range of motion. Hum... sounds just like yoga! I prescribe for myself a full yoga regiment.

Slow and steady stretching wins the race.

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.