End of PT - For now

Today my PT told me I am able to be discharged.  She was amazed at my level of recovery since I started PT a little over a month ago.  I am walking now pretty much normally.  Still have a little pain and stiffness in the am, no real swelling, and my left foot is still 1/4 bigger round than my right foot.  At this point, I am going to continue my workouts in the Gym, and wait to see my Surgeon Nov 17th.  Hoping to get the screws out ASAP as I can definitely feel them now.  My PT says I can feel them since my foot is no longer swollen.  This marks 17 weeks since my accident.  6 weeks weight bearing.   It has been a long journey, and one that I am sure I will be reminded of with every stiff am walk and foot twinge I get for the rest of my life.

I'd like to call this my last post - but given I still need to get the hardware removed - I think my last post will come on the 1 year anniversary of the accident - I will then close with my last post at that point.  Until then, I'll continue to post items I think folks will find of interest in terms of their own journey.

Please readers - and there are a lot of you!  From many countries!  Feel free to ask me questions.

Glenn

Down to 1 PT Session Per week

Well, getting to the end of my therapy journey.  Yesterday my PT told me I could come just once a week now.  My leg and ankle strength are back to normal in my opinion.  My balance and foot flexibility are still not, and may never be what it was before the injury.  But I am working on it.  I am up to a full 35 mins on the elliptical now and working leg machines into my workout hard now.  I still get some swelling, and my bad foot still is bigger than my good foot.  I can walk now with very little limp, and almost broke out into a light jog the other night.  I'll continue with PT until they tell me I am done.  I don't see my surgeon until mid-November - so as much as I would like to get the hardware removed from my foot, it's going to be at least another month.  So, here is a status since my last post:

1. Walking without any limp, never going back to the cane - Done, just a little limp now

2. Walking longer distances - and faster!  Right now I can manage short slow spurts without pain - Done - Think I could slow jog now

3. Full 30 minutes on the elliptical - Done!

4. More grace walking up and down stairs - Better!  But not all the way there yet

5. No swelling - HA!  Doubt that will happen anytime soon - Better, but still comes sometimes at end of day

6. No weird feelings & sensitivity/numbness on the surface of my foot - Almost feels normal these days

7. No popping Advil in the am to mask foot pain - Advil free for one week!

8. Standing / balancing on my bad foot for 30 seconds (PT says that is what a normal person can do) - I can manage about 8 seconds

9. Getting into my "smaller" pair of dress-shoes - my left foot still bigger than my right - and I know this might be forever, but will try! - Glad I am not a girl - my shoe fashion will forever be limited I fear - no way I can fit into narrower dress shoes

10. Completing PT - I'll set my sites on the end of November - I'd say this will stick

11. Getting the 2 remaining screws out of my foot - December? - Still about right

I may post a pic of my foot soon for comparison to where it was when I got my cast off.   I may even post my injury pics for Halloween LOL!  They are pretty gruesome!

More of the same - but better

Tomorrow is 4 weeks WB for me.  Knee pain subsiding with the incoming high pressure system.  Little foot pain these days, more flexibility, less swelling - but still there by the end of the day.  Doing the elliptical now more often.  Use the cane very little, walking most of the time with a slight limp still.  Up and down the stairs now "fairly" normal. So what is left?

1. Walking without any limp, never going back to the cane
2. Walking longer distances - and faster!  Right now I can manage short slow spurts without pain
3. Full 30 minutes on the elliptical
4. More grace walking up and down stairs
5. No swelling - HA!  Doubt that will happen anytime soon
6. No weird feelings & sensitivity/numbness on the surface of my foot
7. No popping Advil in the am to mask foot pain
8. Standing / balancing on my bad foot for 30 seconds (PT says that is what a normal person can do)
9. Getting into my "smaller" pair of dress-shoes - my left foot still bigger than my right - and I know this might be forever, but will try!
10. Completing PT - I'll set my sites on the end of November
11. Getting the 2 remaining screws out of my foot - December?

If I can manage all of the above - I'll say I am pretty much recovered.  I'll look at this list in another 3 months - that would be about the 6 month mark.