crutches...no crutches??

I'm thankful that I've had crutches to help me through this phase of the recovery but crutches are not my friend! Besides killing my back and shoulders, I almost took out a lady at the gym when one of them fell out of the shower!! I finally began total weight bearing (with the boot) during the last afternoon of my leave from work.  I was able to give up both crutches to move around the classroom on the first day back. I would then use one or both crutches to support partial weight when going for longer walks. Last Sunday, I walked at church without the crutches. That was a little too much too soon because I ended up icing and elevating the rest of the day! This week, I found myself using them less and less each day. My crutches have been in the car for the last two days.  I'm hopeful that they will stay there. My PT said I'll be walking in wearing tennis shoes sooner than I think. Until then...I'll keep on boot scootin' along!!

Four, Three, Two, One...

The count down is on.  Next Wednesday is the day I will return to work. Teaching Kindergarten is not just work, it's a like being a mom to 20 little kids! From the minute I came out of surgery, I've been scared to death that I would never be ok to return. I woke up this morning with the same tears I went to sleep with...afraid that I'll never walk again! After starting my day with my stretches, I went to my physical therapy appointment. I quickly let my PT know that I did not want to repeat the stretches because I had already done them. I explained that I have only days before I return to school. I begged her to help me move forward for the full hour. Today was my first official day to begin partial weight bearing. We started that over a week ago, so she let me move on with some total weight work. I was able to balance back and forth, walk up and down a few steps, and crutch across the room (all without a boot). It hurt but it was acceptable pain. After icing my foot to get the swelling under control, Steve took me to the gym. Armed with the ability to put my foot on the floor to get up and down the pool steps, I was actually able to get in and out of the pool without all of my fan club! I started with lunges and toe raises and then tried to use the kicker board to move down my lane. I'm not sure if my leg is just weak from the cast or if all of my muscle has turned to fat, but I didn't even move! Finally, I gave up and tried swimming again. It worked! I was able to do 2 laps each of breast stroke, side stroke, and back stroke. I'm not sure if anyone else would know that's what I was doing but who cares! I navigated the steps one more time to get in the hot tub. It was such a treat to put my foot next to a jet even if the heat made my foot swell so big I could barely get back out! Now I'm home with ice on my foot again. Steve keeps telling me it's going to get better but I've been having a hard time believing him. What a difference a day makes. I finally know I'm going to be able to walk again and I'm going to be ready to go back to my kids next week!

Splash!

It was back to the Wellness Center (HBU Bradshaw Fitness Center) today. This gym is my favorite choice for rehab...the pools are amazing! I almost fell two times trying to get into the lap pool. I "walked" in shoulder deep water for about an hour. My PT told me that shoulder deep would take about 60% of the weight off my foot.  I'm usually not too bad at swimming but my ankle and leg just won't make that work for me yet. I used the resistance weights to work my arms and shoulders. I'm hoping this will make using crutches easier. Every retired person in the pool swam circles around me and yet I was exhausted.  I'm so thankful that the Wellness Center allows Steve to come with me as my care taker.  I thought we might have to call the fire department to get me out of the pool...oh my goodness!! In case you're imagining him behind me pushing me out like the broken down church bus, we didn't have to resort to that! He stood at the top, making suggestions and cheering me on.  Crutch walking back to the door to load up in the car was almost impossible.  As I sit resting 3 hours later, I still feel like I just ran a marathon.  I'll be back in the morning...hoping this is going to get easier everyday!!