Injury Timeline


Friday, January 15, 2016

10k

Good news, everyone!



This week was the first time I've hit my step goal since my injury!  It only took six months.  I have been slowly but surely working up to the goal, getting closer and closer each week, until finally it happened!  I was pretty stoked, once I hit it.  I had a day filled with walking, around the office, during my weight lifting session, a grocery trip, and cooking and cleaning at home.  And surprisingly, I wasn't that sore the next day.  I was a little, but nothing too noticeable.  It did make me a little sad though, because 6 months ago, hitting 10,000 steps was nothing to me.  That was mostly every day.  If I were to hit 25k or 30k steps though, I would get super excited and felt like I'd accomplished something.  Still, I'm just so thrilled to be physically able to walk that much in a day again without it ending in the fetal position.

I also had my first PT session on Wednesday with Stephanie since the hardware removal surgery.  I wanted to address a couple of things with her, and check on my progress.  In my last blog post, I described not really being able to come up on my toes, or push off the ball of my foot when walking.  Basically, she said that I should get that back in time, but there's no guaranteed formula.  I asked about stretches, or strengthening exercises that I could do to make it easier, and she was pretty against doing any of that, and wanted me to wait until my foot was ready naturally.  There are still plenty of tendons in the midfoot that are healing, and she advised to just let that happen and not push through pain at all.  I should do what I can do and what is comfortable, and no more.  That was disappointing, because my mind is skipping ahead to hiking season and I'll need that functionality in my foot if I have any hope of doing some of the ascents I am planning.

Secondly, I asked about weight lifting for my lower body.  Just basic stuff, like squats, deadlifts, lunges.  She wasn't sure, so she called Dr. Van Boerum while I was at the office, and asked him about it.  She said he was none too thrilled at me doing it, ever, but if I'm going to do it (which I AM...duh!) that I will need to wait until the 9 month mark post op (early April) to start doing any lifting.  And, when I start, I need to start at a weight that I am capable of doing 3 sets of 20.  So, what a bummer, I still have 3 more months to wait until I can start my lifting regimen again for my lower bod.  I'm totally going to be the girl that skips her leg days for a while!  



I also asked her about my limp.  I hate my limp and I try really hard not to do it, but it does take some concentration and focus when I am walking.  I was walking down the hall at work the other day, concentrating, and not thinking that I was limping.  But, I ran into someone I hadn't seen in a long time, and he looked down at my leg and asked me what had happened and it looked like I was hurting.  I guess I was limping and didn't even realize it!  Stephanie said that the limp and my gait should start to correct it self the more time that passes.  It is different for everyone.  I could start seeing a difference in a few months, it may take a year, it may be 5 years and I still have it.  Any thought of having a "normal" foot again is kind of out the window at this point, were kind of her words.  I can deal with a limp around my family & close friends, but I feel like I am wearing a gigantic neon blinking disabled sign when I'm in public.




Something I've noticed since I've been completely out of the boot, is that have a tendency to hold my big toe up in a flexed position as a default.  If I'm thinking about it, I'll correct it, and force my big toe down, but it's kind of how it naturally wants to be, especially when I'm barefoot.  I was worried this would somehow cause a problem, so I asked Stephanie about this too.  She said that it was a normal, compensation response because my extensor and tibial muscles are still weak in that foot.  As they get stronger, my foot will do that less and less.

During my session, we worked on balance in the shoe and without.  It still sucks, but getting better.  I got a new set of exercises to do, most are focused on loading weight laterally (stepping side to side) and twisting my foot in a standing position.  None of which are causing pain.  As far as progress goes, she thinks I am ahead of where I should be, or where others are with a similar level of injury, so that was good at least!  She thinks that I am doing so well that I can start seeing her every 2-3 weeks instead of every week.

I've been settling back into some of my old routines, going to the gym pretty regularly and working on nutrition to get my weight back under control.  I have been doing the elliptical on some days even, despite how much I hate the machine.

I see Stephanie again in a couple of weeks, then it's off to Mardi Gras for a much needed travel vacation! 

4 comments:

  1. Love your posts. Like you I am 6 months post original op. On my hosp appointment in November the consultant said no need to take out the plate and screws. While I don’t want an unnecessary operation, the metal ware seems part of the problem. It seems to hinder my stretching and bending of the foot. I was shocked by this decision and was trying to work out what to do. Then in my January appointment consultant said “Okay lets take it out” whew what a relief ! Because of waiting lists surgery will not be until April – three months time.

    Your injury and mine has healed quickly as far as Lisfranc injuries are concerned. You say you are a nutrition freak. I would say I eat fairly healthily. I used lots of alternative things eg curcumin to avoid inflammation, vit c and zinc to avoid infection, symphytum to aid bone healing, Epsom salts to help healing. I wonder whether healthy eating and all of this helped or not?

    Like you I started holding my big toe up. Couldn’t understand why. You physio’s explanation is helpful.

    I have just started walking at “normal” speed. This is a relief. As I have been walking so slowly and calmly which is not really me!

    Your slippers sound interesting. I have one pair of trainers which are so supportive as if the hold my arch in. Other trainers I can wear but not so good. No other footwear at all. It sounds vain to worry about this when others are so much worse off at 6 months post op.

    I was pleased to read about your latest surgery as there are such different accounts of it. As my progress has been similar to yours it was useful to get a bit of a guide.

    Oh well it is 7.30 in the morning and I am off swimming.

    Take care, Karen

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  2. Doesn't seem long since:
    We were just beginning to realise this was not a simple, get over it quick operation
    We were realising we would be still healing at Christmas
    We were extatic because we had made our first meal or our first cup of tea!
    We are lucky to be here but still a long way to go.

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  3. You are so right! I remember the sense of victory I felt the first time I made a meal on my scooter, or when I graduated from scooter to crutches and could carry a cup of coffee to the table with no help!

    I feel like I'm starting to get more and more towards a normal walking speed. I was always a really fast walker, and I always took the stairs. Now I can walk at a somewhat normal speed (not my usual speed but I'll take it), but stairs are another story. I'm much better going up than going down.

    I had no idea other LFers were having the same "big toe" issue. I guess it is more common than I thought. Maybe in a few weeks I can stop doing it all together. I am much more conscious of it now that I have noticed what I am doing. It was a relief to hear that it was a normal thing for our injury.

    Thank you so much for stopping by Karen! We are hanging in there!! :)

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  4. And April will be here in no time at all!

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