Walking is hard!

The first step out of bed this morning was hard.  I needed to use one crutch just to make it out of my room and down the hall to the bathroom.  I followed the doctors orders and popped a Vicodin.  As my husband said "What a nice way to start the morning".  But honestly, the pain meds worked.  I noticed it helped me walk more naturally and ignore the pain.  The more I walk the better it gets.  When I sit down for a few minutes and try to get up and walk, it is much harder.  But it is sooooo nice to be walking again.

I drove to work this morning.  I have to admit, this is the first I have broken my doctors orders.  He said wait 10 days.  In my defense, my husband is out of town, so it was drive or take a cab.  I also tested things out in the driveway before pulling out on the road.  Driving is easy. 

But when I went to park for work, I purposefully parked far away.  Its a walk from the parking lot to my building anyway, but I wanted to push myself a little more.  I even left my crutches in the car and carried my bookbag and a bag of books to my office!  Then I even walked over to the library on campus to return books, and took the long way back.

When I walk, it is slow, and hurts around my heel.  But the more I walk, it feels like everything is stretching out and learning how to work again.  Its sounds crazy, but I even think my muscle has started to come back.  I walk very slow and try not to limp and to walk as naturally as possible.  Its only 10 am, but at lunch I am going to go for a long walk.  Have I said how nice it is to be walking!!!!!! 

For shoes, I am wearing my chaco sandals.   Chacos are the most amazing sandals ever!  I have around 5 pairs, all different styles and have worn them for years.  The ones I am wearing look like the ones below, only more colorful.  I put a bandage over my incision so it doesn't get irritated.  But these sandals are great to walk in.  Plus they are great for after this surgery because you can adjust the straps with the swelling.  I started to put a tennis shoe on today.  But my poor foot has been imprisoned for 8 long weeks, it wants to breathe!  Plus it was kind of uncomfortable to wear the sneaker.  I started to wrap up my ankle to help with the swelling for today.  But my doctor said it was unnecessary, he said it will swell no matter what I do, and the wrap could prevent my ankle from moving naturally when I walk.  But I do recommend these sandals for after surgery or for anyone.  I love Chacos!

This weekend I plan on running errands, doing a little shopping, and walking more!  My goal: 2 miles by Sunday.  Think I can do it?