Just Walk It Off - Day 2 of Walking

I had an excellent day!  I started my day by working in the garden and potting and repotting some houseplants and patio plants.  It has been something that I haven't been able to do, and it was a gorgeous day so I was outside all day.  I even worked in the garden a bit.  But that was more difficult and harder with my ankle.  Because I wasn't walking much and mostly standing, I wrapped my ankle to help with the swelling.  Before I started in the garden, I came in and elevated it a bit and iced it.

Then, I went for a walk.  I ended up walking for over an HOUR!!!!!  I drove to a trail that is flat and paved.  I had my sneakers on and did not have it wrapped.  At first it was uncomfortable, but I just walked it off and even picked up a little speed.  I am not sure how far I walked, definitely over a mile if not two.  I ended up calling a friend I haven't talked to in awhile, so I just kept walking and talking.  It felt great!!!  The more I walk, the better it feels.  My calf muscle is sore, and I have been trying to stretch it out.  I am shocked I am walking this well.  Last week I couldn't even put pressure on it.  I am going to keep pushing myself, it hurts and is hard to do, but I want to walk more and gain back my strength.

I have discovered that I experience the most pain or discomfort right when I wake up, or after I have had my ankle resting.  It just gets really stiff, and my heal hurts when I start walking.  But the more I walk and move around the quicker the discomfort goes away.

Now that the cast if off, I have found that a reusable ice bag has been the best way to ice it.  I have those gel packs, but they don't stay cold very long.  These ice bags are great.  I just put some water and ice in them and keep it in the frig or freezer during the day when I want to quickly grab it to ice it for a few minutes.  Plus it lays on the ankle really nicely and covers most of it.  I found the bag pictured above at Wal-Mart , by the ace wraps and other ice packs.

Now time to rest the ankle so I can do more walking tomorrow!!!!

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? 

Goodbye Cast and Crutches! I can walk again!

Today went wonderfully!!!  I am walking.

Today I discovered that after having a leg in a cast for 8 weeks it gets kind of gross :).  After they took the cast off and I was waiting to see my doctor, I was appalled by the look of my leg.  My hair had managed to grow an inch long.  Dead skin was all over the place.  The scab from the incision was dark and crusty.  The saddest thing was my skinny leg that was about the size of my arm.  It was gross looking.  But I managed to walk that pathetic looking leg right out of the doctors office!  I even took it to the beach.  Now it is shaved, exfoliated, moisturized, and with a new tan.

My doctor told me everything has healed great.  He wants me to walk as much as possible and said that is the only way things will get better.  He told me it will hurt, get read, swell up, and be hard to do, but not to let that stop me from walking.  He even gave me more pain meds because he said he didn't want the pain to interfere with my walking.  He wants me to stop using the crutches completely in 5 days.  He said I could lose them today if I was comfortable with it.  He told me to walk until it hurts too much.  Take a five minute break, then walk some more!  He also said limping does not count.  I was hoping he would let me swim, but he said not yet.  I am not allowed to soak the incision or use any ointments or lotions around the incision because infection is still a risk.  If I am out in the sun I have to keep it covered so it won't burn.

Walking is weird.  Its not really painful.  In fact, the most pain is at my heel.  My ankle just feels really stiff.  Like it hasn't move in 8 weeks :).  Walking on pavement is easy.  Walking in the grass and gravel is a little harder.  Walking in the sand right now is ridiculously hard.  I left the doctors office with my chacos on and a sock on the bad foot.  They were really easy to get on and off, and they don't bother my incision.  When I walk with the crutches I use more of a natural step.  When I don't, I limp.  Tomorrow and over the weekend I plan on walking alot!  I want this to get better and I want to feel active again.

My incision wound looks really good.  There is still a little scab at the top, but I think it looks great.  Its not as big as I remember it being.  I don't mind scars too much.  In fact, the book "Little Bee" has a great quote about scars.  "Scars are beautiful because they are proof we survived"  I thought that was a great quote to go by.  I will survive this!

Tomorrow is the Big Day - Cast Off!!!

I go in tomorrow to have my cast removed!  I will be able to walk again!  It has been a long 8 weeks, but I am really excited to get my cast off for good.

I am almost afraid of what my poor right leg is going to look like.  It is definitely hairy, I have been picking away dead skin so I am sure it will badly need moisturized, and the muscle is pretty much gone.  I will have to take a picture to compare my legs.

I have been testing out my leg in the cast.  Today I stood on the cast without my crutches.  I have also been semi walking with the crutches just to try and remember how.  This is going to be exciting.

My appointment is early in the morning, so we get to spend the day at the beach after.  I am really excited for that.