Physiotherapy...

[fajrdrako]

I can put weight on my right foot now.

It's a bit startling how little I can actually walk.

As the physiotherapist pointed out to me, the ankle needs both strength and flexibility. To be able to take a step, one must be able to bend one's ankle so the knee comes over the foot.

Funny how hard that is.

But it's funny also how much easier life is now that I can put weight on The Foot. I can step up onto a step. (Not ready to tackle stairs, though!) I can keep my balance much better. I can go around, a little, with one crutch instead of two, which means I can carry things in my hand.

Progress!

Comments

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Wonderful!

The rest will come...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The rest will come...

And none too soon.

Tonight I'll show you my delicate style in lurching across the room.

But when I got on the exercise bike at physiotherapy, the physiotherapist said I was 'gazelle-like'. I basked. It's a talent!

[jkluge.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're doing better!!

[bright-lilim.livejournal.com]

I'm also glad that the foot is better!

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! That sounds like at least two steps forward with no steps back!

[laitosto.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I start PT for my back tomorrow. I hope I make half your progress.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

OK, you're totally amazing.

Yes, it's hard to take, how little you must be able to actually walk! But the muscles have just come off eleven weeks of being trained to do absolutely nothing, right? Now re-train them to do what you wish them to do. It'll take a small bit of time, but it'll happen faster than you now imagine, too.

Strength and flexibility. I'll focus on that in the psychic foot-rubs, all right? hee.

I think you'll start to make much faster progress, now. The exercises (tedious tho' they were/are) brought you to be able to do this, and now being able to do this will make the exercises both easier to do and more meaningful. Just you see.

Yow! You go!!

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

Oh, congratulations! You must be so excited!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Me too.

I walked right across the room and back (without crutches) twice today. Once all the way into the kitchen. Yay me!

But tonight... I'm exhausted.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's - no pun really intended - a step in the right direction. Yay!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wish the foot felt less sore and tired tonight. On the other hand, it's been sore and tired before without being stepped on. To be stepped on is definitely a good thing all round!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Good luck with your PT. I hope your progress is remarkable!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the muscles have just come off eleven weeks of being trained to do absolutely nothing, right? Now re-train them to do what you wish them to do.

The muscles are actually pretty good - better than I thought. It's the stiffness in the ankle joint that's the source of the problem. Time and effort should cure it. I hope.

I still have exercises, and many of them.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Yay! Hope the ankle continues to progress well -- and you too! :-D

[meret.livejournal.com]

Yay! That's great! :)

It's a bit startling how little I can actually walk.

One step at a time. (I couldn't resist! *g*)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's great - though I'm a little nervous about it this morning. So far it's still wrapped up in the Boot and being kept safe. I'll walk on it again in a little while.

Hadrian's Wall, here I come!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's very encouraging.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

One step at a time. (I couldn't resist! *g*)

Yes - that's the truth of it.

Such a worthy icon!

[toraks.livejournal.com]

PS anything you'd like from the UK? I have been really bad at actually getting you something and I'd really planned to. Just to brighten your day a bit. :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you! Let me think... Assuming you can't actually send David Tennant (Barrowman is already coming over here.... well, close enough.)...

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Am very glad!

When you do therapy, be sure to concentrate on keeping both your feet pointed forward - don't let the injured one "duckwalk" out to the side. When I was in rehab for mine, they emphasized that, but after the rehab, I started favoring it a bit and doing that - not CONSCIOUSLY. A year later, I started working with a personal trainer, and we had to 'retrain' my foot to point forward again!

These are the things you don't realize until after an injury :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

don't let the injured one "duckwalk" out to the side

Good point. I've noticed trying to do that - very sneaky. And very... tempting. Not to mention that walking with the foot straight is more painful! But necessary, necessary.... I know.

I'll try to keep remembering that.

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Exactly!

I realized how much I'd been doing it when I saw the wear pattern on the sole of my shoe.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Stiffness can be removed by gentle, repeated movement. And application of heat, and massage. And toe-wiggling. No, seriously. It's in the medical books.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'll keep my eye on that. Meanwhile... I'm really not walking much, and so painstakingly it's easy to remember to do it properly. It's when it starts to be automatic again (and I can hardly wait) that I'll have to be extra vigilant.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You sound just like my physiotherapist. Yes, I'm doing all that. I'm wiggling, I'm wiggling!

[filkferengi]

Woot!

You remind me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugc65WMV7Z0

Enjoy! [weg]

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hee - picture me striding around the living room, singing that!

Maybe not yet. But soon.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Wiggling! Someone gets an advanced degree in physiotherapy and gets to tell grown women to wiggle their toes more! Is this a great country or what?

(Seriously, don't you notice, then, that the ankle joint feels less stiff? Keep at it. You will.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The ankle always feels stiff because I'm always pushing it to the point where it feels stiff - and that is further all the time. Which is a nice thought. I was at Tasia's place today - went up and down the steps at her door without any problem. It was great!

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

It is good to hear that you're making progress. :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, three cheers for progress! It's nice that it's less painful, too.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

The ankle always feels stiff because I'm always pushing it to the point where it feels stiff - and that is further all the time.

Absolutely wonderful. Yeah, you have the very idea: "stiff" means "wait, I can't quite do that..." and you can just keep working at where that occurs. Excellent!

went up and down the steps at her door without any problem. It was great!

Aha, no way!!! You are amazing! You did steps! I wanta kiss you right now.

Nothing can stop you. Time itself is your only foe! hee

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Today I did a lot of foot exercising, and found myself occasionally forgetting where I'd left the crutches, and then hunting for them. Strangeness.

Feels pretty good.

Mind you, I am walking at less than a snail's pace and can't go very far. But crossing my living room is almost easy!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

found myself occasionally forgetting where I'd left the crutches, and then hunting for them. Strangeness.

hee. Good sign, actually.

Mind you, I am walking at less than a snail's pace and can't go very far. But crossing my living room is almost easy!

You remember when you first came home from the hospital, when getting yourself to the bathroom and back required a nap? Think of that as what you are doing now, only in a more advanced version. Your body will catch up to itself again in no time.

Good time to remind you of John the professional clown who separated his foot in the motorcycle/car accident... totally healed, totally back to health, and once again working in his profession. You may meet him when you sart walking Hadrian's Wall!

It's three months today. I think you've done amazing things!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that going to the bathroom doesn't still require a nap. Which is to say, there's a lot of napping going on still. But it's all much easier.

Three months. Yes. Someone said to me that a broken ankle takes 100 days to heal.

Maybe about right.