It’s Been a While

It has been a while since I posted. Not because nothing has happened but mainly I was waiting for something BIG to happen. And that hasn’t quite happened yet. But I have some time, so maybe I will write a little.

First, I did have my surgeon appointment (two weeks ago). He said everything was looking good. I managed to get some pictures of my x-rays. See all the pretty screws? He was pleased that I had not bent or broken any. Then he said to stay off the leg for another week and a half. That was a minor disappointment … but at least it was a goal.

Since then I have been puttering about the house with walker and wheelchair, trying to remember to not put weight on the right leg. Not always succeeding mind you. but pretty much so.

I’ve been receiving in-home physical therapy a couple days a week. I feel like it hasn’t been very aggressive but she is following the protocol written out by the doctor. Yesterday I expected to be the big day when I could remove the boot on my right ankle and begin to walk on it. Turns out I was half right.

Therapist agreed I could start putting full weight on my right ankle. but she didn’t agree that I could live without the boot. She feels I need it for stability of the ankle (and my dear wife agrees with her). So now I am learning to walk with the boot. It is big and the sole has an odd wedge that makes walking a rocking motion. And that catches me off guard at odd times. But I can walk (sort of). And I can use crutches instead of the walker. And the therapist will be back tomorrow, so I can try again.

I still have the braces on both legs but the hinges on them have been opened up so that I can bend my legs approx 70 degrees. Interestingly, they were not supposed to be opened up that much. The surgeon’s protocol called for them to be opened to 45 degrees this week and then open them 10 degrees per week thereafter. Oddly, when looking at the available adjustments, that couldn’t be done. They allowed being locked at 45 degrees, which would hold the leg bent at that angle. But the adjustment which allowed for a range of swing (flexion) jumped from 40 degrees to 70 degrees. I was elated, therapist and wife less so. 70 degrees lets me bend my leg enough to get into the front seat (passenger) of the car. I had been riding crosswise in the back seat. Anyhow, after watching me walk around with the 70 degree setting, the therapist relented and let me keep them at 70. Not as good as getting rid of them (That is supposed to happen in January) but a great improvement.

Once I get rid of the boot my next goal is to be able to get out of a chair that doesn’t have arms. At present I have to push down on arms to get myself up enough that I can straighten my legs to support me. So I need to get my legs/knees strong enough that I can launch myself up by pulling on a crutch. Not there yet.