Last 2 weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind for me personally, but things are progressing. (videos below)
Let me get right down to it. Normally your doctor will give you instruction as to how to start walking. Each person is different, it also depends on the method of correction. My doctor kept me on crutches and my boot for week No.13— partial weight bearing. For week No.14 I could try ditching the crutches only in the house.
But I really ended up not following doctor's orders and overdid it. I wish I could tell you how week 13 would be for you, but mine was really not normal. I made personal decisions that kept me on my foot waaaaay too often and let's just say it was more than partial weight. But those were "my" personal decisions I made to spend time with some family.
I do not recommend planning outings or entertaining during this time! So I don't know what it would feel like to ease into walking.
PAIN
So I went from having trickled down on the pain between wk 9-12 and now I'm back up again. The pain is different. It is very difficult to explain. You feel pressure in areas where you feel weakened. You feel like there is a bruise under your heel. Your foot aches and your ankle swells a bit too. And walking is short lived because of the discomfort— you'll prefer to sit.
But I have just kept going. Living alone all this time makes me grateful that I can finally get up, get something, and carry it back in one of my hands (been using only one crutch, yay). I would love to be pain free after 12 weeks of great discomfort and trial, but I tell myself I've only been putting weight on it for two weeks.
I still can not sit upright with my leg up and be ok. My leg starts to hurt after about 30min. So I have to sit 'reclined' with my leg up. (I sound like a broken record with this! I wish walking-pain was all I had to deal with.)
But this is all passing. Just like the hard times during the 12 weeks passed, this will too! ;oD
Anywhooo let's get to the good stuff!!!
Week 13—
This is what an bird's-eye-view photograph can not show you! ;o)
PAIN
So I went from having trickled down on the pain between wk 9-12 and now I'm back up again. The pain is different. It is very difficult to explain. You feel pressure in areas where you feel weakened. You feel like there is a bruise under your heel. Your foot aches and your ankle swells a bit too. And walking is short lived because of the discomfort— you'll prefer to sit.
But I have just kept going. Living alone all this time makes me grateful that I can finally get up, get something, and carry it back in one of my hands (been using only one crutch, yay). I would love to be pain free after 12 weeks of great discomfort and trial, but I tell myself I've only been putting weight on it for two weeks.
I still can not sit upright with my leg up and be ok. My leg starts to hurt after about 30min. So I have to sit 'reclined' with my leg up. (I sound like a broken record with this! I wish walking-pain was all I had to deal with.)
But this is all passing. Just like the hard times during the 12 weeks passed, this will too! ;oD
Anywhooo let's get to the good stuff!!!
Week 13—
This is what an bird's-eye-view photograph can not show you! ;o)
Week 14—
First Steps... Crutch Free!
First Steps... Crutch Free!
7 comments:
Congratulations for your steps without crutch!! =) I know that is an exciting moment and I know you are very happy about that (also to be able to "flex" your foot in your first video).
As it is said in Spain, "lo peor ya ha pasado" (the worst has already passed), so now you have only to walk and walk and walk, and make your foot stronger and stronger =)
Gracias Anita por el apoyo! Estoy de acuerdo que lo peor ya paso. ;0) Espero que tu segunda cirugia te valla bien. Ciao!
Like you state in your video, there really weren't many resources online just a few years ago. Your blog has all the answers and has become my go-to resource! So I can't thank you enough for that!
It's great to be able to see the profile view of your foot bending and the range of motion. Could you please post videos like these that are more current (at 8.5 months)? I'm just wondering if your fourth toe still has that low of a profile and if you're walking with a limp at all. When I did my external fixator on my right foot, I had a slight limp the first few months after I started walking again. Do you walk at your regular pace or do you find yourself walking slower than normal? How many hours can you go walking around town to run errands before it becomes painful/uncomfortable?
I might start taking my first steps a week from today! My post-op doctor wanted to release me to partial weight-bearing earlier than you did but that might be because I just had the brachy procedure and nothing else. I'm really scared as to how painful it might be to take my first steps but your video gives me hope!! Thanks again!
I have another question - what kind of exercises do you do to increase the range of motion for your ankle and other toes? What did you do at the time you posted in this video and have the exercises changed over time?
Mitavalle,
As far as videos go, I don't have a video camera. I had borrowed my sisters when she was in town before.
My forth toes still has a low profile, but not as much as before. I walk with a limp if I try to wear heels. But at 8.5mo post-op, I feel that is mostly due to the bunionectomies.
I also limp now if I'm having a and day. My recovery isn't a straight incline upward on a chart. It has gone up and down over the months. Over-all I keep getting better but sometimes I've regressed.
Now at 8.5mo, I walk normally for the most part in my sneakers. After an hour of walking briskly on the treadmill I limp. My limp has to do with both my left foot and my hip. I went for one professional physical therapy session some months ago and after being tested, I learned my hip to my Brachy foot had become weak because of the three months on non-use.
As I approach my ninth month now, I can do a handful of errands and be ok. Some swelling by end of day but with some rest I'm fine.
======
You can find the exercise I did and still do for my ankle here:
http://brachymetatarsia.blogspot.com/2011/06/week-15-16.html
(image in "walking" section)
For all my other toes, I stand, then bend and place both hands on the floor so my whole body looks like an upside-down "V". Then I lift my heels up as far as possible, leaving my toes on the ground. I do repetitions of this.
I hope that helps! Good luck with your walking!
That does help a lot!! Thank you so much for taking your time to respond to my inquiries. You're the best! :)
Post a Comment