Shoe Transition - Day 46-50 (Post Op) Work Week
Monday and back to work. I started off the morning with about 7 minutes on the recumbent bike. Just a little movement, and trying to increase it a bit every day. I booted around well all day long. At one point at the end of the day I pivoted on the bad foot and it twinged a bit, right on Mr. Achilles. The pain lasted for about 5 minutes before fading. Later in the evening after resting and icing, my curiosity drove me to grab a left shoe. The doc had said a week or two in the boot and then a transition to shoes. It has been a week.
I got my left Hoka Clifton and put a Tuli's heel lift in it. By the way, I just started wearing these Tuli's a week ago, and so far I like them a lot. I sat down on a chair, put the left shoe on, and carefully stood. I took a cautious, short step, and it was...very weird. It has been so long since I've taken a step on this foot with a shoe on. I took another step, and then a third. And then...it started to hurt. I could feel a stretch in the Achilles. I was surprised that it was that significantly different than the boot; it really was. I got a bit worried about how well the ankle would hold. I took three steps back and sat back down, taking off the shoe and going back to icing.
I'll have to read up a bit on how to transition out of the boot. I'd imagine it involves moving a bit more boot-less every day. The best course will be to wait for the weekend before I push it, but I'm wondering if I can build up a bit beforehand.
Nothing remarkable Tuesday at work, other than using the elevator to get to a second floor meeting (I can make a flight of stairs; it just takes too long). However, Tuesday evening brought some advancements. I did two cycles of icing (15 minutes on, 15 off) and then decided to give the left shoe another try.
This time, I grabbed the knee scooter to provide a bit of balance and, well, a safety net of sorts. I didn't use it or put a knee on it, I just kept it by my side as I shuffled along. I then walked around the living room and kitchen; a circle of 60 steps or so. I did two cycles of this. It felt weird again, but not that bad. I then iced for two more cycles and tried again. This time, I did three circles, but I left the scooter after two. Two more icing cycles, and then a third go around of four circles. Truthfully, it didn't feel all that bad. It still seems weak, but not really painful. Maybe a "2" on the scale. The Hokas with the heel lift provide a lot of support and a lot of cushion.
What a confidence boost. The plan is to continue this "therapy" at home during the evenings throughout the work week before I make a move to venture into the world with shoes on (provided I feel comfortable doing so). Perhaps I'll Ace wrap just to provide some support with the shoes.
Wednesday, after work, I was back to the ice-walk-ice routine, logging about 700 "shoed" steps or so. It didn't feel better, necessarily, but didn't feel worse. I don't think I look too awkward, but what do I know. I know I'm taking short steps and also the back of the shoes bother the back of my heel/ankle. Just the rubbing is a little tender, as it is right in the area where the bone was ground down. Thinking (hoping) that this just goes away with time as the bone heals up.
Thursday was another extra long work day. I used the boot, but since I didn't get home until late I didn't get any shoe steps in. However, I logged over 5,000 steps in the boot. A pretty heavy load, but my ankle didn't feel all that bad; just tired.
Friday I made a decision to go to work, and into the outside world, without a boot. I brought it along in my car in case I found it was a bad decision. My steps were short and a limp was present, but I made it around fairly well. The pain seemed to stem more from swelling within the shoe, relieved by taking periodic breaks out of the shoe. We even went to dinner and I logged a bit over 2,900 steps total during the day, out of the boot. Once we were home, I used the ice machine to calm the ankle down. It didn't take long to get the swelling out. By the end of the night, I have to say that the ankle feels as good as it has since the surgery. I think the tissues have loosened up, popped, or whatever. This was one of the more promising days I've had.
I may be done with the boot. I'll likely keep it nearby for safety, kind of like I did with the crutches (but no longer do). Great progress this week! Happy with the developments. I'm still hampered and not walking anywhere close to normal. I'm closer than ever, though.
Sitting at about 55% normal at the end of this week.
I got my left Hoka Clifton and put a Tuli's heel lift in it. By the way, I just started wearing these Tuli's a week ago, and so far I like them a lot. I sat down on a chair, put the left shoe on, and carefully stood. I took a cautious, short step, and it was...very weird. It has been so long since I've taken a step on this foot with a shoe on. I took another step, and then a third. And then...it started to hurt. I could feel a stretch in the Achilles. I was surprised that it was that significantly different than the boot; it really was. I got a bit worried about how well the ankle would hold. I took three steps back and sat back down, taking off the shoe and going back to icing.
I'll have to read up a bit on how to transition out of the boot. I'd imagine it involves moving a bit more boot-less every day. The best course will be to wait for the weekend before I push it, but I'm wondering if I can build up a bit beforehand.
Nothing remarkable Tuesday at work, other than using the elevator to get to a second floor meeting (I can make a flight of stairs; it just takes too long). However, Tuesday evening brought some advancements. I did two cycles of icing (15 minutes on, 15 off) and then decided to give the left shoe another try.
This time, I grabbed the knee scooter to provide a bit of balance and, well, a safety net of sorts. I didn't use it or put a knee on it, I just kept it by my side as I shuffled along. I then walked around the living room and kitchen; a circle of 60 steps or so. I did two cycles of this. It felt weird again, but not that bad. I then iced for two more cycles and tried again. This time, I did three circles, but I left the scooter after two. Two more icing cycles, and then a third go around of four circles. Truthfully, it didn't feel all that bad. It still seems weak, but not really painful. Maybe a "2" on the scale. The Hokas with the heel lift provide a lot of support and a lot of cushion.
What a confidence boost. The plan is to continue this "therapy" at home during the evenings throughout the work week before I make a move to venture into the world with shoes on (provided I feel comfortable doing so). Perhaps I'll Ace wrap just to provide some support with the shoes.
Wednesday, after work, I was back to the ice-walk-ice routine, logging about 700 "shoed" steps or so. It didn't feel better, necessarily, but didn't feel worse. I don't think I look too awkward, but what do I know. I know I'm taking short steps and also the back of the shoes bother the back of my heel/ankle. Just the rubbing is a little tender, as it is right in the area where the bone was ground down. Thinking (hoping) that this just goes away with time as the bone heals up.
Thursday was another extra long work day. I used the boot, but since I didn't get home until late I didn't get any shoe steps in. However, I logged over 5,000 steps in the boot. A pretty heavy load, but my ankle didn't feel all that bad; just tired.
Friday I made a decision to go to work, and into the outside world, without a boot. I brought it along in my car in case I found it was a bad decision. My steps were short and a limp was present, but I made it around fairly well. The pain seemed to stem more from swelling within the shoe, relieved by taking periodic breaks out of the shoe. We even went to dinner and I logged a bit over 2,900 steps total during the day, out of the boot. Once we were home, I used the ice machine to calm the ankle down. It didn't take long to get the swelling out. By the end of the night, I have to say that the ankle feels as good as it has since the surgery. I think the tissues have loosened up, popped, or whatever. This was one of the more promising days I've had.
I may be done with the boot. I'll likely keep it nearby for safety, kind of like I did with the crutches (but no longer do). Great progress this week! Happy with the developments. I'm still hampered and not walking anywhere close to normal. I'm closer than ever, though.
Sitting at about 55% normal at the end of this week.
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