Ten Minutes

Today I have had ten minutes of a happy awesome feeling. I have been really weight bearing with a particular exercise.
Part of my exercise is to get someone to attach postit notes to the wall then I have to reach them and pull them off stretching on my left side (trauma side). Firstly I thought this isn't going to be much help. Wow I was so focused on getting the postit notes that I was really able to go for it and put my weight into it. The hardest being down low. I found myself doing lunges and hardly using any weight in my good foot and crutch. Yes my leg was hurting but boy what an achievement for me. I am so pleased with this. The beginning of the next step.

Yes Physio Will Be Hard Work

Tuesday was my physio day. I did some walking into the injured leg on the parallel bars. I had a weird sensation around the large pinsite at the top. It felt little a popping feeling. I did manage to almost put all my weight into that leg.
Well the next day I was in a lot of pain. It felt bruised as if someone had kicked me in the shin! I only managed to do my leg raises and toes exercises so I felt a little low yesterday afternoon. Today the pain has gone so I have done my new exercises of side stepping whilst in front of the kitchen work surface. Hopefully I will have a good day.
I have managed to get my Pink Hydrex solution to dress my pinsites. It has been so difficult getting hold of this. One pinsite is a little oozy so I am cleaning it daily. I have my clinic appointment in 5 days. I would like to see my X-ray if possible.
Right back to my exercises.

Going Out

Going out has good points and possibly a bit of a downside. It is great to get fresh air and a change of scenery. I get to meet kind people who are very concerned about the contraption on my leg giving me pity looks and asking what have I done. Then I have the children staring and the parents trying very hard not to be embarrass and avoiding me. However I have had a stranger asking about the fixator and actually lifting my skirt so they could see it properly! Totally inappropriate! Get out of my space! It's a bit like when I was pregnant with my twins and people think it exceptable to touch your tummy. You just have to laugh.
This is a life changing experience and has really open my eyes on disability.

Preparing my foot

When I have the foot plate off I am pushing my foot into the carpet. It is a strange sensation, the angle of the frame doesn't help but I need to help sensitise the foot to prepare it for the next stage.
The Physio advised to use different textures. I have a crochet wool blanket and that just makes my foot buzz.
The sun is shining today so I walked around the block focusing on moving into my injured leg. I will try to do this walk at least once a day then build it up slowly. The top of my leg becomes very tired quite quickily with the weight of the fixator.
I have cabin fever and so want to get out, may be the seaside or the New forest. Just somewhere different! But not the Hospital, Doctors or Physio!

I have glitter trainers!

So I have my trainers, not my style but it does balance my hips. They are silver glitter, goes well with the frame around my leg!

I have tried to relax my grip on my crutches, especially my good side. I can only do it with a limp.
It's really hard as I can't flex my bad foot as it is fixed in the frame and my knee position feels weird.

I am going to try introducing protein powder into my diet to aid muscle repair, some came through the post today.

So today is 5 weeks, hopefully the trauma to the bones are on their way to mending and I will feel more comfortable walking. The pinsite still pull and if my foot is down for a while it can hurt.
The colour remains purple when my foot is down. It certainly doesn't look like my foot.
Anyway another week and I will be able to say two and a half months to go! Hopefully!

I need new shoes!

I have ordered  platform trainers just to give my good foot some height. Hopefully that will level me out and I will be able to put normal weight into my injured leg. I need to get my weight into it to stimulate the bone grow.
I have a block of wood in the kitchen that I use to balance me out when I am pottering in the kitchen. It feels comfortable when I am doing this. I can really stretch my leg and feel all my muscles having a good stretch.
I have been working hard on the exercises the Physio introduced to me. However I have some muscle fatigue from the leg raises I do. The Physio says I have been over doing them. I am having lots of protein in the form of chicken and fish to help repair the muscles. I am still trying to do the leg raises but resting to allow muscle recovery. Again it's a fine balance. I feel I need to make an investment in these exercises to aid good recovery and progress the rehab.
I am very please with my toes and how the are getting stronger. The Physio asked if I could stretch them but I haven't worked that one out yet. I will keep trying.

Physio

I have been focusing on my physio exercises. My main focuses putting weight into my bad leg and getting my toes moving.

I have been quite low recently. I think I am in a lull and feel I have such a way to go. I feel a burden as I am so slow and need to rely on people. Plus I can't take my children places for the school holidays.
The children have been really good and a real help. It is going to get better I keep telling myself.

My foot remains discoloured when I put it down, I keep on checking my foot pulse just to reassure myself. Now that I am putting my weight into my walk I am a lot slower and back to limping.  It doesn't help that my left hip is higher than my right.

Come on Helen just three months to go!

Back Home

I'm back home now. It is nice to be home. I am getting around the house, managing well. I have been doing little jobs like emptying the dishwasher and hanging the washing on the airer.

My foot still swells up and looks a nice shade of purple. It soon settles down if I put it up. The foot feels nice and warm to touch. My toes are moving well, though still a little painful.
I have been having trouble with my foot plate. I pump it up but it seems to go loose after a short period of time. I am not sure if it is the valve is leaking. I have physio for the first time tomorrow so I shall mention it to them

I have been catching up on paperwork today. Over the weekend I found unopened envelopes around the house and unfortunately my daughters initial podiatry appointment was in there. I am feeling slightly guilty that we have DNA an appointment. Mistakes happen, it is very humbling being on the other end. I am not very good at relying on others, but I am learning fast!