In Theory

I hurt! In theory I wanted the splint gone and with it the knee-walker. In actuality, I was very happy to cheat and use the knee walker for a few minutes this evening to feed the cats.

My foot and ankle hurt, my calf hurts, even my hands hurt. But as I explained to the guys who drove me home when I had the cab drop me off at Barclays Center so I could stop at Starbucks, I am supposed to be putting weight on the foot and walking. Heck, I even start physical therapy tomorrow.

The FDR Drive had surprisingly light traffic and I arrived at Dr. Ellis' office about 20 minutes early. I had assumed he would be running late, so I packed lots to keep me busy. Decided to finally start reading the Time Magazine cover story on health care in America. That became a bit ironic when he sent me for a sonogram to check for a blood-clot. The one amusing spot of my wait was trying to figure out why the young woman opposite me thought wearing 5" (maybe 6") platform ankle boots was appropriate for an appointment with a foot surgeon.

The nurse removed my splint and I found my self tearing up in fear. Even with the general anesthesia and the minimally invasive surgery, I couldn't feel my ankle when I touched it. And later when Dr. Ellis had me stand on my bare foot I felt like the floors were all slanted as I could not feel my heel. (I will call Dr. Shetty, my neurologist, in the morning,)

Dr. Ellis wants me up and moving ASAP to ensure that the achilles does not have a chance to tighten again. It was a bit disconcerting to hear him say he basically ruptured the tendon. He again described putting in the cuts and forcing my foot to neutral. And today when it was out of the splint I noticed it wanted to curl in and did not like when he pushed the ankle to a ninety degree angle from my leg. As I mentioned he had me stand and put as much weight as I could tolerate on my left foot and work on bending my knee.

Dr. E says stretching is my top priority. He wants me working on the foam angle in my bare feet tonight and starting physical therapy three times a week as soon as possible. Since no billionaires decided they needed an unlimited supply of triple chocolate double toffee cookies, I am starting PT at the HSS rehab center tomorrow morning. My pre-surgical in-hospital physical therapist had recommended someone in that center who supposedly has 20 years experience specializing in feet. He is on vacation, but I should be able to start with him as soon as he returns. In the meantime, I have an evaluation with someone else at the practice. Not looking forward to my long commute (car service tomorrow, but eventually one to two subways and a bus each way) three days a week, but, if at the end I can walk, it will all be worth it.

Dr. Ellis is pushing me forward quickly. I only get the air-cast boot for a week before he wants me in sneakers and I see him again in three weeks. Since the pads of my hands hurt from gripping my crutches tightly, both before and after I was allowed to put weight on my left foot, that seems like a herculean challenge. I'm just trying to figure out if I can get to and from PT tomorrow with just my cane.

For now it's all about putting one foot in front of the other. 

Knowing Your Limitations

Not something that comes naturally to me. I have always been stubborn and seem to like to push at immovable objects. So, I did have to tell Marco today that it was killing me to be this good for the past month. But if being this good means I can get back to work sooner, I will be good.

That came into play yesterday when I decided not to try out my new double chocolate toffee pecan cookie recipe because I knew all that standing would probably be frowned on. That said, I pushed it today by taking the subway home after seeing Marco.

Everything seemed to go smoothly with today's appointment. Removing the sutures was probably the most pain I've had since surgery - he swears he did not make me bleed. I can now get my scar wet in the shower (yeah, no more blue bag), but should keep it wrapped in the elastic wrap when it is in the boot - i.e. when I'm not in bed or the shower. He says the neuropathy is caused by my nerves being angry (his adjective) at the surgery and should dissipate as I heal and the swelling goes down.

On the plus side, I can move from crutches to a cane (as soon as I remember which side I'm supposed to use it on) and the walking restriction of half a block has been lifted to "within reason". Obviously this man does not know me well! Which leads us to me trip home on the subway.

I was so excited by the idea that I could start to get back into my normal patterns that I didn't think through how far the subway elevators are from each other. There is an elevator to the subway mezzanine just around the corner from the medical center, but the elevator to the subway platform is a good distance from the turnstiles. On the other end I had to get off a stop before mine so I could take three elevators in an almost V like pattern to get from the subway platform to the street and then walk a short block, crossing two large avenues, to take a bus that dropped my off a block from my building. Perhaps a bit much for the first day I'm allowed to walk more than half a block.

I am being good now, with my foot elevated and the gel packs in the freezer so I can ice it later. But, if I'm honest, plans are already in my head for a trip to visit my favorite baristas and a chai soy latte tomorrow. I will however take a bus as I suspect 14 blocks is not Marco's idea of within reason. Especially if I spend the morning standing in the kitchen working on my cookie recipe.