"Yikes, this hurts!"

Boot and brace are now off.  I'm spending all my days in a grody pair of old running shoes slowly learning to walk normally again.  To avoid flexing my foot, I'd been walking with my leg turned out towards the side.  Turns out, I can't walk that way forever (laugh).  Anyway, I'm in my 3rd week of physical therapy and the therapists are pushing me hard.  Most people dread p.t., but I'm actually enjoying it.  I get to ride the stationary bike, do leg presses and squats among other things and get a massage at the end.  It's like a great day at the gym!

It's the at home exercises and beginning to put in some daily walks that hurts.  Walking down the stairs still absolutely kills.  Part of me is scared that it will feel like this forever.  People have already warned me that I'm now going to be prone to early-onset arthritis.  I'd like to believe I'll be on the starting line come August, but am nervous.  Yet, in a fit of "this won't be the fourth season in a row that I'm only doing one triathlon" I'm signing up for a mini-sprint in late August and contemplating fitting one more in during the month of September.  Might be overkill.  Then again...  I turn 40 next year and am starting to contemplate big plans.

Getting Closer

Progress is slow but hopefully steady.  I'm 5-1/2 weeks post injury and starting to actually walk with the crutches instead of hopping around on just one foot.  Not yet ready to walk unassisted, and still wearing the oh-so-attractive "boot".  My clients are just thrilled that I show up for work in yoga pants and cardigans rather than business suits.  But really, would you hop around and slide up and down the stairs on your butt while wearing a business suit? I didn't think so.

The goal is to be both walking and driving by the end of the month.  This is going slowly, but it's my ankle.  If it doesn't heal correctly, life will suck for a long long time, and I'm too young to limp forever ya know?

As I'm starting to walk on it I'm realizing that my calf muscle has completely atrophied.  My first day or two the leg actually wobbled when I put weight on it.  Before I can think about running, I'll be doing tons and I mean tons of calf raises.  For now I'm simply starting with some simple muscle contractions - clenching and relaxing the muscle to try and start toning it even while in the cast. 

A short term challenge is that my mom has been here since the day I broke everything, and she is leaving on Saturday.  She has commitments in Ohio that she can't miss.  We'd hoped I'd be mobile by then.  This is going to place a huge burden on the husband, and much pain and tears for RJ since Mommy can't carry her and Grandma won't be here to cater to her every whim.  Send us good vibes for a speedy return to normality!