I can walk again! Well, I’m allowed to walk again. I can’t actually do it yet.
Nearly 10 weeks after breaking my foot and being banned from walking, they took the cast off today and told me I can start walking on it. I’m in one of those cast-boots for a month, but I can be weight-bearing again.
The problem, however, is that learning to walk again has turned out to be painful and rather exhausting. So far, I’ve walked from my couch to my kitchen and back again. It took about 10 minutes, hurt, and left me in an exhausted heap, unable to do anything but watch numerous episodes of Downton Abbey with my eyes half-open. And that was with crutches to help!
Supposedly walking will get easier in the coming days, once some semblance of muscle returns to my leg, and they claim I won’t even need the crutches by the end of the week. At the moment, that’s hard to imagine, but this is excellent progress.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Glad to hear there’s and end in sight! The loss of muscle is a killer. I’m coming it of an air pressure boot after five months on Wednesday, and that was just for a bruise (stilettos and the tops of feet don’t mix well). I’ve been able to walk and it’s still difficult, but it does get better!
Do you find the air boot hurts your heel? That’s been the most painful area.
Yes! Unfortunately, I agree. But I am gratified to know someone else has the same problem. I find that I also have to readjust the velcro straps on the top of my foot multiple times as my foot swells during the day. There’s a sweet spot on them that is almost impossible to find that helps with the pain on top, the heel pain and doesn’t make my foot claustrophobic
I’ve ordered some of those gel inserts that you put in shoes to make them more comfortable. I’m hoping it’ll help with the heel!
I’m also finding it hard to find a shoe for the other foot that’s exactly the right height to match the boot, so that I’m not lopsided!
From the voice of experience– Be careful walking in only one boot as being lopsided may throw your back out.
Yes! I’m on a quest to find a shoe that’s exactly the right height. It’s not easy!
Get another boot or see if you can borrow one…if you lived in Denver, I’d loan you one!!
Hooray! Good luck with the rest of your recovery.
Good luck. Be kind to yourself and be well!
I’m so glad you can finally walk (sort of) again. Now that you can exercise it you should be able to build up strength in it again and make some progress. :)
Congrats!
Take good care of yourself – or let your cats do it. Glad you’re mobile again.
Yay! Happy to hear that your recovery is progressing. And enjoy downton abby ;)
I’ve been waiting all day for this update – so glad you are allowed to walk again! Although, I’m surprised they didn’t suggest any physical therapy or even some at-home exercises to help safely rebuild the strength in your foot/leg.
Well, first it’s four weeks of this boot, and then once it comes off, I’ll have 4-6 weeks of physical therapy… so it’s coming, just not yet!
The boot is very exciting in that I can take it off to sleep, shower, lounge around on the couch, etc. I have it off right now in fact, and it’s bizarre having my foot out in the open.
Just saw that about the PT on your facebook page. Good to know!
YAY!!! This has been exhausting for all of us.
Congratulations!
Are you doing any physical therapy?
Oh, never mind – I just refreshed the page and saw what you said about PT.
Just wait until physical therapy. You don’t know pain until you haven’t moved in weeks and then all of a sudden have to do a 5 minute warm up on an elliptical machine. I seriously thought I was going to hurl the first day. :)
Good luck! And enjoy Downton Abbey – I absolutely love that show!
I hear once the boot comes off you’re like a newborn giraffe. Just sit and have some wine.
Congratulations! So happy to hear the excellent news. Continue to take it easy and don’t push to hard. I’m sure you’ll be back to your self-reliant, uber-mobile self before you know it!
I’m six months into recovering from a broken knee – only two months non-weight bearing for me, followed by five weeks of walking assisted by crutches. I’m still weak, but freedom is sublime! My heels hurt too – I wonder if it’s a gait thing. Good luck!!! I feel your pain – literally.
Hang in there! It’s really hard to get back to walking if you haven’t done it for awhile. It will take time and you will be sore, so understand that and just try to be patient and work hard. Sending you strong, happy foot vibes!
I need to remember this! I had sort of thought that when they took the cast off, I’d walk out of there — I didn’t realize that there was a whole rehabilitation period of learning to walk again, so I’m feeling impatient.
Remember it took you almost a year to learn the first time!
RE the heel pain – is your calf muscle tight from the forced and prolonged inactivity? Tight calf muscles add to my own heel pain. Maybe try GENTLE stretching and massage of the calf muscle.
Interesting — maybe that’s why! I’ll try that. (Although I seem to have no muscle at all left in my calf.)
I’m glad to hear you’re going to be mobile soon. And how delightful to recuperate with Downton Abbey!
I have had 2 co-workers do something similar. They weren’t even doing anything risky. Weird how often it happens.
I broke my ankle a few years ago, and was in the same boat of not walking for two months. I felt so silly…how could my body do something for the better part of 30 years, and forget how to it in two months?! That rehab experience was very humbling. It’s a struggle at times, but you’ll get better in no time at all. Don’t blow off your physical therapy (or the grueling ‘homework’ they give)…it makes all the difference. Good luck!