Spirits are stable
and mainly up
So here I sit. All in all, my spirits have been pretty even
and generally up. I had my post operation visit with the doctors. They said everything
seemed to be healing quite well. In fact, I think that worked against me because
where my sutures were in, my body was starting to get pissed off to have to
deal with them. I had a small spot that a little abscess formed as a result. We
quickly got me on some antibiotics and that seems to be working like a charm.
Ditch the crutches
I was expecting at this appointment that they would tell me
to start to introduce weight bearing gradually. Instead, they told me to go
ahead a lose the crutches and try to have a go with just the boot! I was a bit
shocked cause you come in there thinking not to let the foot touch the ground,
and leave there with instructions to suck it up. LOL. Kidding of course but
only kind of.
I couldn’t do it that first day, it was too painful on the medial
and internal side, but was told that was normal. The fat pad at the bottom of
my foot wasn’t ready for the weight bearing either so that took a couple days.
I do have two pretty big wedges in my boot and I thought I would introduce a
familiar feeling to my foot to help it along. So I grabbed an insert from a
pair of running shoes and put that in the boot. It actually worked quite well. Within 2 days I was already doing about 90% walking in the
boot.
THE BOOT SUCKS
Walking in the book sucks. It makes my one leg a lot longer than
the other so I have to be very careful to not let my knee hyper extend while walking
in it. I have heard many people need to follow up ankle surgery with knee
surgery for this reason. I really don’t want to do that. So I am trying to just
take it slow, and when I want to walk fast I grab the crutches.
The boot is heavy, its hot, and I am so thankful I have been
cleared to just not have to sleep with it anymore.
Trying to not be a
fat ass.
I have been able to go t strength 4 times already. Garrett
has been awesome. We come up with complete circuits where I am basically on my
knees the entire time. He has been great though as I can actually say I leave
there feeling fully challenged.
This week I was able to actually get on the trainer and
spin. I leave the fan off so I can actually sweat a little bit but today I was
able to ride for 65 min at an average of 165 watts. I have to have the boot on,
and a running shoe on the other foot to make it work. I also lower my seat a
bit so my calf isn’t put under a lot of stress. I don’t want it to pull on the
tendon repair. It makes your ass incredibly sore sitting on a low saddle without
any standing breaks at all.
I’m not really working out for a comeback, at least not yet.
I still have not decided how and if I’ll do a comeback to competing yet. I have
a unique opportunity I believe right now where I can comeback if I want to, but
I don’t HAVE to return to the same level of training for myself. This season
basically off creates a natural break point for me to decide what it is I want
to do. So I am going to take my time with that. For now, I just like moving and
staying in touch with fitness. I know I always want to do something.
PT makes all the
difference
I have been really lucky to know some of the best PT’s in
the world I believe. Three immediately come to mind.
Bryan Hill in California
Wolfgang in Scottsdale
And Gina Pongetti here at home.
Gina works with USA gymnastics athletes, Cirque, and is an
Ironman competitor herself. She teaches dry needling, Garston, ART, and many
more techniques I’m sure I am leaving out. So I am damn lucky to be able to go
to her. She has been working her magic
on it already. We are able to already mobilize the joint, work on the plantar
fascia and start to do band work to strengthen my ankle.
It is giving me tremendous confidence that all will be well.
Sick - ugh
I final caught a bit of a cold. So if I can just shake this,
I think I’ll be good to go. My next surgery is in 4 weeks. The Dr. was like “you
sure?”. I told him, I just want to get through this. If I can be healing two
things at once, I’m down for that. I have no doubt that I will be in for a
tough May/June. However, my goal is to be able to walk around the 4th
of July and be able to work out that morning ding something.
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