My New Ankle's 1st Vacation

Well my new ankle and I went on our first of many trips coming up this summer. We took a vacation to Philly to visit the amazing Miss Ellen and wonderful Miss Kim. And - I made it!! And it wasn't too bad. My ankle survived at least 3 hours of driving each way - by the end of the trip it wasn't thrilled, but it was really ok. And on Saturday I even walked the couple of blocks (in REALLY hot heat!) from Reading Terminal Market to Love Park. I wore my tennis shoes to be prepared, but it really wasn't too bad! Probably not my usual pace though. In typically fashion my ankle got more tired as the day went on, and by Saturday night it had had enough - preferring to take a taxi instead of SEPTA due to the extra walking required. I iced it, elevated, and put pain patches on for the night, and it was better the next day.

Unfortunately I do still have this pain that goes through it fairly often. Like today I was sitting at my desk, just typing, not doing anything to my foot, when a sharp, almost unbearable pain started going through my heel and ankle. What's that about?? Wish I knew. I do think I need to get back to doing my stretching again, and I really need to start doing exercises for it.

And the rest of me has to get used to doing things again too - it's sad how easily I get tired after so many months of not being able to do anything! I'm hoping to swim more now that the pool is open and I can walk across the street instead of having to drive to an indoor pool. We'll see how that goes...

Aww - Philly put up this sign to welcome me! (and my new ankle!)

Rain, rain, go away...

My ankle and I need the rain to go away and NOT come again another day. Really, what is up with this weather? I feel like I moved to the Pacific Northwest. Geez! I was doing pretty well until today. I guess my ankle just couldn't take it anymore and today was a rough day. My ankle/foot hurt SO bad. I was seriously limping around and moving very slowly all day. I've rested it all evening and have my pain patches on. I didn't think the pain patches were doing much, so I didn't wear them last night. Maybe that was the problem! It will be my little experiment to see how I feel tomorrow after wearing them. I'm hoping nicer weather will help! Now could we just get some of that please??

I'm back!

So I've had some trouble keeping up with my blog lately. I have been kind of busy (I mean, how can you not feel busy when you were doing nothing for months and now you have lots to do again!). But really, not much has changed with my ankle. I talked to Dave at PT again to tell him the results of "pushing it" since surgery is back on the table anyways. Pushing it went pretty well, but I did have pain. And the more I tried to push, the more pain I had. Apparently I misunderstood what Dave wanted me to do - I was really supposed to push it in a calculated way. For example, I am supposed to do a week of walking on the treadmill for 20 minutes before increasing to 25 minutes the next week OR increase the speed the next week. I was increasing time and speed in the same week. He said I should do the same thing with swimming - increase my distance by the week - not drastically. Oops. So I've been trying that more lately. But I think a combination of being busier and wearing my Birkenstock sandals more and my tennis shoes less day to day have caused my foot to be really sore. I tried to walk on the treadmill for my normal 25 minutes on Wednesday and had to get off after 12 minutes due to pain. Man! :( This week on Thursday I also did some walking in DC in my Birkenstocks after my foot was already sore, and I am still in pain Saturday morning, although I have been resting, elevating, icing, and wearing my pain patches, and wore tennis shoes to work yesterday. It was worth it to get out and get back to real life and seeing friends though! It's not unbearable pain today, but it's not good either. Time to take some Advil and get out to see more loves today! I love when friends who have moved far away come to visit - it's the best!!