Week Twelve (Part 1): “Lucky for me, my PT was a Unicorn…”
(12 weeks post break / 11 weeks post ORIF)
The hard cast came off this week- and this time it was staying off! The PA and nurse at the clinic were just as surprised to see the fact that I had been put in the hard cast (as I was 2 weeks ago after my screw removal surgery). But alas, I didn’t care anymore- that was done and over with and the last cast was sawed off, leaving behind a trail of fiberglass dust, dead skin, and happiness.
I also got to take a look at the screw removal incision, which was so thoughtfully placed right along the same incision that had almost fully healed from 10 weeks ago. I guess I was pleased that my ankle would not look like a carved pumpkin, although it was Halloween tomorrow, and I could have used that to my advantage.
Alas, the layers of crusted and Betadine-stained orange dead skin around my entire foot would have to suffice as my scary Halloween-themed post-surgical keepsake. And trust me, it was significantly terrifying…
…
I was allowed to walk out of the clinic in my air-cast/boot, and I sure did!! It was scary, exciting, and so much easier than I had anticipated! Even though I walked like a pirate (nothing new to me, if you’ve been following along on my peg-legged journey), there wasn’t very much pain in the ankle joint, and I was very pleased by that. From Zero to FWB in 60 seconds flat, no horsepower required!
This recovery was going to be easy- I thought to myself.
Why do people make such a fuss about it?
Maybe they’re all just babies…
(Spoiler Alert: I was definitely going to eat my words, regurgitate them, and eat them again before the week was over…)
…
Since my hard cast was off, I was looking forward to beginning Physical Therapy. I was so excited that I called every clinic in a 50 mile radius to see who could get me in the soonest, and made an appointment for the first time slot they had available the next day. I was especially looking forward to physical therapy for 2 immediate reasons:
1) The PA told me that I should not drive, until I have the strength and Range of Motion that the PT told me would be required for driving. I was itching to get back into the driver’s seat, and looked forward to getting the hang of the exercises to strengthen my ankle ASAP.
(I’m not kidding! She was a unicorn! It was Halloween, and she was dressed as an actual unicorn as she got me set up and did some preliminary measurements in the clinic. It was pretty magical.)
The hard cast came off this week- and this time it was staying off! The PA and nurse at the clinic were just as surprised to see the fact that I had been put in the hard cast (as I was 2 weeks ago after my screw removal surgery). But alas, I didn’t care anymore- that was done and over with and the last cast was sawed off, leaving behind a trail of fiberglass dust, dead skin, and happiness.
 |
| Holy Atrophy, Batman! |
I also got to take a look at the screw removal incision, which was so thoughtfully placed right along the same incision that had almost fully healed from 10 weeks ago. I guess I was pleased that my ankle would not look like a carved pumpkin, although it was Halloween tomorrow, and I could have used that to my advantage.
 |
| 3 month old pedicure, on point! |
Alas, the layers of crusted and Betadine-stained orange dead skin around my entire foot would have to suffice as my scary Halloween-themed post-surgical keepsake. And trust me, it was significantly terrifying…
 |
| Spooky, Eh!? 🎃 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! 🎃 |
I was allowed to walk out of the clinic in my air-cast/boot, and I sure did!! It was scary, exciting, and so much easier than I had anticipated! Even though I walked like a pirate (nothing new to me, if you’ve been following along on my peg-legged journey), there wasn’t very much pain in the ankle joint, and I was very pleased by that. From Zero to FWB in 60 seconds flat, no horsepower required!
 |
| Wanna know how I really feel????? |
This recovery was going to be easy- I thought to myself.
Why do people make such a fuss about it?
Maybe they’re all just babies…
(Spoiler Alert: I was definitely going to eat my words, regurgitate them, and eat them again before the week was over…)
…
 |
| PUTTING ON ALL THE SOCKS! |
 |
| SEARCHING FOR ALL MY "RIGHT" SHOES! |
1) The PA told me that I should not drive, until I have the strength and Range of Motion that the PT told me would be required for driving. I was itching to get back into the driver’s seat, and looked forward to getting the hang of the exercises to strengthen my ankle ASAP.
2) I would be travelling across the country (via Airplane) to attend a 4-day conference in Denver, CO by the end of this week, and I wanted to be able to make the most of this trip- let alone survive 4 days of an intensive meeting schedule, not to mention the stress of airports, navigating the terminals, and not being miserable the entire time.
I had lots of work to do, and very little time in which to do it.
Lucky for me, my PT was a Unicorn.
(I’m not kidding! She was a unicorn! It was Halloween, and she was dressed as an actual unicorn as she got me set up and did some preliminary measurements in the clinic. It was pretty magical.)
A Unicorn for a Physical Therapist?
I mean, seriously. You can’t make this stuff up…
mmmmmmmmmm, nice cool fiber-cast and i like your nice sexy toes am a fan sweetie hugs from lieven xoxo.
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