Six weeks post-surgery

This week I had my 6 week post-op visit with my surgeon. I was hoping for some good news, namely that I could start putting some weight on my foot again in anticipation of learning how to walk again. 

When I got to the office I got a few x-rays done to check the status of the osteotomy healing. My surgeon showed me the x-rays of my foot (complete with new hardware!) and said my bone healed beautifully. Actually, the exact phrase she used was a bit different... she called me a "freak of nature" for healing so quickly! I was thrilled. Since the bone has healed, it means I can start putting 25% of my weight on my foot in the boot this week, then 50% the next week, 75% the next, and then 100% in the boot, after which I can wean off the boot and into a normal shoe by the end of July - which doesn't seem all too far away! It is a best case scenario for healing from this major surgery.

I attribute the fast healing to a few different factors: first, I was in excellent general health going into the surgery; second, I do believe the supplements I was taking really did help speed up healing; and third, the Class IV laser therapy I have been getting before and after surgery, which is scientifically proven to accelerate the healing process and reduce pain. If you haven't heard of K-Laser, I highly recommend you check it out! 

My PT session this week was a bit of an eye opener. It was the first time since surgery I had tried to move my great toe, and it was incredibly stiff. My brain was trying to send the signal to my toe to wiggle, but nothing was happening! With the help of my physical therapist I was able to wiggle all my toes by the end of the session, as well as practice shifting my weight while standing in preparation for gait training. I also got the OK to start indoor stationary cycling for 10 minutes per day in the boot.

It has been amazing to simply be able to touch my foot to the floor (in the boot) this week. I didn't realize how much I missed simply standing upright and so I've just been using the crutches for a little balance or support instead of hanging on them. This also means stairs are much easier to tackle and in general I can move around quite a bit more. But since I have been moving around a lot the last few days, my foot has finally begun to swell - pretty much the first major swelling I've had since surgery. If it starts to feel too uncomfortable I will just go and elevate it on some pillows and use an ice pack and it goes down in a few minutes. 

I am very much looking forward to the next few weeks and getting back on my feet again!