Tootsies are still moving! I have been significantly working with the foot and toes this week, as to promote the new motion. Tonight I set up the sprinkler on the grass at my house and when I went to turn it off, the grass was soggy. I was barefoot on the grass and for the first time in the longest time could feel the entire foot make contact with the grass. My neighbors probably wondered what was up with me walking in circles in the grass, but it was the greatest wet feeling ever. There was wet grass all over my feet (mowing crew cut grass today), but that was a good thing in my case.
I've also walked inside my house a lot and continually have made sure that my entire foot was sensing the carpet. I sat on the edge of the bathtub after work today and moved the foot on the bathtub floor - all the nerves that have not touched any surface for the longest time feel like they are starting to "wake up." I've worn the tennis shoes all day at work for the past four days .... I figured that I'd only last several hours, but that has not happened.
My mom has came over the past two nights and manually moved the foot for 15-20 minutes. The goal is to hear a "cracking" sound when you really move it, which means that scar tissue inside is breaking up. If we hear two cracking noises in one night, it is a big deal. The bottom of the foot has been sore and tired this week, but the not as much pain. Still extremely stiff, but this will hopefully improve with time and walking. I have a tennis ball at work and home which I roll my foot over ... this helps to stimulate blood flow.
I am going to try to go to the pool this weekend and walk some in the water. If you can get more motion to return in the water (w/no gravity), this often eventually translates to more movement on land.
I went to visit my physical therapist on Wednesday after work - just to show him the improvement. He was speechless and thrilled. We have worked together for the past 1 1/2 years, so we know each other well. His staff all watched me walk and shoe off the toe movement. He thought we should let the foot "come around" on its own for several weeks, before we'd start any formal exercise program again.
Rejoicing in Him & His faithfulness for a big week of improvement ... looking forward to a better weekend. Keep praying for the soreness/tired feeling to gradually get better and more "toe off" movement to return beyond my wildest expectations!
je
2 comments:
Jenny, I cannot tell you how excited I am to hear your news! My friend, Alicia, and her friend, Brian, the PT guy, are amazed to hear about it as well. All are very excited for you! Can't wait to see you in person!
Mary Lou
OK: helpful device and easier than the tennis ball rolling on the bottom of your shoe: made by Bath & Body works -- it's a rolling ceramic ball encased in a plastic case used for massage of sore muscles--it may be easier to hold on to a device that's made for such a use than to roll a tennis ball around. If you like archaic, stick to the tennis ball. Price on the ball thing is about $20 or so. It's fabulous! Mike bought it for me when we were going through lamaze class in preparation for childbirth...a distraction method from hard contractions? Well, any-hoo, it may help you, too! I ran into your mom (Isaac was OVERJOYED to see her and jiggled for about 5 minutes that it was JENNY's mom ??)...and got more of the scoop of your last few days foot adventures. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of your home as you test out the waters on your new appendage that is actually functional (at least in part). But what we see in part, we shall see in full...isn't that biblical? Meaning: I think more function is yet to come! Hallelujah, miracles do happen! Testify, girl! Love ya! Jobacks out!
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