There is not a lot new happening this week with the foot. Still plugging away at physical therapy. I heard back from the Chicago orthopod over the weekend (via e-mail) and she continues to be happy with the progress that we are making with therapy. We agreed to "watch and wait" on the hardware spot that is causing pain. The blood that had pooled in the spot is better at the moment. Most likely the hardware needs to be removed, but I am hoping to wait another several months ... I'd love to get through the holidays, but time will tell if I can wait that long. Finding shoes that work (for both feet) until I get the hardware removed, has been a huge challenge. We are going to Chicago for a follow-up appt. at the end of October.
The itchiness and skin deal continues and I saw a third doctor about it today. She thought that I'm allergic to something that has been undetermined. We are going through the "process of elimination" deal, but it is taking a long time. There is the possibility that it is just "stress," but if that is the case you'd like I would have had this long ago. Keep praying that if it is an allergy, we figure it out sooner than later.
Friday is our first day with students for the new year. It will be a long day with new staff, lots of details, and pt at 4:30. I'm trying to pace myself, but that is sometimes easier said than done. Toes are still wiggling!
je
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Skin, hardware and blessings
This week has been kinda rough because I discovered on Sunday that the allergic reaction (that I'd had several weeks ago), reappeared for the 3rd time! Grrr .... by this morning I could no longer stand the "itchiness," so thankfully I was able to see a dermatologist for an emergency appointment. We're trying a different medicine for the next week, but pray that it clears up and whatever is causing it will permanently go away. My sense of taste has also been altered by the previous medicine, so hopefully this improves in the next few days.
The spot on my big toe, where the hardware is near the skin surface of the foot, started pooling blood just under the skin over the weekend; happened simply from stress and rubbing of the shoe. Thankfully, this has improved over the week and doesn't look as bad now as it did last weekend. The only option is to remove the hardware (surgically) and I really want to wait until winter (or longer) to do this.
Tonight I received a phone call from someone at church that is contemplating foot surgery and she called me to hear my opinion. I felt blessed to be able to share advice and my heart has been right where she is now (different surgeon opinions). It is my hope that what I've learned in the past will somehow be helpful and encouraging to her. I also walked into the closet where my scooter is stored today (at work) and was once again reminded at how fantastic it is not to need to use it.
Friday will be the "one month" mark of doing physical therapy. We will do a formal evaluation at the appointment and take range-of-motion exercises & then a written report will be sent to the Chicago orthopod. I am anxious to see where we are at and the progress that we've made in the past four weeks.
Getting ready for my first day with kiddos (at work) next Friday .... I'm advocating my staff wearing tennis shoes now, when working with students. I looked at old foot photos over the weekend and was shocked again at the substantial progress we have made .... the coloration and position improvements are remarkable .... God truely provides in the midst of our greatest need - well beyond our wildest hopes & dreams.
Hope you are believing and hoping in Him this week ....
je
The spot on my big toe, where the hardware is near the skin surface of the foot, started pooling blood just under the skin over the weekend; happened simply from stress and rubbing of the shoe. Thankfully, this has improved over the week and doesn't look as bad now as it did last weekend. The only option is to remove the hardware (surgically) and I really want to wait until winter (or longer) to do this.
Tonight I received a phone call from someone at church that is contemplating foot surgery and she called me to hear my opinion. I felt blessed to be able to share advice and my heart has been right where she is now (different surgeon opinions). It is my hope that what I've learned in the past will somehow be helpful and encouraging to her. I also walked into the closet where my scooter is stored today (at work) and was once again reminded at how fantastic it is not to need to use it.
Friday will be the "one month" mark of doing physical therapy. We will do a formal evaluation at the appointment and take range-of-motion exercises & then a written report will be sent to the Chicago orthopod. I am anxious to see where we are at and the progress that we've made in the past four weeks.
Getting ready for my first day with kiddos (at work) next Friday .... I'm advocating my staff wearing tennis shoes now, when working with students. I looked at old foot photos over the weekend and was shocked again at the substantial progress we have made .... the coloration and position improvements are remarkable .... God truely provides in the midst of our greatest need - well beyond our wildest hopes & dreams.
Hope you are believing and hoping in Him this week ....
je
Friday, September 14, 2007
Walking Record & Less Pain Meds ....
Today was a record for walking .... 4 1/2 miles (9,560 steps) and only one pill for discomfort! I have been trying to limit the walking to about three miles a day, but I was at this point today, before I went to physical therapy at 4pm. It is the end of the week and I'm really tired, but at least I know that I can do it! We measured range of motion today in two areas during therapy and both had increased this week - yahoo! We are in our third complete week of physical therapy, although it feels like I've been there the past three months. The aching feeling that I had earlier in the week has subsided. I think it was from wearing a "normal shoe" more last weekend.
The Chicago orthopod will get a written report in a week on the progress that we've made (at 1 month mark). I am sure we will continue therapy 3x/week for at least the first three weeks into October. I've been able to manage schedule time fairly well up to this point, but I anticipate it getting more challenging. Each session is a little over two hours, which is a lot of time for three times each week. Not complaining and know I need to do it, but am very thankful that it is next door to my office.
I booked a flight and travel plans to Tampa (in November) for work, which will be the first time in almost three years that I've been able to travel for work. I've had to cancel the past three plane tickets, because of surgery.
Keep praying that wearing a normal shoe will feel more and more natural or comfortable. I would love for the range of motion to continue at such progress, that when we end therapy it will be beyond our wildest dreams! I intentionally scheduled a follow-up appt. w/the Chicago orthopod for a ways out (end of October), so we have ample time to work hard in this area. I can do mainly "mule type" shoes for now. It is perfectly fine if this ends up being all that I'm able to wear, but hopefully at some point the shoe won't feel so foreign on the foot. It is a shoe and not a purple itchy cast though, for which I am most grateful.
Looking forward to cooler weather this weekend, planting mums, being home and baking pumpkin cookies. Headed for some mint chip ice-cream and calling it a day ....
je
The Chicago orthopod will get a written report in a week on the progress that we've made (at 1 month mark). I am sure we will continue therapy 3x/week for at least the first three weeks into October. I've been able to manage schedule time fairly well up to this point, but I anticipate it getting more challenging. Each session is a little over two hours, which is a lot of time for three times each week. Not complaining and know I need to do it, but am very thankful that it is next door to my office.
I booked a flight and travel plans to Tampa (in November) for work, which will be the first time in almost three years that I've been able to travel for work. I've had to cancel the past three plane tickets, because of surgery.
Keep praying that wearing a normal shoe will feel more and more natural or comfortable. I would love for the range of motion to continue at such progress, that when we end therapy it will be beyond our wildest dreams! I intentionally scheduled a follow-up appt. w/the Chicago orthopod for a ways out (end of October), so we have ample time to work hard in this area. I can do mainly "mule type" shoes for now. It is perfectly fine if this ends up being all that I'm able to wear, but hopefully at some point the shoe won't feel so foreign on the foot. It is a shoe and not a purple itchy cast though, for which I am most grateful.
Looking forward to cooler weather this weekend, planting mums, being home and baking pumpkin cookies. Headed for some mint chip ice-cream and calling it a day ....
je
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Awesome doctor report today!
All went very well with my St. Louis orthopod doctor's appointment this afternoon. He was so, so happy with the progress and really didn't know what to say other than it is for sure a "God" happening! He was quite pleased and totally agreed that it is the best he has ever seen it (late July was when I saw him last). He told me another exercise to keep working on and that the tiny spot near the big toe (that has been bothering me) is a piece of hardware that is very close to the skin surface. It is something that can be removed eventually (minimal procedure), although he said that it would be best to go as long as possible before removing it. Neither one of us wants to do anything to stop the progress now. If I can live with it for several more months at a minimum, this would be best. Actually, the surgeon wasn't in the room very long, because there wasn't a lot for him to say!
I don't have to do back and see him unless a problem develops and am supposed to follow-up after I see the Chicago doctor toward the end of October.
The swelling continues to go down and even shoes that I could wear two weeks ago are now too big. My physical therapist says that things are going great and he continues to be astounded at the progress/range of motion that is increasing .... I've had therapy at 8am for the past two days, which makes for a long day after a two hour exercise session. I am fairly sure that we will continue physical therapy into mid-October, but this is fine. Thankfully, I really like the therapist and his office staff .... they do their best to make it "fun."
Someone told me to go to Nordstroms to buy shoes, because they will sell you two different sized shoes for the same price. I learned today that it has to be a difference of 1 1/2 sizes, which is not me - bummer. I am only 1 shoe size different, but it is enough to making fitting into a shoe challenging. Small annoyance ..... no big deal. Most of the shoes at Nordstroms are pretty trendy too, so this is probably a good thing. I walked 3 1/2 miles today at work, really without trying. I am trying to not do more than I should w/walking this week. The tendency is to want to move ahead quickly, since I am feeling better and then I was sore on Monday and Tuesday of this week - probably walked more than I should have over the weekend.
My first group of students at work comes on September 28th. I am extremely thankful that I have had almost a full eight weeks to work on improving walking, stamina and strength. It has made a huge difference in my ability to focus on building strength slowly without feeling the need to be "on the go" with students. October is a lighter month with students also, so the blessing will continue.
God continues to be good, faithful, and sustains the healing. I read this thought today and thought it was worth repeating: Gratitude is the firstborn child of grace, the appropriate response of the blessed. Hope you are majoring in grace and gratitude today ....
je
I don't have to do back and see him unless a problem develops and am supposed to follow-up after I see the Chicago doctor toward the end of October.
The swelling continues to go down and even shoes that I could wear two weeks ago are now too big. My physical therapist says that things are going great and he continues to be astounded at the progress/range of motion that is increasing .... I've had therapy at 8am for the past two days, which makes for a long day after a two hour exercise session. I am fairly sure that we will continue physical therapy into mid-October, but this is fine. Thankfully, I really like the therapist and his office staff .... they do their best to make it "fun."
Someone told me to go to Nordstroms to buy shoes, because they will sell you two different sized shoes for the same price. I learned today that it has to be a difference of 1 1/2 sizes, which is not me - bummer. I am only 1 shoe size different, but it is enough to making fitting into a shoe challenging. Small annoyance ..... no big deal. Most of the shoes at Nordstroms are pretty trendy too, so this is probably a good thing. I walked 3 1/2 miles today at work, really without trying. I am trying to not do more than I should w/walking this week. The tendency is to want to move ahead quickly, since I am feeling better and then I was sore on Monday and Tuesday of this week - probably walked more than I should have over the weekend.
My first group of students at work comes on September 28th. I am extremely thankful that I have had almost a full eight weeks to work on improving walking, stamina and strength. It has made a huge difference in my ability to focus on building strength slowly without feeling the need to be "on the go" with students. October is a lighter month with students also, so the blessing will continue.
God continues to be good, faithful, and sustains the healing. I read this thought today and thought it was worth repeating: Gratitude is the firstborn child of grace, the appropriate response of the blessed. Hope you are majoring in grace and gratitude today ....
je
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Walking and more walking ....
All continues to move in the right direction with therapy. My physical therapist has been excited that we can actually exercise and do much more w/rehab now. He thinks we need to do a commercial endorsement for the New Balance shoes. I thought we were working hard on pt before, but I now realize how little was possible. We've met 3x/week for over two hours each session .... have done a lot with strengthening, toe-off and increasing range of motion. I've been able to walk 2-3 miles on the treadmill on off days, did aquatic exercise this week & still doing the other exercises at home. The single limb standing is slowly getting easier .... we need to work on walking faster this coming week. I consciously think about the toe-off motion probably more than I should, but we're going to work on increasing the pace. We took measurements of the foot range of motion at therapy on Friday, and three out of four motions had increased 12-15 degrees in two weeks (in the past it has been 2-4 degrees in three months). We were thrilled that all the exercise is working! I feel like I have toted around more bags of clothing, shoes, socks, and itch cream this entire week …. all part of the process, but it is a wonder that I have the right stuff at the right place.
This will be the most “non-useful” information that you hear all week, but I walked a total of 16 miles or 33,805 steps this week! I wear a little device on my waist that measures my steps, so we can see if I am walking enough. As I am writing this on Sunday afternoon, I have walked almost three miles today.
As for pain, I'm still able to get by w/ two pain pills (one morning and one at night) & some days have done one. Finding shoes that work on both feet seems to be challenging, but thankfully it is still pretty warm in St. Louis & we can do summer shoes for easily for another six weeks. They may never be the same size, but I'll get around that somehow.
We temporarily stopped the anti-inflammatory medicine .... I had some skin/allergic reaction thing that surfaced again this week & our family doctor thought it was from that medicine - not sure if that is the case because I'd been taking it fine for several months. The swelling in the foot is better and although it is a size bigger, I don't think it looks like it. I thought we had the skin deal and itching curbed, but not quite yet … another two weeks of medicine.
I return to the St. Louis orthopod on Wednesday afternoon of this week to have him look at the hardware spot that is nearer the skin surface than we’d like. He put this hardware in, so I’m just seeking his advice at this point. It can be removed …. I want the pain on this spot to go away, although I am hesitant to let them remove it (minor procedure). This surgeon has not seen the foot since late July, so I am sure he will be happy at the positioning.
The Cubs play the Cards on Monday and then next weekend, so I told my Chicago orthopod that the Cubs need to rest up this weekend. She wrote this week and commented that she feels the miracle continues to unfold, as it slowly becomes apparent what the foot is capable of doing. I will return to see her sometime toward the end of October.
Blessings for a magnificent week ahead .... Go Cards!
je
This will be the most “non-useful” information that you hear all week, but I walked a total of 16 miles or 33,805 steps this week! I wear a little device on my waist that measures my steps, so we can see if I am walking enough. As I am writing this on Sunday afternoon, I have walked almost three miles today.
As for pain, I'm still able to get by w/ two pain pills (one morning and one at night) & some days have done one. Finding shoes that work on both feet seems to be challenging, but thankfully it is still pretty warm in St. Louis & we can do summer shoes for easily for another six weeks. They may never be the same size, but I'll get around that somehow.
We temporarily stopped the anti-inflammatory medicine .... I had some skin/allergic reaction thing that surfaced again this week & our family doctor thought it was from that medicine - not sure if that is the case because I'd been taking it fine for several months. The swelling in the foot is better and although it is a size bigger, I don't think it looks like it. I thought we had the skin deal and itching curbed, but not quite yet … another two weeks of medicine.
I return to the St. Louis orthopod on Wednesday afternoon of this week to have him look at the hardware spot that is nearer the skin surface than we’d like. He put this hardware in, so I’m just seeking his advice at this point. It can be removed …. I want the pain on this spot to go away, although I am hesitant to let them remove it (minor procedure). This surgeon has not seen the foot since late July, so I am sure he will be happy at the positioning.
The Cubs play the Cards on Monday and then next weekend, so I told my Chicago orthopod that the Cubs need to rest up this weekend. She wrote this week and commented that she feels the miracle continues to unfold, as it slowly becomes apparent what the foot is capable of doing. I will return to see her sometime toward the end of October.
Blessings for a magnificent week ahead .... Go Cards!
je
Monday, September 3, 2007
Walked 2 1/2 Miles Today!
The first week of physical therapy was grand! I was able to do more than we ever had before and on Friday was able to walk on the treadmill for five minutes. It was quite the morning excitement in the office!
On Saturday, I went to the health club with my mom and we did aqua exercise for 45 minutes. I could do so much more in the pool water and had walked two miles during the day, prior to heading to the pool. We've been working a lot on my ability to stand on the operative foot (alone) and I could do this so much longer in the water. Hopefully this will translate to "land" at some point. Today I used the treadmill for 12 minutes and walked 2 1/2 miles throughout the day (or 5,235 steps) around the house. Pretty exciting! The swelling on the foot has been better this weekend and I haven't even had the compression sock on all that I should. I had an allergic reaction to the anti-inflammatory medication on Saturday morning and ended up sending the morning at urgent care. All is fine now and the "itching" on my legs has subsided - don't know why it took a month of taking the medicine to surface, but it did. Needless to say, I didn't fill in all the "past surgeries" section on the registration paperwork at the urgent care place ... we'd have been there all morning.
I wore two matching shoes to church on Sunday morning and it was fun to see friends that had not yet seen the foot. Still thinking about ways that God has worked in the past two months and how we can use the situation to help others in the future. Every time I see someone else on crutches or in a walking boot, it will never be the same.
Hope you had a delightful holiday weekend!
je
On Saturday, I went to the health club with my mom and we did aqua exercise for 45 minutes. I could do so much more in the pool water and had walked two miles during the day, prior to heading to the pool. We've been working a lot on my ability to stand on the operative foot (alone) and I could do this so much longer in the water. Hopefully this will translate to "land" at some point. Today I used the treadmill for 12 minutes and walked 2 1/2 miles throughout the day (or 5,235 steps) around the house. Pretty exciting! The swelling on the foot has been better this weekend and I haven't even had the compression sock on all that I should. I had an allergic reaction to the anti-inflammatory medication on Saturday morning and ended up sending the morning at urgent care. All is fine now and the "itching" on my legs has subsided - don't know why it took a month of taking the medicine to surface, but it did. Needless to say, I didn't fill in all the "past surgeries" section on the registration paperwork at the urgent care place ... we'd have been there all morning.
I wore two matching shoes to church on Sunday morning and it was fun to see friends that had not yet seen the foot. Still thinking about ways that God has worked in the past two months and how we can use the situation to help others in the future. Every time I see someone else on crutches or in a walking boot, it will never be the same.
Hope you had a delightful holiday weekend!
je
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