Stuff

I made an interesting discovery this morning. If I wear walking shoes and not sandals and if I pay strict attention to putting my left foot down heel-to-toe, I can almost walk without using my stick and with very little lurching.

When I was in the pool last week, Candace, the pool PT instructor, had me walk across the pool paying strict attention to putting my feet down heel-to-toe because, she said, she had noticed I was putting the left one down flat rather than flexing it. OK, I did that exercise with very little effort and it wasn’t until this morning that it actually occurred to me to transfer this little bit of information to my ordinary walking!

Progress is so gradual that I tend not to notice the improvement so today I tried some exercises I was doing with great difficulty two weeks ago and this is what I discovered.

  • I can now put my full weight on the left leg. Yes, it still hurts a bit and I can’t do it for very long, but this is a lot better than absolute agony and being able to do it for maybe one second.
  • I can walk downstairs properly one foot after another instead of left foot first and bringing the right foot to join the left foot. I can’t do this going up the stairs as yet, but it won’t be long.
  • I did two loads of clothes this morning without extreme pain and exhaustion as happened two weeks ago. This meant I went down twelve steep and badly lighted steps three times, and, of course, up them the same number of times.

In non-surgery related information, I have just finished reading Robert B. Parker’s book Spare Change. I have always given up about half way through his other Sunny Randall books but this one held my interest all the way through. Next one is Dry Ice by Stephen White.

QUOTATIONS:

"Step by step. I can’t think of any other way of accomplishing anything."

Michael Jordan

If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.

— David Viscott

Create yours at BlingyBlob.com!

Log in to write a note
August 4, 2007

Cool! I’m glad your leg is feeling better

August 4, 2007

Yay progress!

Pat
August 4, 2007

Wow, that’s great progress and you still have over a month of recuperation before your trip to Italy!!! You are going to be in tiptop shape!

August 4, 2007

Yes, you HAVE made a lot of progress, and I’ve been cheering for you with each gain. I can see it from here (and I’m a LONG ways away!) Not much longer till Italy, but you are a good 80% (or more) of the way there!

August 4, 2007

Fantastic!!!!! Good for YOU~! 🙂

August 4, 2007

this is great. that heel to toe thing is so important. i know someone who injured her knees badly by doing fast walking the wrong way, ie not rolling heel to toe.

You’ve made great progress and there’s more to come! There was a time when Robert B. Parker was my favorite author but that was a long time ago, before his Sunny Randall books. His Spencer books got too macho for me.

Shi
August 4, 2007

Good progress, steady.

August 4, 2007

Glad you are progressing at a steady pace. I just finished Spare Change and Dry Ice is going to be started tomorrow when I’m poolside!

Congrats on the progress!!! It does seem that one doesn’t notice the small steps as easily. I’m sure it won;t be much longer until you will be cane and limp free. Hugs, M

A couple of people I know have had hip replacement very recently. You’re doing better than either of them – but then we know about Patricia’s persistence. Good for you!

August 4, 2007

Congratulations on the progress! Soon you’ll be walking without that stick.

August 4, 2007

Wow, those are BIG steps of progress! Yaaaaaaaay!! :o) !! hugs, Weesprite

August 4, 2007
August 5, 2007

Cheering you on….yay! What wonderful progress!

August 5, 2007

You’re going to be dancing in the streets any day now!!!! The streets of Italy! Very cool my friend. Very cool. Love to you! ~M

August 5, 2007

you are doing so well!! i’m sure it made you happy to notice a change in your abilities with your left leg. today, sunday, should be a very nice for doing a bit of walking. supposed to be nice, sunny, dry and not too hot. take care,

You ARE making wonderful progress! Do you know I STILL do the left foot down first and bring the right one to meet it on the steps first thing in the morning when I’m stiff and sleepy. My injury is a year old. Congrats to you!

ryn-I’ll take your word for it that Fred is a pear. And what kind of fruit would you be? If there were a marmite fruit…but no. LOL You are already doing much better in going up the stairs than I am. I still can’t do one foot after the other – still taking the stairs like a little kid, up AND down. Or an old lady. Good for you!