Morning all. At the danger of sounding like a whiner, finding that 25% weight-bearing is pretty lame. Can basically just walk around the apartment with crutches. Can't do anything that requires use of my hands, like carrying something from the kitchen, or simple bathroom tasks. I may or may not attempt to stand in the shower for the first time since this all began over 8 weeks ago. But have to remember to keep the injured foot very, very lightly on the bottom of the tub (I have a rubber mat in the tub) and put almost all of the weight on the healthy leg. Next Saturday, at 50%, will begin going down my spiral staircase to my bedroom to finally sleep in my bed again. I can use the railing to take some of the weight off but I think now at 25% it would put too much weight on it. I think at 75% I should be able to walk with a cane. My actual PT begins tomorrow with a home visit (the first visit was just an evaluation) so looking forward to that. Sorry for venting this morning; just one of those 'sour' days when I'm just tired of it all. And the weather outside is a perfect spring day which adds to my discontent!!!
Sour days happen Ron, I think your doing great, your early days compared to some of us here. The good thing about this forum is you can vent here and people get it. Hoping your rehab goes well and you'll be walking soon.....take care 👣
Jannie, at what point are you?
I hope your day brightened up. I remember the first time i stood in the shower after about 6 weeks and I was really scared as my shower is over the bath which was a bit of a risky manoevre. It went OK but I'm still very very careful getting in and out. As for having a moan that is what is so great about this forum that you can have a moan , get it out of your system and hopefully get some reassurance and empathy from those who know what you're going through. I hope your physio goes well tomorrow. I am sure you will feel better once you are able to take steps yourself to help recovery.
It's coming quickly now...I know it is hard to be patient. I know 25% is very awkward, but be careful not to slip in the tub. Do you have a plastic chair you can put in there while you shower? Have your cell and knee walker nearby in case you slip. Try to lean against the back or a corner of the shower for balance just in case. Interested what your PT has you do as the first exercises. I still can't believe you can be playing tennis in August. That seems unbelievable from where we are now! Sounds like you are having Spring fever! Maybe a good day to go outside, soak in some rays, practice your 25%? The sunshine and fresh air will help take away your blues.
Thanks, Patti. Well, I could do my usual sitting in the tub and turning the shower on (god, that first blast of water is always a shock!) but thought I would give standing a try. I'll see how I feel about it. Like the idea of having the cell nearby, though. Good idea for all here. Would go outside but I live right off Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side (76th St). It's a very popular area in New York. Do you know NY? So too many people today to venture outside, I think.
Ron, I only wish I was where you are at that stage. I am at 15 weeks and just starting a little weight bearing. I get your frustration, because you can't do anything. Haven't slept in my bes in 15 weeks and I miss it. I went to my sons baseball practice Fri night and they had a game of players vs parents. It killed me to sit there and watch everyone else having fun, I am not one to sit on the sidelines. I have given away concert tickets for a concert i have wanted to see for years and any sense of normalcy in my life. So, yes, I understand your frustration.
Oh geez, you're right, I shouldn't really complain. 15 weeks??? I thought 8 was enough to drive me crazy. And don't we miss our beds, though??! A sobering, humbling experience and will never take a little thing like getting easily about for granted again! You hang in there. Ron
Oh no Ron, complain away. 8 weeks still feels like a lifetime. This injury sucks every bit of your normalcy out of your life. I am thrilled that you are making such good progress and actually a little jealous lol. I keep thinking, if I could just sleep in my bed it would things so much better. Good luck with your PT this week, I start PT Wed. We will have to compare notes. Enjoy this beautiful day.
Patti, LeeLee, this photo will show you what I will hope to 'conquer' beginning at 50% weight bearing. Getting down to my bedroom to sleep in my own bed! (Couldn't seem to make the photo any bigger.) Ron
Oh my, those are beautiful but scary.
well, pretty used to them. But now is a different story! I've scooted down them on my butt a few times since my surgery, but difficult to scoot back up. I think at 50% I can put enough weight on the foot while holding the bannister to do it ok.
That is how I get in my house. I am OK going out on crutches, but not coming back in. How many steps do you have?
The spiral stairways downstairs? It's about 12 I guess. When I go outside, I have to go out of my brownstone to the sidewalk and there are two steps up. I just lift my knee roller up to the sidewalk, then hop up the two steps on one foot, holding the bannister, then roll away. No point on me going out on crutches as I only go out to do some shopping and no way to bring the stuff home without the basket on my knee roller. In 3 more weeks I should be crutch free, as well.
Please be careful, I would hate to see you injure yourself more.
Hi Ron
I'm coming up 5 mos. like Lee lee Have CRPS or known as RSD. My foot is at 25% dorsiflexion, weight bearing in walker and can stand unaided to wash dishes, cook etc. like you I had a sour day yesterday feeling like this is going on forever. I wonder if I'll ever be walking again. I look like Frankenstein in my walker for small stints My hardware hasn't bothered me much but lately it is with being up more. I just keep focusing on one day at a time - keep on, your doing it! 👣
HI Ron-
Oh the tub..I have yet to take a shower...kind of love soaking and rubbing my foot in the tub, now that I finally got out of the cast. I soak it, and massage it in the warm water and then when I get out, I ice it for about 20 mins. It feels really good....kind of like the contrast therapy idea that Lee Lee does...but mine is non-scientific. I always get the hot water going and then drain it before I jump in. I sometimes put a towel under me in case it's wet, so I don't slip, then I put it on the edge of the tub to fill it. I also have a bath mat as well in there. Couldn't stand the cold jolt myself....I've been in warm California for too long, where we think it's totally freezing when it gets in the 50's
I know someone who lived 74th and Columbus years and years ago, and I drove by the area about five years ago to see it. Really nice! I go to NYC usually about twice a year. Love love it! I can't imagine crutching on a busy NY street though. I would be nervous someone would knock me over accidentally. I was wondering if you were in the city itself or the country. I have been to Cornell several times to visit, which is more country. I lived in Connecticut for a few years when my dad worked as an airline pilot for Pan Am and flew out of JFK. I loved the winters because It was in my 9th and 10th grade years of HS when I was there...ice skating, sledding, skiing...it was great! But NorCal has always been home, so we were back as soon as he got promoted.
So did you take a shower? Gotta try that myself, but I have a little plastic chair I bought on Amazon for the shower, as I think I would be scared to try it standing yet.
I left our pool weekend. Miss the pool so much!! Have to try a find a place to swim at home.
Patti, taking a shower for the first time in the morning before my PT arrives at 10. So I will let you know how it goes. Would love to meet you when you next come to NY so we can compare our new-founded 'wellness'! But not quite sure how to relay to you my contact info without posting it on a public forum, which I would obviously prefer not to do. I'll see if I can come up with an idea....
What a bummer to miss the parent/player game...ugh! You don't sound like a sideline kind of person and you have been SOOOO patient too. It must have been very difficult! The mind says "YES" and the body says "REALLY?" and you respond "oh yeah" very sadly and quietly. Such a bummer Lee Lee to have to give away concert tixs too. Someone asked me to go to a concert in July (which is really so long from now) and I said "Sounds Great!", yet afterward all I could think about was having someone accidentally step on my foot, if there was a large line and crowd to get in. Wonder if it will be possible by then? Well if Ron is going to be playing tennis in August, I must be able to walk into a crowded concert, right? Spring time is going to be hard for us...because we are going to feel Spring fever really badly I think!
How are the fracture blisters doing? I've been thinking about you, because I hadn't noticed a post for a while...but sometimes I miss a few. I was hoping you were getting better re. those.
100% agree. I will run to hold every door open for anyone moving slowly toward a door. Never realized how much of a difference it could make!!