I started physical therapy last week at the same place my wife went after her knee surgery a year and a half ago. (I guess we are getting old when we start sharing physical therapists.)
I didn’t know what to expect but I was ready to begin. With a six month recovery time, the sooner the better.
The therapist is very good. She is personable and has the right balance between pushing you and being gentle with you. I need that balance.
The swelling in my left ankle
She began by measuring the swelling in my ankle. The swelling is very noticeable particularly around the Achilles. To increase mobility, the swelling (and the scar tissue around the incision site) has to be one of the primary issues to address.
I am amazed at the amount of fluid around my shin and ankle. It is particularly noticeable after I take off my hi-tech moon boot (aka walking boot). Little bulges of fluid are all around my leg. The first time I noticed this I freaked out. I have heard so much about the danger of blood clots that I worried that these little bulges could be indications of clots. But thankfully the bulges disappeared after a few hours.
Therapy begins with fifteen minutes of heat around my ankle. It feels great. I spend this time lying on my back and relaxing. It is a perfect time to pray, reflect, and rest. It is so hard for me to do this in normal, every day life. I get distracted too easily or start thinking that I need to get up and do something. However, as part of therapy, I find myself just focusing on the moment and enjoying it. I hope I can replicate this more and more in my “real life.”
Heat is followed by infrared light therapy and then a massage of the lower calf and the area around my Achilles. The area around my heel is not sensitive or painful and the stimulation around the incision site feels great.
The heat and the massage are obviously the best parts of therapy.
Next comes the exercises. This is where things get “less fun.”
First I slowly flex my foot up and down thirty times, then side to side thirty times. During the first therapy session, my flexibility was minimal to none. Today (my third session) I could tell a big difference. Not that I am anywhere close to normal but I can definitely see improvement.
After this, I take a towel and pull the top of my foot toward me, stretching the Achilles in 30 second intervals five times. The exercises are not necessarily painful. Everything just feels incredibly tight and even the slightest movement takes a lot of effort. I also feel at times that my Achilles could “pop” which is not something I want to happen again. The therapist assures me that it won’t. I am taking her at her word.
I work on “foot circles” next. With my legs hanging off the table, I rotate (or try to rotate) my foot thirty times clockwise and then thirty times counter-clockwise. Today I also worked on a BAPS board which was not too fun. I really feel the tightness in my Achilles as I rotate my foot on this board.
On Friday, the therapist put a towel on the floor, had me place my foot on it, and then told me to work on scrunching up the towel with my foot. Ha! I sat there and stared at my toes for over a minute. I could move my toes up but I had no ability to curl my toes downward to grasp the towel. It was frustrating to be totally unable to do a simple exercise. My brain was communicating to my foot but my foot was saying, “Are you kidding me?” After six weeks off, my foot muscles are not ready to go back to work just yet.
My moon boot (aka walking boot)
The final exercise is in my walking boot. Using my crutches, I walk back and forth across the room trying to put more and more weight on my foot. The first day I put very little weight on my foot. Today I found that I could go heel to toe with a lot more weight on my foot and little less discomfort.
The session ends with my foot elevated in an ice pack with electro stimulation for about fifteen minutes.
Usually I try to relax and pray during this time but today the TV was blaring with Judge Judy. I find that hearing adults argue over petty disputes and Judge Judy yell, “Shut up!” is not conducive to rest and relaxation. I guess it reflects the challenge of all of life…trying to find God’s peace in the midst of life’s stresses, disputes, and arguments. Even when the spirit desires God’s rest, the noise of the world is constantly seeking to interrupt. It truly takes discipline to be a disciple.
Lord willing, I will be able to walk without the use of crutches in a week or two. I am eager to get my mobility back, even if it is with an enormous moon boot (actually it reminds me a lot of a ski boot).
I will not take walking for granted ever again. I understand now why “the lame leap for joy” when they are healed by Christ’s power (Isaiah 35:6; Acts 3:1-11).
~,” I am very thankful to this topic because it really gives up to date information “,.