6 Weeks Post-Op Update

Well, here we are....6 weeks post op! Wooooooooo hooooooooo! Sorry that I haven't updated lately, it's just that, well....there hasn't been much to update!
I went to the Dr on Monday for my 6 wk check up, everything looks like it's healing nicely! I am now allowed to put weight on my foot (in the boot) while using my crutches. That is a nice break for my armpits! I also started Physical Therapy this week.....it was eventful to say the least.....
Everything was going fine, like a normal PT session (stretches, massage, resistance exercises,...) and then it was time for the hot/cold contrast therapy. We started off with the hot moist packs, that felt great. Then it was time for the ice pack.....I put my foot on it and one was wrapped around my ankle, I lasted for about 12 seconds then the pain was SO INTENSE I seriously started to freak out, it felt like someone was stabbing me in my arch, the physical therapist came into the room and I was like "OMG I can't take this" (he promptly pulled the packs off and called in the other PT guy), my face got all red, I busted out into this major sweat, got all dizzy, my heart was RACING!!!!!! Seriously, I almost passed out. He explained that what was happening could potentially be RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). According to the linked website "RSD/CRPS appears to involve a complex interaction among the sensory, motor, and autonomic nervous systems, and the immune system. It is thought that brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) control over these various processes is somehow changed as a result of an injury". Basically, the capilaries in my foot are staying dialated, sometimes after a surgery and being non-weight bearing for so long there is damage to the smooth muscle fibers (**NOTE- I could have some of this wrong, if you know something more...TELL ME!), so when my foot had the cold on it, it didn't react properly. The "sympathetic" part ties into the "Fight or Flight" reaction I had, it's like it's confused on how to react. It scared the s&*t out of me....BIG TIME! I was wiped out for the rest of the day.
The good news is that we caught these symptoms early. Now that I am partially weight bearing that will help to stimulate everything, and hopefully get me out of the "danger zone" on this.
When I went back the next day we did the hot/cold contrast with just a cool towel and I was fine. Then we tried the ice pack and I made it about 45 seconds, then the same thing started to happen. It's a good sign that I made it longer, it shows that I am adapting...yippeee!
Hopefully by the end of next week I'll be allowed to take my boot off and drive, then put my boot back on when I get where I'm going, and hop around.
I just want some of my freedom back. I want to drive. I want to go to the grocery store and not make someone carry all of my shit. Not to mention.....I WANT TO RUN!!!!! But for now, I'll settle for being able to just go for a WALK!
**And one more thing, my bday is next week, exactly 1 week from today and I'll be 33.....I'll have more thoughts to post about this over the weekend.....

Thought you could use a VISUAL......

Ok, so as I have said before I've set up "house" at my parents house due to the fact that I will not be able to drive for the next 6 weeks, and I'm stuck on crutches (non-weight bearing) for that entire time. I have to say, I totally under estimated what a pain in the ass it would be to do simple things (pour a cup of coffee, put milk in it, then go sit on the couch). At some point I will go back to my house for a couple days (for sanity and to see my Kitties), but then I'll be back. I am staying on the first floor, more specifically in their living room on their couch (and sometimes the recliner), my Dad's "office" has turned into my "changing room".

So, my parents live on 40 acres with horses, dogs and cats. There are 3 dogs and 1 cat in the house, the dogs believe that the couches belong to them. As you can imagine this could cause I problem because I can't have a golden retreiver (or 2) trying to lay on the couch with me and my cast. SO, we came up with a way to keep them off of my "bed".....check out the sheet from the very early 90's!

And yes, those are the "gates" off of the side of a crib leaning against the coffee table (which now holds all of my important belongings!). I am "protected" from the dogs once I'm behind the gates! For those of you that are thinking "Come on, would they really bother you?"....here are pictures from when I ventured out to the kitchen. The first one is of Spike and Buster...

The second is of Maggie....As you can see, they would actually like to sit in my lap, but since they can't they'll just lay their heads on me so that I can't go back into my cage!

Last but not least, in an effort to stay positive, today I'm wearing my Staten Island 1/2 Marathon T-shirt....that was one of the best days of my life. It was the first time that I really felt like I was "a runner". Here I was in New Jersey for work and I was able to rent a car and drive to Staten Island and do a 1/2 Marathon....something that only 6 months beforehand was completely out of the question. That is a day/event that I am so proud of, it was a huge turning point for me in many areas, it is my goal that the rest of my life is more and more like that day - everyday. I am proud that I had the confidence to enter the race, the confidence to rent a car and drive there on my own even though I had no idea how to get there and no GPS (and there are way too many bridges and opportunites to end up in the wrong state), and to just GO on my own, and make new friends, run the race, and have SO MUCH FUN DOING IT! So, here I am in my T-Shirt....I love you Staten Island!

*Sidenote - I just re-read my post and got totally teary eyed reading about the Staten Island Half.....I really can't wait to run again.....

Anke Surgery

Just a quick update, my surgery was this morning and went very well. I'm "home" (on my parents couch!) taking pain meds every 2 hours in preperation for my nerve block to wear off. I went with the general anesthesia and nerve block from the knee down. The general anest. went pretty good until we were on our way home and I had roughly a 4 second warning that I was going to puke, good thing I had an empty bag in the car and were only 5 minutes from home!

Several years ago I had surgery on my other foot and had a nerve block, it was great until it wore off, then it was HELL.....I had to be taken back to the hospital for morphine. I'm just hoping that this time will go a little smoother.

Here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure!

Just thought this was funny....

Me in the O.R. before surery, obviously feeling a little "happy" already!

My BIG cast!

Well, I'm exhasted now....time to sleep again!

Hello Blog-land!

Just wanted to stop back in and say hello! Things have been relatively boring in my world of running, seeing as though I haven't run.......at all!
My ankle surgery is this Thursday, February 5. From this point forward I will be using my blog to track my progress/experience with the surgery, and hopefully it will become a countdown to my "first" run, "first" race, and so on.
I have spent the past 2-3 weeks getting rid of A LOT of stuff in my house and getting it all organized for my "recovery" period. The projected recovery is 6 weeks on crutches in a boot, no weight on it and no driving (it's my right ankle). The first couple days to week I'll be staying with my parents, then I'll be going back and forth between my house and their house. Hopefully it will all go smoothly....I'll check in as often as possible, you can guarantee that I'll be reading your blogs!