I went last Thursday to the Orthopedist and as soon as the doctor came into the exam room he said "So, are you ready to ditch those crutches?" Hells yeah I am! So, they sawed the cast off and took some x-rays. The bones have completely healed and I am ready for the next phase of recovery - walking! What's great about this particular doctor is that he understands the cost of physical therapy (it's a $50 copay each time you go!). So, after he put the boot on me, he gave me instructions for a physical therapy regimen to do at home.
For the first two weeks, he just wants me to learn how to bear weight on my left leg again and try to walk as much as I can tolerate. In two weeks, I can start the at-home PT. They are simple range of motion exercises that increase in difficulty and I am not to move on to the next exercise until I can completely perform the previous. This is where I think I will struggle as I know I'm going to get overzealous and move ahead before I should.
During the first couple of days in the new boot I could barely put weight on my left leg but now that I have had some practice, I'm able to do much more. Last night I even went up and down the stairs without crutches! I'm not saying it's all better now. It still really hurts but I see improvements every day.
I'm supposed to go back in a month so he can gauge my progress with the at-home therapy. I'm sure he will officially send me to PT if he thinks I'm not cutting it on my own but I'm determined to get it done without having to spend the money and time it takes to actually go to a special place for PT. He also mentioned that he expects that I should be healed enough to return to the ice in six weeks. Yikes! I just don't see that happening with how I am right now and I'm afraid of coming back too soon and re-injuring myself. I think January is a more realistic goal :)
Here are a couple of pictures from the wedding. <3
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