Thursday, March 24, 2011

Ankle Recovery - started physical therapy

Yesterday, I had my first session of physical therapy.  Today, I had my second.  I went to John West Therapy Services in Friendswood.  This is the same place I went to attempt therapy before my surgery.
During my first session, Tina, the therapist, measured my swelling as well as my range on motion.  She commented that my range of motion was very small and I'm going to have to work hard to get it back.  But, I should not necessarily work "hard", but rather be persistent with my stretching.  Tina worked on the swelling in my ankle, trying to get it to go down.  After Tina worked on my ankle for a bit, I had to start some stretches.  Then it was time for a few exercises.  I was glad that nothing was painful, although it was difficult.
Today it was time for round 2.  Today, Tina was not here.  I really feel bad that I don't remember the name of the therapist with whom I worked.  She was really good.  She again worked to reduce the swelling in my ankle and leg.  Hopefully, once the swelling goes down, my mobility will increase.  In addition to the stretches and exercises I did this morning (pulling on the balls of my foot (knee bent & straight)) I also moved my ankle up and down, with & without resistance, toe raises, heel raises, toe scrunches, toe pushes and going up and down with my foot centered on a bosu ball.  None of it was really painful, but most of it was difficult. 
I am still experiencing phantom pains in my ankle.  The area that feels like  there is a healing incision, is not where the incision is.  I still have a toe that is numb and experiencing pins and needle pains in that same toe (the base of the toe is numb and the tip is pins & needles). 
I will be doing my exercises twice a day, every day, until I return to physical therapy Monday morning.
  On a not as nice note, twice today, I hit my boot on something and it hurt (one much worse than the other).  After physical therapy, my husband and I went to the Black Eyed Pea for lunch.  When we left, someone had parked too close to the car on my side.  When I sat down and turned, my foot hit the car door (OUCH!).  Then a couple of hours later, I was in a children's choir meeting at church and accidentally kicked the desk with my boot while I was trying to change positions (sitting in proper chairs, in an office is rather uncomfortable).  This one didn't hurt as bad.
I have a goal of chaperoning my daughter's choir group to Schlitterbahn next month.  Wish me luck!

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