Released from Physical Therapy!

I had my final physical therapy appointment today.  The therapist I've been working with through most of this process was not there since he's off on an African safari, but the therapist I saw said if I can do everything she had me do today, I'm ready to be released!  I did everything she wanted me to do.  I wouldn't say with ease, but I did it all.  I was given the list of my exercises and I'm supposed to do them 3-4 times a week- ideally every other day.  Doing all of them is a great workout, so I'm going to really try to actually do them as much as she recommended.

I've also just started working out again.  I'm not doing much, but I've been trying to get on the bike (my parents gave me their indoor bike trainer) every day or two for about 30 minutes.  So far I've only done it twice, but now that the girls have a play kitchen and dollhouses in the basement it would be easier for me to workout while they play.  I'm really looking forward to getting back in shape.  And a friend and I are even thinking about trying to do a triathlon together this year.  We just both need to learn to swim effectively...

Doing well.

My foot and I are doing really well.  So well, in fact, that starting this coming week I'm only going to be going to physical therapy once a week- and right now I only have appointments scheduled until the end of the year (which means only 2 more weeks!).  My physical therapist has been working me really hard, which is good.  He wants me to be able to start running before long.  Hopefully I'll be able to ease into it at the start of the new year.

Last weekend my parents brought me their indoor bike trainer so that I can start doing some bike riding.  I've got to start with some kind of workouts sooner rather than later.  I'm hoping to start getting into some sort of workout routine very soon.  Hopefully I'll actually get on the bike this weekend.

I'm still weaning out of my ankle brace.  I'm out of it most of the time, but I do put it on when my ankle/foot start to bother me.  So far today I have not worn it at all today and it feels pretty good. :)

Big News!

I went to see my orthopedist on Monday for another follow up appointment.  He looked at my foot, watched me walk and watched me walk on my tip-toes (who knew I could do that again?!).  Then he told me everything looked good, I'm ahead of the curve and he doesn't need to see me anymore. :)  He told me to take it easy over the next month- start with some biking and maybe elliptical, but by the new year I should be about ready to start running!  And this was all the day before I hit 2 months post op!  For now I'm still going to physical therapy twice a week because my therapist is not ready to release me, but I'm fine with that.

As for physical therapy, it's going really well.  He started on Monday having me do most of my exercises without my brace.  My ankle is definitely getting stronger, but still has some strengthening that needs to happen. My therapist did tell me yesterday, though, that I can start weaning out of my brace.  He said to start with taking it off for 20-30 minutes at a time and then putting it back on for a couple of hours- and to keep increasing my time out of it until I'm out of it all day.  He thinks the weaning should take about 2 weeks.  I can definitely tell when I've had it off for too long, so I think I really will wean out of the brace slowly, unlike how I weaned off the crutches and out of the boot. :)

Weaning is really good news- especially since Ben and I are going out to a nice dinner and spending Friday night at a bed and breakfast.  I'm excited to be able to wear real shoes (well, boots, in this case) Friday night and not be in my sneakers.  YAY!