Still Hobbling Along

I continue to recuperate at home, but haven't made much progress with walking. I have been putting some weight on my left foot as I use the crutches, and I am doing exercises for my thighs and knees. I can stand on my left foot for a few seconds, but I can't walk normally yet. I tried to take a normal step (rolling from heel through to the toe) the other day, and I could feel my foot protest loudly. I stayed off of it for two days and returned to exercising yesterday. Ed predicts that I will be walking with just a cane within 10 days, but I am not quite so confident. I'm trying to listen to my body rather than worry about the March 27 "deadline," but I feel as if I'm falling behind in my recovery. No sense in pushing it, though, as overdoing it could be a disaster.

I'm trying to imagine walking without this cast, and it actually makes my stomach clench. I wonder how long it will be before I stop worrying about twisting my ankle or walking wrong. I wish Dr. Healey had not told me the story of his patient who slipped on ice in her driveway eight years after having a similar operation and tore her tendon. I suppose once I'm up and around for a while, I'll stop obsessing about it.

Meanwhile, my mom has been staying with us the past few days to help out. It gives Ed a chance to get out, which he hasn't been doing since he didn't want to leave me alone. My good friend, Lydia, has been kind enough to "adult-sit" me at her home twice while Ed has run errands for a few hours, and Ed and I went out for dinner two weeks ago. Otherwise, I've been home, but haven't suffered from cabin fever yet. The next three days are supposed to be in the 60s, so I'll be soaking up some sun.