Great news on recovery.

It will come Tituscanby. You had an initial set back, which was a bummer to say the least. I can't imagine going backwards and starting over from here, but you did it! You are tougher than ever now and there is absolutely no stopping you now....sun or rain! Keep up that fighting spirit. It takes a bit of time to rebuild everything as you know, but the body is amazing in it's ability to make things right again. A positive spirit makes healing happen much faster too!

Hi I am very pleased it is going so much better for you. I found walking really does strengthen the calf muscle and eventually helps with the swelling , just work through it. I must say I still have a little swelling if I have been on my feet most of the day. I have been taking care of my grandson since he was discharged from hospital, so you can imagine how that's going with running after a very busy 18 month old. But I would not have it any other way. I hope you and your husband are going to go from strength to strength from now, and soon you will also have total bone union and a full recovery. God bless .

Hi Patti, how are you? I was wondering if you have tried walking on your toes yet? I tried today. Started by pushing up onto my toes, standing on my toes for a few seconds, then holiday lightly on the back of my couch I walked along the length of the couch. I did this 4 times, then took my hand off the couch and walked unaided for 6 steps. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Even supporting myself while walking was painful. No pain in the ankle, but on the top of my foot from my toes up. It was as if I had just started weight bearing again. Also a huge limp. Strange nothing like that while pushing up onto my toes and standing on them. Will do a few every day until it improves. I am also going for physio tomorrow, and will ask if we can work on it. My son also sees his friend who specialises in rehabilitation of people who have had serious injuries. He will find out more about arthritis and how to prevent it from getting worse. I may get to go see him if he has time as he is very busy and travels a great deal with our sportsmen. Will keep you informed on what happens. Have a great week.

Hi Daphne- Keep up with the toe exercises! Great job! I found those most helpful. I too found it pretty simple to get up on both toes in front of the bed, but very very hard to get up on only one and hold it for very long, or to walk on them holding onto the bed. I kept with it, and I think that is the reason I can do the stairs now finally. I had exactly your pain at first too with these exercises! Then all of the sudden this week, I could start to walk on my toes...it always seems like you work and work with these exercises, then one day there is a breakthrough that makes all the hard work worthwhile! First it is all about ROM and flexibility, then it is all about building strength back up in the foot, toes, ankle etc. Then I think it is all about staying in shape and moving a lot to protect from getting arthritis. And of course, it will be great to run across the room some day to get the telephone- can't do that yet, but my PT says that will happen in the next 4 months at the rate we are going. Can you do that yet? It would be great to hear what you find out about arthritis, as I know that is what the doctor's worry about most of all with these ankle injuries. Seems that exercise and movement is the key to decreasing our chances of getting too much of this. 

Thanks Patti, no running yet, but I can walk a lot faster than I used to. We may go to the coast to visit my daughter in two weeks. I would like to try walk on the beach just to see the effect walking in sand will have. I also bought myself a pair of winter boot's, I found a pair that laces up the front, so I can tie them that is comfortable for me. I was worried that it may feel uncomfortable against the hardware. But it felt good wearing normal shoe's and not running shoes. I could feel it was different but definitely not uncomfortable, I have a pair of thick socks underneath.

Please let me know how walking is in the sand. Will you go barefoot? I heard sand could be one of the hardest substances for us to walk in and I have a beach vacation coming up the second part of August (back to the scene of the crime for me, where I got hurt actually). I bought a cane that works in the sand, but I think I am probably past needing that at this point, but I may bring it just in case, unless you tell me sand isn't that big of an issue. That's great about the boots! Sounds like you are having some issues with the plate rubbing against the sides of the shoes? For some reason, I haven't noticed that. One thing to think about is I have read if you wear supportive shoes (supporting the ankles) regularly, that can hinder the firing up of the tendons and ligaments. Of course it doesn't hurt if you wear them for a little while here and there. I had an ankle brace my doctor gave me, that was a soft fabric tie up one, and I ditched it really quickly because I found out it could be hindering my recuperation more than helping it (and I could walk without it, so that decision was easy). Where are you from? I'm in California, US. 

Daphne- Have you tried to use an elliptical trainer yet? I'm going to give it a try today. I'm still in contact with Ron (who used to post here regulary) and he is doing well, just where we are and also 18-1/2 weeks out, and he has been using an elliptical trainer for several weeks now. I've had no problem with the stationary bike, so I thought I would give that a try now. 

Will definitely let you know how walking in the sand goes. I don't known if it is the hardware that is really an issue. I am very claustrophobic and never had a full cast as I can take anything that feels like it is restricting me. I had a back slab cast. After my staples were removed and the cast was replaced my surgical incisions was very sore and the pain did not improve, I thought I was getting an infection in the wound. I could not sleep at night because of the pain in my wound. Eventually I unwrapped the bandages and found that the side of the cast was actually pressing onto the incision. My husband got a sharp scissor and trimmed the edge away, it made a huge difference, but the incision remained very tender and inflamed for a long time and even now it is slightly tender, even though the scars look good and are starting to fade. I am at just over 18 weeks since my fall. I have not tried a elliptical trainer yet. Just heard from my son, I get to see the rehabilitation guy on Thursday for an evaluation etc. very happy about this. Will keep you posted on his advice. Oh, I live in South Africa.

Gosh...sounds like a pain! Glad it is better now! Great your husband cut it down. Please let us know how the evaluation appt goes. South Africa...wow!

Hi June, great to see it's going better. Please watch out for the discomfort in your knee. At a stage my knee became so painful I did not want to walk. The post showed me that I was walking wrong and that was causing me problems. If you have a long mirror, put it in front of you, and walk to it. You will see if you are walking correctly. I was putting my injured foot down flat instead of the heal toe movement. Just practice in front of the mirror until you see improve. Also ask your physiotherapists to be you some exercises for the knee and thigh, as they have also become a bit weak from not being used for a while. The exercises are easy and you can do them lying on your bed. Also if the knee becomes too painful use your crutches, to take the weigh off the knee, and take anti inflammatory tablets to help. I think it took me about a week of walking correctly, tablets and exercises and I was ok again.

Great advice from a great lady!

@(*+"@

Hi, I am so sorry to read about your husbands accident, but praise the Lord he was not injured, it could have been so much worse. Also hope you had no damage caused by the earthquake. Have a great weekend. Tons of blessings.

Thanks:+)