- Boot/medical shoe/normal shoes: I upgraded from the big boot to a medical walking shoe around the beginning of October. I preferred wearing the boot because it felt more supportive and people actually could tell I was injured....with the medical shoe it looked like I was a weirdo with mismatched shoes all the time! For the first couple weeks I started wearing the medical shoe my ankle became very stiff, swollen, and painful. It felt as if I had sprained it, but it was really just because my ankle was not used to the increased usage while walking. Towards the end of October, I'd say a week before Halloween, my body started telling me it was time for an upgrade. I started wearing boots (cute fall/winter boots, not the medical boot) since they still offer support but are normal to walk around in. My foot protested a bit, but not too bad. On October 29th I went to the doctor for another checkup and he gave me the all clear to start wearing normal shoes!!! His only rule is that the shoe needs to have some support...his example was that if I was walking "out to a party or to the club" I shouldn't be walking in Uggs (wouldn't do that anyways). Since the appointment I've been wearing normal shoes! Boots, Converse, Toms, and flats have been my shoes of choice ever since.
- Walking/pain/swelling: The last time I posted, I was still having a hard time walking more than a block without getting really uncomfortable and achy. Even when I was able to wear a medical shoe, I would use my big boot if I were walking more than a couple blocks. In the past week, however, things have been so so so much better! Walking is (dare I say) almost back to normal! I don't limp anymore, I can walk further distances without feeling uncomfortable, and I can stand longer without having the need to sit. My foot does not swell nearly as much as it used to, and when it does swell it's not significant.
- Doctor's orders: At my appointment on October 29th, my doctor gave me a list of things I could start doing again. I now have the all clear to: go for walks, use the treadmill (only walking, no jogging or running yet), do squats with light weight, use the leg press and other machines as long as I'm not using the ball of my foot (calf raises are a no-no, same with lunges), dance (as long as there's not a lot of jumping and landing), and even go skiing. He said that for the next year or so I will be able to tell when it's going to rain since my foot will start to feel achy, and that the snow, ocean, and cold weather will bother me. I can't jog or run until late November or December. My next checkup with him is in mid-January, and by then he says I should be 100% back to normal!
- Miscellaneous: If anyone reading has specific questions please please please ask! That's what this blog is here for. So some random things:
- I'm still using scar cream. My scar has gotten lighter, but it's still extremely noticeable.
- My toe still sits much further down than the rest. I'm hoping that walking with normal shoes will help this...
- No high heels yet. I wore my Steve Madden boots with an inch heel on them to my doctor appointment and he just said to be careful, but nothing higher than that.
- The muscles in my foot have gotten so much stronger ever since wearing normal shoes. I can curl my toes SO much more than I could the past four months. Still not as well as my right foot but it's getting there!
- I never have pain anymore. At all. The worst thing will be a sore feeling, but all I do is sit down and the feeling goes away.
Again, if anyone has questions feel free to ask. Thanks for reading and I hope my blog has helped anyone looking into the surgery! :)
