A Year Ago

Hard to believe a year has gone by since surgery. I woke up this morning and went to PT and had a blog entry all sketched out in my head about this anniversary. Then, I got a call that my grandmother had a massive stroke and my whole day shifted. Like most hard days, I ended up running tonight when I got back into town. Running is what I do when I'm sad, when I'm stressed and when I'm happy, and I'm grateful that my return to running started a year ago today.

Before: Scar Free

After: To be posted soon.

What a strange trip it's been from there to here...

5 Weeks Post-Op

It's hard to believe that I am already 5 weeks post-op. 5 weeks ago, I thought I'd be close to running again.  While I'm closer than I was 3 weeks ago, it seems unlikely that I'll head out the door to jog next week.

That said, I am definitely starting to make progress.  PT is going well and my scars are starting to fade down.  I'm currently trying to decide whether to dress them up with a tattoo (after I get off Coumadin, of course).  Suggestions have included a full calf sleeve with a Halloween theme (thanks Pete), bows or a zipper up the back.  As you'll see below, getting the remainder of the glue off was a significant improvement.

I'm starting to run in the deep well a couple of days a week.  I did 15 minutes yesterday and felt good.  Water moving over the incisions was a little uncomfortable, but I managed.  Today, however, I am very tight in my hips, so will need to start to work on flexibility again. On days when I'm not in the pool, I'm up to 30 minutes on the bike.  I am also starting to do upper body weight training again.

Despite getting back into the swing of things, I am still extremely tired by the end of the work day.  By the time I make dinner, I'm ready to crawl into bed.  Even this morning, I skipped my morning bike ride for more sleep.  It's very similar, actually, to the way I often feel during peak mileage weeks, where I could sleep 12 hours a day and not be rested.  Luckily, the "Sarah crush" phenomenon that I also have during peak weeks is absent.

Below are my scars at 5 weeks:  Lateral on theTop, Medial on the Bottom

3 Weeks Post Op

Today marks 3 weeks from surgery and I've come a long way, even from last week.  I am down to almost no pain, save for occasional discomfort when I put too much weight on my left foot.  I am "walking" on crutches, which means that I am mimicking a true step, while letting the crutches bear most of the weight.  When I'm home, I am plodding around without crutches at all.  I look a little less like a pirate than I did last Friday, but am still very stiff legged.  My calf is much less tight, but I still can't push off my toe, so I'm forced to step from my heel.  That said, I am much more comfortable in shoes than in bare feet, a first for me. My ankle is still swollen, but much better than it was.  Thanks to the snowstorm, I was forced to explore which close-toed shoes would fit my fat foot and was happy to discover that my work clogs would go on. 

And now for some pictures...(Medial and Lateral Incisions respectively)

Franken-Leg Part Two (Day 15)

2 weeks of no weight bearing plus two great scars = 1 ugly leg!