Much better now

For the last week I ditched my old shoes in favor of my clogs.
My pain decreased by 50%.

I do need to stretch more but am walking without much of a limp.

Patience Grasshopper, patience

All the best laid plans, I put out all my clothes night before.
Hit the road as usual and met up with Team at the training.
At getting up I was a bit tight and gimpy.
But I figured it would work itself out as soon as I started walking.

Not!

Roadblock #1, the TEAM was going to walk a part of the trail that is all gravel and sand.
I'm having issues with regular roads as it is so that part of the trail was out.

Roadblock #2, my heel lifts were taken out, I lost the left one too, and the odd degree my foot was in really threw me out of whack.

Roadblock#3, as soon as I started limping there was no way to control it. I can't say I did try really hard enough though so it was somewhat of an "operator error" on my part.

The day was glorious, tiny bit chilly somewhat overcast. Perfect going for a walk weather.
But not for me, I ended up at the water stop and timing people.
Feeling very frustrated and having my own private pity party.

Maybe I need to develop more patience, start biking instead.

Right now however, pretty bummed at myself.

Several things happened;

I got a new job which required more on the feet time than I had anticipated 
My kids are back in school and activities 
My Team in Training season kicked off on February 1st. 


Under the ADA  guidelines (Americans with Disability Act) my employer is obligated to provide me with modifications at work.
I needed to get back to work, I still teach one class and have a volunteer to help me out.
But I went down in hours so I was offered a job in the reception area of my company.
I like the work but in the end I was standing a bit more than I should.
I've been able to sit more and to walk less.


I'm enjoying the contact with people other than in my program a lot, I was told I bring a lot of maturity to the reception.
That had me cracking up for a bit, but come to think of it the majority of the staff there is under 25.
Whole new set of rules, need to wear nicer clothes. It's like going back to my retail days in a way.


On the healing front, it's been a lot of "two steps forward. one step back".
On my PT days I'm wiped out afterwards and even though I'm not in a lot of pain there is a fair amount of discomfort from the scar.
The fact that I just can't find a pair of shoes that adhere to the strict rules of Dr. B. and the inability in me to wear running shoes during the day are not helping in easing my foot issues..
I just can't get past that look.




Today marks 5 and a half months since surgery and I do feel improvement every day, I may have been a bit in a hurry to get healed faster but lately have resigned myself to the fact it will take a bit.
I'm not training actively, being support for TEAM has been my goal.


Yesterday I had my 4 week re-check and Dr. B was pleased and displeased at the same time.
The amount of scar tissue internally on the achilles is very pronounced, something Igor does not address enough according to Dr. B.
Back I go now, once a week for stretching, massage and scar work.
I had my first session yesterday and learned 2 new words; functional pain.


Part of the good news is that I do not need heel lifts, I can go back to wearing my regular shoes.
But as with every new development I need to ease into it.
My brand new bought right before surgery clogs fit and even though it feels weird to be out of the ugly "good" shoes it's a step towards normal again.








I'm all for normal!