Week 11...

Today is day 80.

Monday at physical therapy my walking and balance was tested. Walking without the crutch is getting easier, but I do have quite the limp. Again I am working on lower abs and also working on the glutes. The goal is to pull all the muscles together to hold my hip into place while I walk. The new exercise this week is to put a stretchy band around my knees, and while in a sitting position, push my knee forward, my heel into the ground and swing my leg out to the side. This will increase strength in my glutes. 

I am getting more flexible and I feel stronger every day. I walk around the house without the crutch most of the day, but I still use it when I go out. Stairs are getting easier. Going up them is definitely harder, but it will get there. The goal is to be without the crutch by Monday when I go to physical therapy and I hope I'll have a pretty normal gait by the time school starts on the 24th. 

Not much else to report, so here's a picture of my view during physical therapy at home. 

Week 10

Well I'm driving! But not yet walking on my own yet. The physical therapist gave me some lower ab exercises for this week, along with everything else I've been doing, to hopefully pull everything together so I'm more stable with my walking. He tested this by having me stand next to the table and try to lift my left knee to my chest. My right side immediately buckled from underneath me. 

I was pretty bummed that I wasn't able to ditch the crutch today, but I know I'll be walking soon. I feel better and stronger every day. I just gotta keep up with the physical therapy. I do "walk" around the house during the day, but it's more of a penguin wobble than anything. But like I said it get better every day. 

Not much else to report this week. 

Weeks 8 and 9...

It's been a little while since I posted last. Basically last week was a lot of new strength exercises to hopefully get me off the crutches. I graduated from two crutches to one. And I saw my friends get married and was able to enjoy my night despite still being on one crutch. It was a beautiful wedding and I'm so happy for Brett, who is like my fourth older brother, and Lindy, who is a good friend!! 

It's now the beginning of week 9. I am still on one crutch but I feel stronger and stronger every day. I'm working on doing steps/ stairs normally, but I still have to take it slow to make sure I don't hurt myself in the process. The goal going into week 10 is to walk on my own and drive! I can't wait to drive again! Seriously I didn't realize how much I enjoy driving! Late last week, around Friday or so, I kinda got really down on myself. I felt bad because I'm not walking in my own yet and I can tell I lost a lot of strength in my leg. But after a little pep talk from my aunt and from Ryne, I definitely started to feel better about myself. The goal is to be healthy. It doesn't happen overnight, it happens from continuous hard work. I just have to keep working hard and everything will get better. I hope to update soon with more good news! My next post op is in August. By then I should be walking and driving and hopefully ready to go back to school. 

Week 7...

Monday marked the beginning of week 7.  Last week I had a small setback because I strained a muscle a little bit and had to take it easy. This week at physical therapy I was able to get back on the bike and warm up. I am currently working on graduating from two crutches to one. I'm pretty stiff in the morning so I have to start out with two and once the day progresses I move to just one. I only go short distances on one crutch because my leg muscles are pretty week from not being used the past six weeks. You never really know how much you use your legs until you're off the leg for six weeks and then start putting weight on it and it feels like it's going to collapse. The physical therapist added some exercises for at home this week. I'm still working to wake some stuff up and rebuild some strength so I can get off crutches. I have noticed that since I've been using only one crutch and putting about 80% weight on my leg that my butt muscles get sore fast. 

I have also noticed that getting in and out of bed is getting better and I am able to shower standing up without a chair. I moved from my parents stand up shower to my bath shower today. I kinda have to pivot on my good leg to move around, but it's worth it. 

I'm excited that every day I get closer and closer to walking on my own! It's been a long 7 weeks and I know I still have months to go, but I'm ready for this part to be over.