I started this blog thinking it would be a personal blog for myself to keep track of my progress. After these past few months though, and after seeing the page views increase exponentially, it makes me happy to know people are reading my blog and hopefully learning something about this kind of injury, surgery, and healing process.
I'd like to thank those of you who have taken the time to comment and write to me about your own personal stories. When I found out I had to get surgery, I immediately got on the internet (I know, not the best idea...there are some scary stories out there, right?), and had trouble finding personal stories of this kind of surgery. I'm glad this blog has been of help for others or has at least given some basic information about the healing process after ORIF surgery.
I haven't had to live through much pain in my life. I'm only 19 years old and this was my first broken bone. I think the most pain I experienced in my life prior to this was probably when I had to get a tooth pulled when I was a kid. I now have much more sympathy and understanding for people who have to use a wheelchair, crutches, wear a boot or cast for months, and get any kind of surgery like this. It was a scary thing for me to go through, and I'm sure it's scary for others.
So for those of you who are going through this, know that it does get better. Sometimes I might be pessimistic about my injury and healing process, but I think that's a natural part of the healing process--the mental part. Being positive and having positive people around me really helped. Some days are much harder than others, both mentally and physically. It does get better though. Maybe not 100%, but I'm thankful I can walk and run and do everyday activities. Keep your heads up! My thoughts go out to all of you readers who are experiencing this. Feel free to ask any questions, and best of luck!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
...6 1/2 months later...
Just another quick update...
I'm a couple weeks away from 7 months post-operation, and I feel as though I've hit a plateau, at least in the sense that I don't feel like my ankle flexibility is improving anymore. I still try to stretch it everyday, both with a resistance band and by stretching against a wall...even so, my ankle doesn't bend like my other ankle and I don't feel like I've made any big improvements in flexibility in the last month or so.
As far as muscle growth, I have made some progress. While living in the wilderness this summer I got the opportunity to run on gravel roads instead of pavement. This wasn't the best idea for the first month or so of the summer when I still didn't feel very stable running. Towards the end of the summer though, I grew accustomed to the gravel roads. I also got practice running up and down hills. Initially this was a big challenge. Going up and down inclines and declines didn't seem to agree with my ankle, so I would have to walk. This was actually better for me since my doctor recommended starting off with walk/runs anyway. After a month or so (around July), I built up more muscle and my flexibility got better so that I could run up and down hills somewhat comfortably. I started to run about 3-5 times a week, sometimes for 15 minutes and sometimes for up to an hour (run/walk if it hurt my ankle). When I left Sawbill just a week ago, I was up to running 3 miles non-stop, or run/walking up to 6 miles, both with mild pain afterwards. Stretching really helped after going for a run. If I didn't stretch, I would limp for a while, so stretching really cut down on that kind of short-term pain after a run. Most days I went for a run though (or did any kind of workout really), my ankle would feel really stiff late at night. Overall, running really helped me build up the muscle I lost from being immobile for so long after the injury, and I think it has aided immensely to the healing process and in regaining some flexibility as well.
On a side note, I've been back home for a few days already and I'll be moving back to college on Sunday. I've done quite a bit of shopping to get some furniture for my house at college, and my ankle hurt a bit more than normal after a long day of walking around the mall. Other than that, things have been good here for the most part! I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer!
I'm a couple weeks away from 7 months post-operation, and I feel as though I've hit a plateau, at least in the sense that I don't feel like my ankle flexibility is improving anymore. I still try to stretch it everyday, both with a resistance band and by stretching against a wall...even so, my ankle doesn't bend like my other ankle and I don't feel like I've made any big improvements in flexibility in the last month or so.
As far as muscle growth, I have made some progress. While living in the wilderness this summer I got the opportunity to run on gravel roads instead of pavement. This wasn't the best idea for the first month or so of the summer when I still didn't feel very stable running. Towards the end of the summer though, I grew accustomed to the gravel roads. I also got practice running up and down hills. Initially this was a big challenge. Going up and down inclines and declines didn't seem to agree with my ankle, so I would have to walk. This was actually better for me since my doctor recommended starting off with walk/runs anyway. After a month or so (around July), I built up more muscle and my flexibility got better so that I could run up and down hills somewhat comfortably. I started to run about 3-5 times a week, sometimes for 15 minutes and sometimes for up to an hour (run/walk if it hurt my ankle). When I left Sawbill just a week ago, I was up to running 3 miles non-stop, or run/walking up to 6 miles, both with mild pain afterwards. Stretching really helped after going for a run. If I didn't stretch, I would limp for a while, so stretching really cut down on that kind of short-term pain after a run. Most days I went for a run though (or did any kind of workout really), my ankle would feel really stiff late at night. Overall, running really helped me build up the muscle I lost from being immobile for so long after the injury, and I think it has aided immensely to the healing process and in regaining some flexibility as well.
On a side note, I've been back home for a few days already and I'll be moving back to college on Sunday. I've done quite a bit of shopping to get some furniture for my house at college, and my ankle hurt a bit more than normal after a long day of walking around the mall. Other than that, things have been good here for the most part! I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer!
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