I can hardly believe it has been six months since my fusion surgery of my first metatarsal, first cuneiform, and medial cuneiform. So far, it has been a journey with many ups and downs. Fortunately, there have been fewer downs than ups, which means the net effect has been progress. I am happy to say that my foot has not felt this good since before my whole Lisfranc fiasco - starting 3 years ago almost down to the day this entry is published.
I began a walking regimen, starting at 3.5 months post surgery (2.5 months ago, June 2017). My main goal was to first and foremost rehab my gait and learn to walk correctly. However, just as importantly, I wanted to slowly grease the gears of my muscles and tendons in my legs, ankles, and feet that hadn't been properly utilized in years. I think the best analogy to me getting moving again after my surgery would be like starting a 1960 Ford pickup that had been laying out in the yard for 30 years without being driven. Initially, with a new battery and an oil change, the truck may start up after a few cranks. After getting it started, you may be able to drive it around the block slowly with no problems. But once you take the truck out on the main road and drive it faster and for longer distances, all kinds of problems pop up: oil leaks, stiff suspension, the radiator needs to be replaced, the transmission needs a flush, the belt fan breaks, the brakes are shot, etc... If I haven't lost you, just replace all the problems that arise when driving an old truck with the maladies that I experienced when I started walking again.
Aches, pains, and swelling - not limited to my feet - all graced me with their presence in strange and often confusing ways. One week it was a soreness/pain along my ankle and the next week it was a soreness/pain on the side of my arch. At some points, I thought I had hurt myself by pushing it too much only to be surprised the next day when the pain or soreness had disappeared. I have struggled with plantar fasciitis and posterior tibial tendonitis on and off for the past 2.5 months. Right now I have a nagging case of tendonitis on my right leg - not even the side that I had surgery on 6 months ago - that has popped up for reasons I can't explain. I am not even partaking in high impact sports or running of any sort... So goes the mystery of the adjusting body.
Nearly 3 months into my walking regimen I have worked my way to walking 2 miles 3-4 times a week. To give some perspective, when I started I walked 1/4 miles at a crawl. I slowly worked on more distance week by week. Additionally, I worked on my stride and walking speed. Now I can walk just as fast a normal person. Between walking, I also did other strengthening exercises to rehab my legs, feet, and overall body including swimming, weight training, and stationary biking.
I have recently been doing a little hiking. Nothing too impressive but nonetheless something I haven't been able to do in years. I first started hiking a one-mile path up a small mountain close to home, and then I progressed to a two-mile hike up a more demanding mountain in the Blue Ridge. Besides the pesky posterior tendonitis in my right leg, my feet felt fine and the hike was good. Below is a picture I took from the top of the mountain.
