It was the beginning of the new year. I was regularly going to the gym. It was prime snowboarding season. Being as active throughout the week was what I did besides watch reality tv. What I would do to be able to take back all those days that I choose not to go to the gym. While I can do upper body workouts, it’s nowhere near my typical gym routine. I can’t walk normally, I have to use crutches, and not to mention I can’t carry anything because my hands are now occupied to help me walk. Just needing to grab something in the same room is no longer as easy as it seems.
I needed help with just about every day to day activity for the first couple of weeks. And just three weeks out, I drove myself to work Thursday and Friday by myself. A little scary but I could do it. On Saturday, I was able to use my knee scooter to partially clean my apartment. Slowly gaining back some normality.
At my two week post-op, I was reassured it would be at least another month before I could possibly start to put weight on it as cleared by the surgeon. But what I didn’t expect was that I needed to start moving my foot and start physical therapy.
The mobility of my foot was close to none that Monday. My brain was thinking one thing but my foot was deciding to ignore it. But I went home with a sheet of exercises to start on. That day the hospital sock stayed on, I was terrified of what was underneath, but I began to work on movements. The science behind physical therapy is truly a miracle work, and I have various sources to back this statement.
In a couple days, I had my first physical therapy appointment. My therapist truly showed me the extent my foot could move and stretch without hurting it. It gave me confidence and made me aware of the movements I was trying to regain. I have to push for it. At times it feels like I just finished some weighted reps but each time there is a noticeable difference made.
At this point, I will continue to stretch and work on regaining movement for when I am ready to walk. I was asked what my goals were, I responded with to be able to workout at the gym, snowboard, run, do yoga. There is not a life where I am not doing these activities in the future. And while I have to learn to walk first, I will get there.
Frustration comes up at times when there is no option but I can’t do it. The urge at times to just walk a couple feet. I’m constantly being told by those close to me to take it easy. They must know me well. I am not one to just casually be okay with being standstill, but in order to heal properly and get to where I want to be, I have to take it slow.
While this is the most traumatic experience I’ve gone through up to this point, it is not the worst place I have been. It puts things into perspective and makes you just a little bit more grateful. I was driving the other day from work and the sun was shining behind a revealing layer of grey clouds. The sun still shines even when you can’t see it. For anyone going through dark situations, it is important to remember that there is light at the end of it, there is still attainable good in this life.
Jane Theory 
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