On May 28th, I was authorized to begin putting up to 50% body weight on my broken, left leg. The following is a timeline of the progress that has been made over the summer. I am exercising several times a week, but I am only writing about the highlights. PT sessions for the first three weeks consisted of walking on the Alter-G treadmill at 50% body weight, riding the stationary bike for five minutes, lifting leg exercises on the weight machines, various new exercises that Michelle dreams up, and muscle stimulation with a fancy machine.
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| May 28 X-ray |
Another doctor’s visit where my leg is x-rayed, and the Dr. Maples
tells me I can start weaning off of the crutch.
He prescribes me a cane, and I get one before I leave the building. In the afternoon, we travel to Oslo, Norway
via Houston and Frankfurt. The leg likes
to be elevated, but sitting in comfort+, it can only be elevated a little bit. We (my leg and I) survive the journey, and I
even get preferential treatment going through border security in Frankfurt as I
have a cane. Interestingly, my internal hardware
continues to pass through security with no issues.
June 19-28
June 18 X-ray
We spend the weekend in Oslo seeing all of the sights. I am able to walk okay with the cane, but it
is hard work. After the weekend, we
travel to Trondheim where the Fusion Conference is. I take in all of the activities, except for
the 5k run. I had planned to walk the
5k, but I decided not to as it would have taken me well over an hour, and the
5k start/finish is 2km from the conference hotel. Instead, I walk to the start and back and
cheer on the runners. I easily ended up
walking a total of 5km. The hotel gyms
in Norway are outstanding, and I try an elliptical trainer one day. I survive 15 minutes, but it leaves me very
hobbled. After that I do all of my
assigned exercises and walk on the treadmill for 2.5 miles while leaning on the
side rails heavily.
June 30
Back at PT, I get to run at 50% body weight for 10 minutes. It is ugly, and I have to lean on the side
rail somewhat. I run this first time at a
10 minute/mile pace, so I get in one mile.
Michelle asks me several times if the leg is hurting. It is, but not too much.
July 4
I walk without the cane for a mile.
It is ugly and it takes me over 40 minutes. After this experience, I decide that I should
continue using the cane most of the time.
My bike rides are stretching up to an hour, and I am still going to the
pool when I can fit it into my schedule.
July 14
I go out for a 3-mile walk like I had two days before. The day before I had my PT session, but was only
able to walk at 70% body weight because the Alter-G treadmill wasn’t working
well. On this morning, I cut my walk
short because the lower leg is still hurting after 1.5 miles. I decide that I should start taking two days
off each week now that I am doing real weight bearing training.
July 15
The newer Alter-G treadmill is now officially broken so I use the old
one, and I am able to run for 15 minutes (I had to talk Michelle into going more
than 10 minutes) at 50% body weight without touching the side rails at all!
July 20-22
I spend three days at Airventure in Oshkosh, camping out, and walking
all over the exposition. Using the cane,
I can walk as fast as the average people at the event.
July 23
I continue my routine of riding the bike for 30 minutes then going to
PT and running for 15 minutes at 55% body weight. I tried going more than 55%, but the leg wasn’t
ready for it yet. On other days, I walk
3 miles and then go to the pool for deep water jogging for 40 minutes or more.
July 30
Another doctor’s visit today where x-rays are taken. The PA says it is looking good as the gaps in
the tibia are filling in. I am not
really sure it looks all that different from last time. However, there is one clear difference—one of
the screws is broken! The PA asks me if
I fell or anything. Not since I saw you last
month. Regardless, she shrugs it off and
says, well this other screw is holding that piece together. I wonder if this may have been what I felt back
on July 14th.
July 30 X-ray
July 31
I am able to run at 60% body weight on the Alter-G treadmill. I am on travel this week, so two days later I
go 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer without killing myself.
Aug 10
I ride the bike for 35 minutes and then go to PT where I am able to run
at 62% body weight. I know it isn’t a
huge step forward, but it is forward progress, and I have managed not to
regress, yet. The next day, I walk without
the cane for 1.5 miles.
Aug 17
I ride for 40 minutes before PT and then run for 20 minutes on the
Alter-G treadmill at 65% body weight. Michelle
just asked if I wanted to go longer as I was not going to do the muscle stimulation
today. Of course! I want to run as long as you will let me. I am typically pushing my running pace up to
8 minutes per mile. The next day I walk
3 miles in less than 60 minutes and aqua jog for 40 minutes. The aqua jogging has two main benefits—it is
a good cardio workout and just being in the water for a good length of time is
great for the swelling in the leg.
Aug 20
Still 20 minutes on the Alter-G treadmill but now at 70% body
weight! Four days later, I repeat the running
at 70% body weight and push the pace up to 7:30 miles. I am traveling for work a fair bit now so I
won’t be getting my two PT sessions a week.
Never stop running,
Darin
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