In a Moon Boot

Yesterday the cast came off. Just short of 7 weeks. My upper body is strong and crutches almost feel like part of me when walking.  I was not sure what to expect. I had high hopes initially and then a few days ago I downgraded my expectations. The boot was fitted in the plaster room. Afterwards I headed back to see the consultant. My foot looked weird to me. The shape looked wrong. Walking felt not possible with the boot. Fear of pain, lack of strength, combination of the two? I was given another 6 weeks unfit for work note - this shocked me. I thought I'd be back to work.  I was given a physio card and I went straight to the physiotherapy department.  Very lucky for me there was a free appointment within 20 minutes of arriving. The physiotherapist was called Jess. She assessed me through questions but also a physical examination.  She commented that I had a decent amount of movement for somebody who has been in a non weight baring cast for 6 weeks.  She probably tells everyone this, but for now I'll accept it as the truth!  She gave me two exercises to do without the boot on.a) Using towel pull my foot towards me with my bottom on floor and a straight leg hold for 30s. b) Same but straight leg. I check with a friend and I should do this 3-4 times per day. Once I'm out of the boot she said we can do a lot more. My boot will be adjusted in the plaster room in two weeks (make it flatter). The aim is to have a flat foot within 4 weeks. I will also see the physio in 3 weeks. All of this seems conservative compared to what I have read on the Internet. However, I am not an athlete and at 36 maybe it takes longer to heal. Aim of this week is to get confident on my feet and get more movement in my foot.  Georgina photographed my legs. She was shocked. My muscles have wasted away in my left leg - maybe this is the reason walking is not yet possible!!!   Another suprise was that my wound had not fully healed and the pain I felt was the skin feeling tight rather than tendon (I think). So positives and negatives, I will be focusing on the positives.  Oh wow, ok so I walked (with a limp) using the boot without crutches - confidence perhaps??  Big step forward for me (literally!).