10 Weeks

So the foot is still doing well. I'm still experiencing the 'sprained ankle' pain but not as often as at first. It still catches me unawares sometimes and buckles my knees because it is so sharp and unexpected, but it's not happening as often. I do believe it is due to the ankle being so weak. In the photo below, you can see some swelling of the ankle just to the right side at the edge of my pant leg.

Swelling after I was up on it grooming dogs for 5 hours.
Not too bad!

I did really evaluate my mechanics this week, especially when I'm in the ortho boot. I've found that I am not rolling over from front to back when in the boot. I am just hitting the heel and 'limping', mostly due to habit (I've been in this boot for months now) and partly due to pain anticipation, but not any actual pain.

So on Friday, I didn't do up the calf strap on the boot. This allowed my ankle to flex and actually forced me to walk mechanically correct. At first it was uncomfortable in the toes (all of them), but by the time I was done with my grocery shopping the toes had become accustomed to being used again and the discomfort was mostly gone.

The ankle and calf were a bit tight during the evening and I had a fitful night's sleep with some aching in the side of the ankle (not in the tendon), but it felt real good today, even after I groomed a dog and set up the barn for my ducks, which are coming home next weekend.

So I'm still happy with the progress the foot is making this time around. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it continues to go well and that this will finally be behind me.

But then there's the other foot . . .