Physio

[hellison]

Mostly for my own benefit here as I have things I need to ask the consultant when I go for check up next week and things I need to remember for myself.

Firstly, OW. OW OW OW OUCH. And now, science.

a. my dorsal flexion is Very Bad and the joints & calf muscles are very very tight in that direction meaning I can't get my heel to the ground at all.

b. my left leg is c.2cm shorter than the right one, which is something I have always known but people thought I was making up ;p
I always walked sort of on tiptoe on the left foot and tilted to that side (causing lovely back problems), which is why I can't get it down now. I may need a Heel Lift!

c. i am over-pronated on teh feets. I have no idea what this means (thesme?) but I have to mention it to the doctor and be referred to a podiatrist.

d. the actual walking. I MUST start putting weight on the wonky leg.
Doing so is very scary and I have a BIG mental block here, but she forced me to and there was no disaster (once I stopped grabbing the bed behind me everytime I had to lean on it). Did hurt tho. but I really REALLY have to do it or it won't get better.
Any tips on retraining the brain for this gratefully recieved. Possibly cider may help?

e. Continuing not putting weight on/using foot could lead to RSD which is a risk because the circulation is still not good and it is apparently A Very Unpleasant Thing.

I think that's everything. And now you possibly know more about me than you ever wanted or needed to. Lucky you!
I'll probably do this each week but stick it under a cut or tag so it can be ignored at will.
Foot HURTY now.

ps Remind me next week to take painkillers BEFORE I go. Some of the stuff she was doing to try and loosen the joint was really not fun.

Comments

[being-here.livejournal.com]

I wish I had a brain retraining thing to help. I have faith in you though. You're an amazing, powerful lady.

*flobbles musically in morse to restore balance*

[hellison.livejournal.com]

Meh. I'm a great big wuss who sucks at walking.
I just have to figure out how to stop the paranoia/panic in my head that it's all going to Go Wrong somehow. Tho the physio did say that about the only way I could do any damage now would be to go running around. Which isn't very likely ;p

Just having a bad day over all today really I think. Post-meet blues! I'll get there tho.

[thesme-01.livejournal.com]

It could be a proprioception issue, as well, in that your brain is not convinced your foot is a) actually there b) in same place where you left it or c) not a chocolate cake. As you keep putting weight on the foot, the sensations travel up to brain and it slowly reintregrates foot back into Rest of Hellison. This means that it gradually gets easier and less weird.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprioception

[hellison.livejournal.com]

I have been doing some practicing and experiementing since, and I think a large part of the problem is possibly that (I still remember VERY CLEARLY what it felt like just after I fell and I tried to stand on it...) but also that the way she had me standing - feet level and close together - is, for me, very unbalanced. I've *never* been able to stand that way and get my left heel to the ground. Ever. Especially in bare feet, I always walked/stood on the toes of that foot. so when she tried to get me to lean over, I was losing my balance.

If I stand Not Correctly, but better for me (bad foot slightly in front and further away) I feel much more secure and can lean more weight on it without TERROR. Tho still probably not enough for her liking ;)

Same with walking - the way she's telling me to walk, which is Right, feels totally unnatural to me and I have to exaggerate to get my heel to the ground etc. So she wants me to see the consultant next week, tell him all this, then she'll refer me to the podiatrist. Until then, I have decided to sod Proper Walking etc and just go with putting more and more weight on in a way that feels comfortable to me. I'll relearn my entire posture and how to walk later ;p

[thesme-01.livejournal.com]

It's like Total Hellison Repositioning!

I would like to lead a Team of Scientists to Experiment upon you pls.

Dr Thesme McThesme, Chief Total Hellison Repositioner at your service.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

*flees*

off to work now ;p In belfast tonight. HIDING from you.

[thesme-01.livejournal.com]

I am going to even posher hotel tonight which should have WIRELESS BROADBAND. You cannot hide.