It had finally been six weeks after my Achilles tendon surgery. Yesterday Dr. Charlton said that I can start to put weight on my left leg - 10 lbs a day. So in two weeks time my left leg will be able to bear my body weight! It is unclear whether I still need crutches and my cam walker once my left leg can bear my full body weight, though.
My physical therapy is going well. For the past two weeks, I only did once per week; this week I was there three times; next week Mil said I can simply go in for therapy two times a week (instead of three like Dr. Charlton had ordered).
With school starting next week, I can't help but feel a bit nervous. Since my injury, I have not done much of anything; now that with full-time school work ahead of me and three engagements (Joey's Labor Day weekend visit, Carolyn's wedding in Nebraska, and Maggie's wedding in Ohio), I feel that my leg must get better soon or the travel will be simply too much of a burden...
Friday, August 24, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Family Come, Family Gone...
Two aunts and two cousins visited me from Taiwan for a total of 8 days. They finally left on Friday. I believe everyone had a great time during these 8 days; however, it was a very tiring 8 days for me. First of all, I planned awful lot of things to do and places to visit during their visit, because I wanted them to get the most out of this expensive trip. But then my injury was in the way a lot of the times. For example, my foot would swell up at the end of the day - everyday! So I had to prop it up and ice it every single night when I sleep.
The turning leg caddy definitely had made my life a lot easier, because using crutches along certainly would have been that much more difficult to go through 3 theme parks (Disneyland, Universal Studio, and Sea World) in three days plus all the tourist must-sees in the Greater Los Angeles area. Additionally, this caddy had made me almost like a star wherever I go. People would stare or even come up to me to express their opinions on how clever this gadget is! I swear...using it all over the place made me feel like a celebrity. =)
Tomorrow is my third time going in for physical therapy, but the first week where I will be doing three times a week like Dr. Charlton ordered. For the past two weeks, I had only went in for one therapy a week because my family was visiting and I simply could not find time to do two more therapies a week without sacrificing the daily activities that I had planned for my family. Let's see how I do this week with three time of P.T. a week.
Oh, finally, I received the bill from the hospital for my surgery. THANK GOD THAT I HAVE INSURANCE! I only owe the hospital (after insurance) a total of $322; instead of the pre-insurance charge of $22,500. What a difference my insurance made, right?! So people, learn from my example and do get yourself some sort of insurance somehow!! It's worth it, to say the least.
The turning leg caddy definitely had made my life a lot easier, because using crutches along certainly would have been that much more difficult to go through 3 theme parks (Disneyland, Universal Studio, and Sea World) in three days plus all the tourist must-sees in the Greater Los Angeles area. Additionally, this caddy had made me almost like a star wherever I go. People would stare or even come up to me to express their opinions on how clever this gadget is! I swear...using it all over the place made me feel like a celebrity. =)
Tomorrow is my third time going in for physical therapy, but the first week where I will be doing three times a week like Dr. Charlton ordered. For the past two weeks, I had only went in for one therapy a week because my family was visiting and I simply could not find time to do two more therapies a week without sacrificing the daily activities that I had planned for my family. Let's see how I do this week with three time of P.T. a week.
Oh, finally, I received the bill from the hospital for my surgery. THANK GOD THAT I HAVE INSURANCE! I only owe the hospital (after insurance) a total of $322; instead of the pre-insurance charge of $22,500. What a difference my insurance made, right?! So people, learn from my example and do get yourself some sort of insurance somehow!! It's worth it, to say the least.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Cast Off, Cam Walker On
My cast was finally taken off yesterday. Now I am in this thing called Cam Walker. Every week I am supposed to adjust 7.5 degrees upward so that my tendon is stretched back to neutral position (from my foot pointing downward at 30 degrees til my foot is parallel to the ground).
Yesterday those hospital people were not being efficient at all. It took them a long time to do everything. It seemed that they were in a slow mode because... it was a Thursday?? However, I was very excited about getting rid of the cast. Boy, it felt soooo good when the nurse used that vibration saw to get that annoying cast off my leg.
Dr. Charlton said I am doing very well with my recovery. Two more weeks of no weight bearing. And the protected weight bearing. As for physical therapy, the doctor ordered 3 times a week for 6 weeks. So I scrambled to call the physical therapy center at USC. The earliest they could schedule me in is next Wednesday. Honestly, I have no idea what to expect, except that I hope my hot P.T. knows what "he" is doing.
Oh, another thing for meanwhile is that I can take off this cam walker to do some small, very gentle motion of toe/ankle rotation sitting down. Dr. Charlton specifically told me NOT to fall, because at this stage it will be very bad to re-injure the tendon. Wish me luck and pray for me, people.
Yesterday those hospital people were not being efficient at all. It took them a long time to do everything. It seemed that they were in a slow mode because... it was a Thursday?? However, I was very excited about getting rid of the cast. Boy, it felt soooo good when the nurse used that vibration saw to get that annoying cast off my leg.
Dr. Charlton said I am doing very well with my recovery. Two more weeks of no weight bearing. And the protected weight bearing. As for physical therapy, the doctor ordered 3 times a week for 6 weeks. So I scrambled to call the physical therapy center at USC. The earliest they could schedule me in is next Wednesday. Honestly, I have no idea what to expect, except that I hope my hot P.T. knows what "he" is doing.
Oh, another thing for meanwhile is that I can take off this cam walker to do some small, very gentle motion of toe/ankle rotation sitting down. Dr. Charlton specifically told me NOT to fall, because at this stage it will be very bad to re-injure the tendon. Wish me luck and pray for me, people.
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