Is there anyone on earth who'd say -- physical therapy, forget it, waste of time.

PT is good stuff.

The subject comes up because I use a cane.

A guy at the Monday lunch celebrating St. Ignatius day, founder of the Jesuits -- Eric: "I don't know anything about it, but I understand it's really important to do the PT exercises as recommended."  A lady on the Ride-On bus from El Salvador. Her sister had foot surgery but PT was not prescribed, and a year later, she has difficulty walking and pain. I wondered if PT was not arranged because of insurance issues? Another lady on another bus didn't do the PT she was prescribed and has pain, also a year later.

Mary Lee, left, in the blue jacket, and Lee, in yellow (and my Christian Life Community), both had the foot surgery I did. Both emphasized: Do the physical therapy, faithfully, afterward.

So this past week, Friday, Dr. Polun said it was ok to leave off the heavy tall boot and start wearing regular shoes on my right foot as well.

I've been walking more, but have been surprised to feel -- weird. And tired.

Something about feeling off-balance. Something about wanting to protect the big toe and neighbors by walking on the outside of the foot.

I've felt I was bending at the knees, bending over. Discomfort and stress in the legs, hips.

John Jowers, the physical therapist/foot specialist I saw today at the National Rehab Hospital Friendship Heights clinic, said what I've been experiencing is normal.

So is the feeling like a little electrical shock at the end of the toes; that's the nerve coming active again as the swelling goes down.

Got some new exercises today. One involves standing, raising my heels while rising up on the balls of the feet. This requires the toes to bend.

Another is standing on the right (healing) foot, with hands hovering above a support surface, and holding for 30 seconds. "Only tap down on the support surface if you start to lose your balance," say the instructions.

Only? What if I'm rocking wildly from left to right on the right foot?

"Because two-thirds of our body mass is located two-thirds above the ground we are in an inherently unstable system unless a control system is continuously acting," says Dr. D.A. Winter in an article on human balance and posture control during standing and walking.

I remember my mother, encouraged by doctor and nurse to stand for the first time after the amputation of her left leg below the knee in 1997.

The loss of the sense of balance was terrifying to her. "God help me!" she shouted out. 

I feel that discomfort: I want to stop rocking. I will, after practice, says John.




I'm helped by practicing this one-leg stand with support at the kitchen window, using the frame for support.


Sunset, August green trees encourage balance.

---

Blogging: John told me some of his high school patients taking PT blog about their experience. (He was gracious not to say I was the oldest blogger he knew.) He said blogging helps them process the experience. That I can definitely attest to. Writing about the things that have happened since late April helps me understand them -- and appreciate all the help I am getting -- and my healing and returning to normal walking.

Ordinary walking! Hooray!

W 8/1/12