Progress on physical therapy, almost done.

As of Sept. 13, a 0.6 in. reduction in the swelling at the base of the toes, and a 0.15 in. reduction mid-foot. 15 degree improvement in my ability to move my toes up.


Detail alert: If you are uncomfortable, don't read. The end of the 2nd toe auto-amputated on Sept. 18. It happened in the doctor's office.


I offered it to the Lord, who graciously accepted it, along with the good care that the doctors, nurses, therapists, and I have been giving the foot.

I saw vascular Dr. Kozloff on Sept. 20, and he thought the healing work may well complete on its own, without requiring an out-patient procedure of suturing -- which carries its own risk of abcess. That would be wonderful! Thank you, Lord, for all blessings.

Gangrene is a bitch.

The feet are vulnerable for the diabetic and pre-diabetic. The healing of a small ulcer on the left of the third toe continues but it not yet complete.

Applying Silver Sulfadiazine 2x/day. Icing the foot to keep the swelling down.

Wearing the old lady compression stocking.  Every time I struggle to put it on (2x/day) I pray for my sister-in-stocking, Cecilia Braveboy, who similarly struggles to get the tight thing on.

I have to admit that I'd been experiencing recovery fatigue. That's the time to redouble efforts, set new goals, make new plans, aim at new horizons.

Keep doing the exercises, work to overcome the fatigue of the stalwart leg that carried the day while the right was off duty. Use the cane when necessary.

Don't overdo things.        
                                   

I'd hoped to re-start tai chi today, but it's better to wait until the November session.

Today I asked Dr. Polun: What possible evolutionary advantage could bunions have been on the west coast of Ireland? Absolutely none, he said, never an advantage.

I thought it might have been were we Italian amid vineyards where stamping out the grapes to wine might have been aided by a larger foot.

So the Lanes must have had other qualities that provided survival advantage to offset the bunion deficit.

Photos: Gardens and monarch butterflies at the Freer Gallery, Washington DC, mid-September 2012. Cecilia Braveboy, June 2011. Tai chi class, Jewish Community Center, Rockville, MD, summer 2011, Jeff Robbins, far right, instructor.