Six Degrees of ..... Movement

Nov 20, 2008 at 5:44 PM
37 comments

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This whole walking "thing" is very tiring!

Twice this week I have walked 5 blocks. On Tuesday it was the first time that I had walked this far in a very, very long time. Yesterday was a "rest" day and today the 5 block walk was repeated. This is the return trip distance between my office and the Physical Therapy torture cave.

When I went to my first physio, about 4 weeks ago, they took a series of measurements to assess my range of motion. It was zilch, nada, zero. The block of wood at the end of my stick leg was pretty much immovable.

They measure the range of motion of the forwards flexing of the foot (towards the shin) beyond the 90 degree point. My measurement really was zero - my foot was "set" at 90 degrees.

Normal range of motion of the ankle is 15 degrees beyond 90 degrees; 12 degrees is the point at which there is no limp and steps can be climbed in a normal fashion.

Today Katie got out her little measuring tool (which looks suspiciously like something out of my school protractor set) and I managed to achieve a 6 degree movement!! How exciting - I am half way to not limping!!

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keep your chin up-- you will get there =)

thank you so much for your kind words. your advice on the dress (and your life experience) was so inspiring. i ended up going with the black!

You go girl! The time required for rehab only points out how seriously you were injured. I think you are doing very well.

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Six degrees..thats pretty cool! Good luck with the rest of the physio..it will be over soon.

Emjay replied to Luminous Heart’s comment:
Nov 20, 2008
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Thank you ... it was pretty exciting today! I am glad all went well for you recently - I look forward to more photos. :-)

Emjay replied to Random Musings’ comment:
Nov 20, 2008
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Thank you. It was nice to see some tangible "evidence" that showed I really am improving - sometimes it is hard to see it in ourselves.

Thank you Purple... my physio is pregnant and due in March - we were having a little joke today about whether I would be "discharged" from therapy before the baby arrives. I hope so! :-)

That is really quite a good improvement for such a short time of torture I mean therapy that's it therapy any way if you limp the right way they might just think you got a little more swing in your hip giving the construction workers something to whistle at!
I was thinking with that bit of infection you had and all your problems you were describing that you would not make it this far this fast but it is great to know you are getting better too damn bad about the weather it is not the type of to promote lots of movement in the cold!

woot! woot! you've also hit that illustrious six degrees of kevin bacon mark. congrats!

Congratulations! You're making good progress, you must be pleased. The physio torture cave is never fun, when I had to visit one I worked on the principle that the more of their horrible exercises I did at home, the quicker they would shunt me off their torture list. Sounds like you've been doing your homework too!

Good progress, Emjay :) Hope it will over soon .
Gambatte ne! (Dont' give up, strive hard:) )

wow half way to not limping - giant steps indeed!

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Hooray!!!
I'm so glad you're making progress!
Sorry I haven't been around. Tough time of year this year....I'll be staying "dormant" for a while, I think.

Take care and enjoy your mobility!!!

And your butterfly icon/avatar is lovely!

6 Degrees is what it's going to be here in late January! lol

I lost mobility in my foot too, have 2 screws in the ankle. My leg I have 32 degrees out of 120, but can't bend it on my own.
I hope ya take it easy and don't overdo it!

lol@I am half way to not limping!!

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Congratulations! Soon you'll be running. I guess I naturally have 6 degrees only since I don't even like to walk. I'm one lazy mofo. :)

Thank you - yes the cold weather has brought out a whole new set of aches and pains! LOL @ my hip swing - that's a funny image.

LOL - the Kevin Bacon connection was the first thing I thought of when she said the number. In a way I am glad it was 6 as that makes a much better title for the post!

Thanks - yes I have been very conscientious with the stretching and homework they gave me. I really want to be active again and I don't suppose that is going to happen without some input from me - plus I really don't want to be tortured for too much longer.

Thankyou liya... that is a great motto.

Emjay replied to Flamingo Dancer’s comment:
Nov 22, 2008
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Thanks FD - funny pun. I suppose the torture is paying off.

Emjay replied to blogginginthewind’s comment:
Nov 22, 2008
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Thanks Robbie. I understand it is a tough time of year for you. I hope you are losing yourself a little in your photo art.

Ha ha LOL - I think it only gets down to 6 around here when there is a brutal wind chill. I am taking it easy this w/end - it is easy to get all excited and overdo it but I am trying to be sensible.

Emjay replied to Singing Horse’s comment:
Nov 22, 2008
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LOL..... I haven't willingly run for about 30 years! It is funny how, when you can't do something, you want to do it though ..........!

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Yay Emmy! Six degrees is a big deal! I remember how determined I was to get that dang range of motion measurement to 120 degrees for my knee, I'm not sure what normal is for that, I don't remember haha, and when I would get measured, I would push push push myself to get it to bend as far as I could.

Soon you will be at normal! I can't believe you are already walking 5 blocks! Way to go gf! Normal is coming...you are doing fantastic!

you got it

LOL. Yeah, nine degrees of ... movement ... i get nuthin'.

Woo Hoo!!!! You are on your way! Keep it up and pretty soon I will have to stop thinking of you as the gimp.

Great work, Emjay!

You are getting there--and five blocks on both feet is really impressive.

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Congrats on your recovery!

Thanks Karen. I was so happy to see it bigger than zero! My "walking" pace is so slow - it is funny that my brain thinks I can still walk normally - especially the first couple of steps where I almost "trip" over when my ankle doesn't bend!

Emjay replied to Skyrat (Gina)’s comment:
Nov 24, 2008
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LOL ... Thanks Gina.

Thank you Caprica! I have a snazzy CVS walking stick which lets me go a bit faster than just on my own but it still feels slower than the elderly with walkers could achieve! LOL.

Thank you - I was thinking about your bike rides the other day. I bought a pedal machine to use for physio at home - I think it might be awhile before my foot bends enough to ride a "real" bike!

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Five blocks of walk!! Congratulations! It will be more and longer day by day! The time will come for a "real" bike ride sooner or later, Emjay.

Thank you Magnifika. I feel my foot getting little "looser" each day now and can move my toes nearly as normal. I hope to be on a "real" bike when spring/summer comes around.