My apologies for my delay in posting this.  My procrastinating on a Literature paper has kept me extra busy this last week!  Here is Michelle’s next diary entry!

Michelle in her cast, just before going in to get it taken off! Our wardrobe asst. drew a pointe shoe on it, we signed it, and wrote things like "Hook Under Construction"

Now Michelle is sporting this "Storm Trooper Boot" and getting around without crutches

the Swollen, but healthy foot just after removing the cast and only 10 days after surgery!

The inside, smaller, incision for the camera.

A closer look at the larger outer incision.

“I got my cast off. Yippeee!! It has been 10 days since the surgery and I am in a walking boot. I am not ready to walk completely with out my crutches, but I am working up to it. I went to the grocery store with my husband today, and walked around with his support. It really is the simple stuff that makes me smile. Before I get ahead of myself with all my successes (like shaving my legs and taking a shower standing up), let me tell you a little bit about the day I got my cast off…

This past Thursday (April 23rd) I arrived at the doctors office to remove my cast. I was super excited. While in the waiting room with about 6 other people this little boy cried at the top of his lungs behind some closed doors. (I am seeing a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, so when ever I go I am the oldest patient. They ask me where my child is and I let them know that there is no child and I am the patient. It’s all good, because he is a rock star surgeon.) After this boy cried, all the children, parents, and myself looked very fearful. The faint sound of a saw was humming in the background, and everyone seemed concerned. The boy started again and didn’t stop for about 5 minutes. One minute into the screams, everyone including myself was laughing. I think this boy might be a drama major later in life. Who knows?

I got into the little room and she brought in the power tool/saw. This was the best part of the day. I should have videoed it. It doesn’t hurt and it is really awesome. It actually tickled. Then the doctor came in and was checking my two incisions. He was very pleased with the way they were healing and there was no infection. Good news. Then he went to check the outer incision as he flexed my foot and that is when I almost passed out. It felt like a knife went through my ankle. He says everyone gets nauseous, and he brought me a wet cloth as I took a little nap on the examination table. I started to get better, and we went through all the particulars. I can get it wet, but try not to submerge it for too long because the wounds are not sufficiently healed. Begin physical therapy (PT), icing, weight bearing with boot as I feel able, use crutches until I get stronger, and stay in boot for two weeks. I am seeing him on Thursday May 7th, and I believe that is when he will remove the remaining sutures.

Then I was on my way to PT. A word of advice… Don’t go to the cast removal appointment by yourself. Have some one who can drive with you. I stayed at the doctors office for a while until I got myself together. Mom, you can say “I told you so” if you want. When my mom left Austin she told me I had to find some one to go with me, and I didn’t. I thought I was super girl, but sometimes super girl needs a super friend who will drive her and tell her she is going to be okay.

So, I arrived at PT very early. The doctor’s office and PT (Reavis Rehab) are only one exit apart off I35. PT was a little rough, but Chris and Shannon were there to help me through. They checked some measurements, and then we worked through range of motion exercises (pointe/flex, sickle/wing, circles, ABC’s). Flexing the foot is my big focus. Chris said there needs to be a little pain as I am working through my exercises, but nothing excruciating. If there is no pain I am not going far enough, and then I won’t make any progress. Working through a little pain will help break up the scar tissue and help me get some range of motion back. I did go a little too far at the clinic and dropped the F bomb. It’s a good thing the old ladies near by didn’t hear me.

Now I am doing my exercises every hour that I am awake and icing as much as possible. I will go to PT on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday of next week. Wish me luck!

XOXO,

Michelle”