Physio and home!!

I woke up the day after my casts had been put on feeling quite excited. Mid morning, two physiotherapists came to see me and we set about attempting to walk. I had to put on some large shoes over my casts and they gave me crutches to support my weight too. It was quite tricky, as I needed to put my weight through my heel (to protect my forefoot) but my ankles and knees don't have very good range of movement and to walk with your weight on your heels you need to flex your ankle quite a lot. I did manage to walk a few metres though and then return back to the bed. They told me I had done well and said they would come back later to teach me to go up and down stairs.

While I was waiting for the physiotherapists to return, I had another visit from the ward doctor. I asked him to turn one of the K-wires as it was rubbing against my left big toe nail. My surgeon had had to adjust another K-wire the previous day in the plaster room, so I knew it was something they were able to do. I also had a visit from a pharmacist to check that I had enough of my normal arthritis medication and to bring me some of the pain killers I'd been having while in hospital.

That afternoon, the physiotherapists came back and wheeled me to the staircase in the hospital. We started going down and initially, they had me putting my crutches down a step and bring my feet down afterwards. Because of my stiff left ankle, I was bringing my foot forwards so it hung over the edge of the step to give the turn needed to descend (which is how I normally do stairs) but the physios weren't happy about this and were worried I could end up slipping. Instead, they suggested I try going down the stairs sideways, using the banister for support. This was much better, and I really preferred it, as the other way had felt a bit wrong, putting all your weight on the next step with your crutches. We used the same, sideways, banister method to go back up the stairs and they told me they were happy with me and I could go home!!

I was very excited and it worked out really well because the two ladies I'd been sharing the bay with were also going home so it felt nice that none of us would have to get used to new room mates!

I filled out a survey about my stay, left a box of chocolates at the nurses desk and I was on my way, knowing I would be returning in just over a week's time to have the stitches removed.

Getting home was lovely. My husband set up a big pile of cushions and blankets on the sofa to ensure my feet would be elevated and I was also greeted by a package from my friends which contained books, puzzles, a Blu-ray and Brain Training! This would definitely help to stave off the boredom in the days to come!