Yesterday was my one year "anniversary." Overall, the whole process has been bittersweet. My foot is definitely improved. It isn't as good as I had hoped, but it is better than it was. Along the way I've had some related issues that have been a challenge. Probably the biggest one is my back. I was really strong before, regularly swimming a mile, walking 2 miles daily and lifting weights. After surgery, my muscles all went away and an old back issue came back with a vengeance. I first noticed pain while doing my PT, but just thought all I had to do was get strong enough and everything would be fine. The problem was, everything I did to try to get strong just made it worse until I was regularly in screaming pain every time I moved. There were times when walking was a real challenge. After stubbornly thinking I knew enough to deal with it, I finally went to PT again and am now baby stepping through about 40 minutes of exercises daily - that is - daily when the damn back is not flaring. I am seeing improvement, but it is sloooooooooooooooooow! My PT guy is sending me to see a physical rehab specialist because he feels my back is severe enough to need it.
I guess my regret is that I didn't jump on this right away and ask the PT people at my foot surgery place what to do. I just thought I had it under control. Those of you with older bodies (like mine) who find old aches and pains coming back after your muscles turn to jelly from sitting on your butt for so long, don't let it go. Bring it up. Insist on help with it. If I had done that, I don't think I would be where I am today.
So the second issue related to this is that I've gained about 25 pounds - ouch! I'm working on that now, too, but not being able to be as active as I'd like makes it hard.
