Phsyiotherapy

I attended my first physiotherapy session today. Went well. The young physiotherapist asked me some questions to build a picture of my case, she seemed surprised that I have no pain, she tested my leg motion, my bad side has as much movement as the other one and almost as much strength. I explained how my feet and knee hurt when I am walking and it was suggested that it may be due to over compensation due to the muscles in my hip not being strong enough. Not sure I believe this but they are the experts. I think it is due to lack of use for three months then suddenly walking. I was shown some exercises to strengthen the muscles. The physio. assessed my walking and suggested I should walk as much as possible without my crutch, I only use one when out doors. I have tendency to lean on the crutch which will upset the muscle balance in my back and core. I knew this, but the crutch is useful for uneven ground or when I am walking quickly to take some of the pressure off my feet. It'll come, once my feet stop hurting I'll be walking tall, I am sure of that. Best of all I was told that I can ride a bike again.

Revolution

Managed to get the car started today after charging the battery all day yesterday. Started first time, brakes not seized on either. Moved it outside, that itself is a good thing. I was comfortable enough getting into the car and operating the pedals. It isn't taxed and I have no insurance so I ain't going anywhere in it. It does mean I can tidy the garage up a little bit which I did today. I also managed to climb aboard my bike and back pedalled a few revolutions. It felt fine, stretched my glutes a bit but that'll come. Raising my leg high enough to get over the saddle was the hardest part, not impossible and not painful. I could feel various muscles stretching and being compressed, that feeling is with me no matter how I move at the moment, I think and hope it will disappear as they get used to the movement again. This minor step forward gives me confidence and encouragement, once I get a turbo trainer and have spoken with a physiotherapist I'll be able to start proper pedalling.

Back to Work

After the success of Tuesdays outing to the hospital I ventured to work on Wednesday. I hobbled to the bus stop and caught the bus into town. I got the disabled seat. They were pleased to see me at work, it was actually nice to be back. Really feels like I am making progress. A few drinks at the pub in town afterwards then a cracking good curry. Taxi home. It was a tiring day, my foot and knee were hurting through overuse. A complete rest today.

Apologies if some of the pictures posted in the previous post didn't show up. The site where they are hosted has been experiencing problems recently.

Throw down thy crutches and walk

I had my first hospital visit today since I was discharged. It was the first time this surgeon had seen me. A man who uses his words economically, a thinker I hope. I was x-rayed again, he studied them, got me to move my leg and said everything was OK. That was about it. I can now dispense with my crutches and walk unaided when I am strong enough and confident enough. I have been referred to the physiotherapists and need to see the surgical team again in April.

This is the news I was hoping for, everything seemed right to me so it was such a relief to have it confirmed. I can walk, I need some physio to get it right but thing are starting to get back to normal. I wasn't looking forward to an afternoon spent at the hospital, I envisaged lots of waiting around but was pleasantly surprised. Everything went very smoothly only four short waits: when I arrived, for the x-ray, after the x-ray waiting for the images, before my consultation. The consultation itself was pain free, a chat and a very brief demonstration of the movement of my leg. Simple as that.

I had a play about with the CD ROM that I was given containing my x-rays and CT scans. These are pretty impressive, not so much the subject matter but the images and the clarity.


The x-ray and the image above are after my operations and show the internal fixations, the metal plates holding my broken bones together. The cross section below is also post-op and the glinting on the left hand side, my right is the metalwork.










Do you think the cross section of my pelvis looks like a bat or some sort of demon ?












The image below is the top part of my pelvis and shows the break, the horizontal strips are holding the bone in place in the images above

A Milestone

Well I have an appointment at the LGI, next Tuesday, to see the pelvic surgeon. That'll be just over three months since my operation. I do hope everything is OK and he hands me over to the physiotherapists for proper rehabilitation. I am walking quite well unaided now, I still have some muscle pains that I hope a physio. can help me with. I need to get out. I need to be active again. It will not be long. I am planning on a visit to the office and perhaps attend once or twice a week thereafter. I wish the weather would improve so I can start to ride my bike again. In some respects the winter will cause me not to get out there too soon. By the time I want to be en velo, my leg should be much more mobile. It's getting better everyday.

I have had four offers of company on my first comeback rides, two offers of a loan of a turbo trainer. It's only early January, with no Christmas I feel like the year is much older than it actually is. I'll be OK, I'll be OK in late February which is the right time to re-start cycling again.

The jobs mount up. Plenty to do and I am pleased to announce that I feel very motivated to do them. I want a proper router workshop, maybe a shed with a drill press and mitre saw. No idea where I'll put one !