pt update

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 To recap my 9+ months of injury: last April/May I severely strained my posterior tendon (the tendons that support your foot and arch and help with balance) going too aggressive on a beginner running program. I did some time in a walking boot and then 12 weeks of PT where I learned I stand on my feet wrong and that my other arch had completely fallen. Sometime during those 12 weeks, we believe my peroneal tendon (the tendon that run on the outside of your ankle and leg) tore and then reattached incorrectly as my foot learned how to stand in the right position. I had an x-ray and an MRI and got sent back to PT.

 

I’ve been in PT for my peroneal tendonitis for 5 weeks now. I am deeply committed to doing the work and figuring this out and truly believe all of this will serve me with my focus on mobility and balance and being as healthy and mobile as I can as I age…

 

…and, I am a mix of frustration and wondering if this is all in my head. SIGH.



 

I miss going on walks. I miss my Peloton instructors. I miss not thinking about my foot all the time. /pity party

 

Honestly, I feel so lucky to have such a great PT leading the charge for me. When I get in my head about everything, she explains why my ankle hurts and why my tendon burns. She sets boundaries for me, so I don’t feel bad about doing more. She validates what I’m feeling and my annoyance at still (still!) not being able to do more than my walking around the office on in-office days (no stairs).

 

At this morning’s appointment, we added on some cupping on my tendon after and it was SPICY – like, shockingly so. I was glad, though, because it makes sense with what I’m feeling in my ankle. She’s sending me for dry needling on Monday to see if we can “reset” this angry inflammation I have going on. At my reevaluation last week, I saw improvement in being able to move my ankle and foot (all those fancy words) and in balance, too. Snail-like pace, but still heading in the right direction.

 

Not much of an update, but also a good example of doing the work even in the muck of it. Staying the course and all that. Keeping the faith in the work of it, knowing there’ll be a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

If you’ve been through PT, were you dedicated to the homework? Or even post-PT work? I am usually good for the first few weeks of PT and then slowly let it slide (but not this time!); however, this time I truly believe I’ll keep up with this just because of how limited I’ve felt. Never again!

Comments

  1. NGSJanuary 24, 2025 at 8:55 AM

    I am the WORST at PT exercises. They just take so long. LOL. And that's why I have a lingering injury that has never healed, right? Do better than me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SusanneJanuary 24, 2025 at 9:38 AM

    I feel you. I'm so sorry you have all these problems! I know all about foot injuries and not being able to walk and all that. Foot injuries are awful!
    Great attitude about 'not this time!'. Keep going, it's worth it! PT can get boring and repetitive and whatnot. But I've always been very dedicated with all PT stuff I've been doing because I want to get strong and functional asap and do all the good things I want to be able to do (=walking, hiking, squats etc). I've been doing daily heel raises (and a lot more) since October and it's getting tedious. But I'll keep doing them, because I'm sick of foot injuries and now I'm 100% focused on building strong feet and ankles.
    Hope the dry needling makes some difference for you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. NicoleJanuary 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM

    Oh oh oh, I want to tell you that dry-needling was absolutely life changing for me. Life changing! I borked my hip pretty badly in 2019, like I could not walk without a limp for six months. When I first did it I was in so much pain and I couldn't get into the shower (like, the 2 inch lip on the shower was too high) without assistance. I had dry needling done and it was a miracle, it helped so much. It took six months though to completely heal and I look back at that time as a very very important lesson in listening to my body's cues - which I always told my yoga students to do and then neglected myself.
    Oh I hope the dry needling works! It is SO weird, it's the weirdest sensation, like you're in a dream and you're falling and you jerk yourself awake, it's like that. But it worked so well for me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. SanJanuary 24, 2025 at 9:13 PM

    Ugh, I am sorry you're still dealing with this. I would be so "impatient" with the progress of recovery. I hope the dry-needling works for you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ElisabethJanuary 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM

    Please report back on the dry-needling! I hope it helps so much. I know some people who have had INSANE improvements with acupuncture.
    I've never done PT, but I'm terrible at staying on plans like that, so I suspect I would be a very disobedient patient. I'm rule-abiding, but not about things like that.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Life of a Doctor's WifeJanuary 25, 2025 at 5:06 PM

    I am so sorry you are going through this. It is so incredibly frustrating and disheartening when the body doesn't work as it should. I'm glad you are getting such good care and I hope the dry needling helps!

    ReplyDelete
  7. KimJanuary 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM

    Yes for staying the course and seeing results. Let's keep that going!

    ReplyDelete
  8. StephanyJanuary 27, 2025 at 5:42 PM

    I'm so glad you have such an encouraging and thoughtful PT! I went to PT after breaking the same ankle for the third time so I could gain some strength, but I definitely did not keep up with the exercises afterward. Sigh. And now I'm dealing with some nerve pain in my right hand that I should be doing some daily stretches/exercises for and do I ever do them? Nope.

    Cheering you on!

    ReplyDelete

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