11 years - Ankleversary!

Sunday - Sep 24, 2023

11 years!

Another year goes by so quickly! 

My go to workout is Turbo Kick, online courses. Safe, no contact, no jumping and weights for my arms and legs.

Picked up kayaking, light hikes, and after work walks.

Another thing I like doing is getting massages and the only thing I am afraid of is when the masseuse forgets that I told them where my ankle surgery scar is to avoid massaging the area because I still have my rod and 9 nails in it.

With hikes and walks, my limit is about 21,000 steps before I start to feel tired and achy and will need to take a break. 

I'm still a weather detector, the arthritis hits when cold and rain comes. 

The painful accidental ankle bumping into things feels just like hitting the elbow. Painful tingle.

Scar looks the same, more easy on the ankle workouts continued.

Doing great! 

Hoping for fast recoveries for you all, you'll get there! Keep at the physical therapy and exercises!

9 years 6 months - Got a Stationary Bike

Tuesday - March 1, 2022

Happy New Year! 

So far I've started the year shopping for new shoes. More thick platformed heels and booties have been what I've been addicted to. I feel that extra support with bigger heels and I'm now all about comfort. I by many booties in this style or wedged shoes.

A friend recently gave me her stationary bike because she's moving. I love it! I use to cycle at the gym and take classes 2-3x a week anyways. With covid and gym closures and regulations, requiring masks for some, I now avoid having to pay for a gym membership and get to cycle at home through video classes! I've also picked up some weights and continue to do at home virtual live or recorded Turbo Kick, HIIT, Body Combat, and Kickboxing classes. 

It rained for a day last week with a few cold days, I still and definitely can feel that arthritis in the ankle anytime this weather arrives. The sudden shock ache. It doesn't bother me much but it does startle me when it randomly hits. 

Onwards and alternate ways to workout! All to best to you all recovering!

8 years - Ankleversary!

Today marks 8 years since the day I broke my ankle (fibula) and had surgery two days later and came out with a plate and 9 screws, still in there! Looking at it from an angle, you can see the nails protruding, and can definitely feel it when I run my fingers down the scar. Since covid lock down, I recently started taking weekend city urban hikes. I can now last as long as 4 hours max with some sitting breaks in between. I did find myself with a little limp and some aching. I think 3 hours is my limit really, because I do feel tired and sore. No pain. No pinch, or well I do get a random pinch here and there still. And when it rains or gets cold, I feel the arthritis kick in. The hard ache pinch. It’s like a gnawing Pressure feeling. I’m much stronger now with the walks. 

I’ve also started minimum 3x a week Turbo kick live Zoom classes, which has been fun and a great workout. I’m able to do the Jumps, and burpees fine. However, I still am careful and don’t do full air jumps, just slight smaller jumps for my safety. Still nervous to roll or land wrong. I am able to lay on the ankle in bed, still haven’t or needed to wear heals but I do find myself buying more wedge shoes. 

Midyear sale and I bought myself 5 pairs of shoes! It’s been a few months and ai haven’t worn any! 3 wedges, and 2 sneakers haha. Ob yea, I do now buy sneakers with great cushioned insoles and support. 

My scar looks the same, sometimes it still gets a bit itchy, and this time I got a mosquito bite.

Don’t mind my sock tan. I still have my forever bruise on the inside of my ankle from when it was also dislocated with torn ligaments. That darker area on the inside ankle point. I’ll never forget how long it took to heal ligaments. That’s now twice with torn ligaments. First time I tore ligaments was from rock climbing and an ankle fracture. The surgeon said he’d have to look inside when it was open for ORIF to know if he needed to reconnect my ligaments, which he didn’t need to do. That’s just my normal now. 

I’ll continue my favorite weekend beach walks and hikes! No brace needed! As long as I have good sneakers with foam, I can walk comfortably. Running is still something I prefer not to do because of the hard stomping on concrete is really uncomfortable pressure I can feel. Unless I’m at a track, but I haven’t gone to ine in a while. Beach walk hikes it is. And turbo kick classes. Stay safe all!

7 years - Ankleversary!

Tuesday - September 24, 2019

 It's my 7 years Ankleversary!!!

I am about 2 weeks late on this post! I can't believe it's been so many years since I've had my surgery.

I am feeling great! Still the occasional weather changes and random arthritis, sometimes cramping, and the continued tiredness after too long of a walk. My range in motion is great! No more braces needed.

Must get good supporting shoes and I can wear heels! I've also been buying better athletic shoes with cushioned support and cute sandals that also have more cushioned support. Still sticking to the 2-inch heels to feel safe but at least I can wear heels. Also to be able to walk without discomfort.

As for exercise, I've been doing a lot of steps at Lyon Street Steps and Tiled Steps, more walking, and hiking. Lately just more steps. I still haven't run, just too much impact from what I last remembered.

Winter is coming and I always look forward to going up north to play in the snow! However, my sports have changed since I can't snowboard anymore since wearing boots irritate my ankle. I now go snowmobiling. Buying snow and water boots was also a challenge. I had to find shoes that didn't lay on the ankle. It had to fit under the metal and ankle parts to feel comfortable. Got myself a few pairs already and waiting to wear them.

I'll update again in a few months when I get up there to play in snow!

6 years 4 months - Snow!

Friday - January 4, 2019

Happy New Year! 

I went up to Reno for the weekend and went Snowmobiling!

Since I can't snowboard anymore, because I can't wear the boot and maneuver comfortably, I tried Snowmobiling! It was my first time too! I wore my own boots with a soft surface around my ankle and it felt fine. Just the cold gave me a bit of arthritis but other than that, I can walk fine, with no pain! I didn't have to use my foot for anything. Ankle in snow and cold weather was fine! It was so much fun! 

5 years 1 month - Toe cramp, muscle spasms, and other weird cramps

Thursday - October 5, 2017

I just got a toe cramp! I'm noticing now that I have more frequent random cramps then I did before breaking my ankle. Last time, I had a weird cramp around the bottom of my ankle and surgery site. Then I notice random muscle spasms on my right lower leg. I have even spasmed myself awake a few times! I still have my plate with 9 screws in there, 5 years in. I now wonder about my circulation... 

Anyone out there, has this happened to you?  

5 Years Ankleversary!

Sunday - September 24, 2017

Happy 5 years Ankleversary to me! 

I can't believe another year just flew by. I've progressed and met a few more milestones this year! I'm still bionic with a plate and 9 nails, retired from wearing 3 inch stilettos (but I can wear 3 inch wedged shoes!), and my scar is still 3.5 inches long. 

For the first time in years, this was the year I was finally comfortable enough to sleep on this ankle. Full ankle against the bed! This was something I've waited for a very long time! I've always felt sensitive before and it took this long for me to finally get use to laying my ankle onto a surface with weight! However, some boots that cover up to my ankle still bother me if it is too tight. Even shows with ankle straps bother me if it's too tight so I avoid them completely unless the straps are under my ankle. Just nothing on it feels good. So yes, I am still sad about retiring from snowboarding. I just can't do it. 

While I also miss running, I've completely retired from that as well. It was too much to run. Before my accident, I use to run about 4 times a week. I miss it so much! Now I'm adjusting to getting older and the weight gain because my activity level isn't as active as I was before with all that running. However, I have increased my gym visits. I do take a lot of classes. Twice a week Cycling, Zumba, Body Combat, and the Elliptical machine on days I don't have a class. The best class for my ankle is Cycling. Sometimes ankle does get tired from all the jumps and steps from Zumba and Body Combat. 

I finally bought a Fitbit this year to encourage myself to walk more. I did over 12K steps today! It's always a battle with my friends so it's definitely a motivator. I'm just cautious about getting older and wanting to build a stronger ankle. So I've been walking more. Walking to work, hiking, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

                  

Once in a while when I walk a bit too long or carry things that are too heavy, I do feel pressure in my ankle. I'll walk and randomly feel a tiny pinch or my ankle just buckles in a quick spasm like pain. It's weird. But the most important part is trying to stay healthy and working out when I can to make my ankle stronger. I can wear 2 inch heels but nothing higher. However, I can wear wedges if I want more height. That extra support really does help me feel confident in walking safely. I'm excited for this new year to see what new things I'll try. Updates to come! The cold and rainy days are near. I'm curious to find out how my arthritis will feel. Winter is coming! I also can't wait to watch Game of Thrones haha!

4 years 2 months - I can feel the rain coming!

Sunday - November 20, 2016

Rain all weekend! My ankle antennae tells me there's more rain! I can feel the throbbing. Not really a painful feeling but a quick pinch. These happen randomly for a quick few seconds and it startles me every time.