1 year 5 months - Ft. Funston Doggy Play Date

Saturday, March 15, 2014 

Back to Ft. Funston for the 4th time for a doggy play date! Met up a coworker with his dog Mochi for a fun day at the park with Pebbles!

It was a perfect sunny day, 72 degrees out. I can't believe the last time I was at Ft. Funston was on May 24, 2013! You can read about the last time I visited here. 

I feel so bad for Pebbles, it's been so long since I last brought her to her dog heaven to play. The last time I went I got really sore so I stopped going and wanted to wait til I felt stronger. This time, I walked from home and even did some jogging on Lake Merced on my way to Ft. Funston. You can read more about the last time I was there for a run June 29, 2013. It was too early to run on cement then so I've stopped running there. You can see the running path across the streets where the cars are in the picture behind Pebbles.

I definitely felt stronger and more balanced while walking on sand. No weird pinching and ankle twisting! Sooo happy! Walked for 2 hours with Pebbles friend Mochi. 

Here's a video of my day with Pebbles at Ft. Funston. I continue to Progress and feel stronger. Extremely happy and looking forward to what's next!

1 year 4 months - Feeling great! Friend gave me an elliptical for exercise! Calves are back to equal size!

Saturday, February 1, 2014 

Gung Hay Fat Choy! It's day 2 of Lunar New Year! 

Big dinner for two! Usual Chinese new year dishes to feast on haha.

I am excited for this new year and to see how I will progress in my ankle. Last year definitely was an emotional year being done with physical therapy and mentally being strong. I feel great so far! I feel like I am still healing though. I have no pain at all! I don't feel as tired walking longer distances. My ankle doesn't swell up. I do feel the cold or when the rain comes. The best way to explain it is that it feels like a toothache. Just an odd pressing feeling I am still trying to get use to. I did quit running on the track for now because it makes me feel really tired and sore after. Sometimes I'd limp the next day, so maybe I need more time to strengthen it before I try running again. This new year, I'd like to do more hiking.

A friend was so kind to give me his elliptical machine! It's great for my ankle! No pressure on my ankle. I've only used it a few times.

Most of my workouts are on my stationary bike. I love it! I've also started to do more jumping jacks. Jumping feels more comfortable now then it did 6 months ago. I wasn't able to jump as comfortably as I do now.

My calves are back to equal in size! Wow, looking back it's bringing back so many memories! How time has flown by and remembering how patient I was throughout this entire healing process. I'm just so happy to be back on my feet! You can read about my progress on the most memorable days in my timeline below. 

Broke ankle - Monday, September 24, 2012

Ankle surgery - Friday, September 28, 2012

Cast Removal Day - Wednesday, November 21, 2012

First Physical Therapy Session - Wednesday, November 28, 2012 

First time back on my feet - Monday, December 10, 2012

No more ankle brace! - Thursday, January 10, 2013

No more crutches! - Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Physical Therapy Graduation Day! - Tuesday, May 7, 2013

These were the only shoes I could wear with my ankle brace they gave me to wear for months after being out of the cast. 

                      December 17, 2012                                     February 1, 2014                          

 

I still have inside bruising that looks like will be there forever from the dislocation. You can see bruising clearly and the difference between the two inner ankles above. It's a good story to tell every time haha. Laying my ankle against anything like sleeping still feels sensitive and a bit uncomfortable. I can lay it against the bed for too long. Maybe about 5 seconds of it and that's enough, then I move to a new position where my ankle isn't against anything. I am still getting use to having things against my surgery side. Feeling the hardware against anything is a weird feeling, I can definitely feel every bit of the plate against my bone. Even wearing tight boots, getting into boots, and ankle socks against the surgery site is sensitive. I don't like it... 

Here's how my scar looks. You can see the plate protruding out a bit. The 9 nails you can see the little divots protruding between each nail if you look much closer. It's funny to see people get really grossed out when they feel it haha.

I'm excited for this new year! On to a better, fun, and more active year!

Day 218 - I miss snowboarding!

Monday, December 30, 2013 - Week 67

I miss snowboarding! It's been such a dry season this year, no snow! I decided not to board this season anyways. Too nervous and scared. It's summer weather this winter in San Francisco~ 

I was having my snowboarding cravings and had to put on my boots and board to get my fix haha. I was also curious how my ankle would feel inside the tightly wrapped up boots. It's been about 1 year and 2 months since I broke my ankle. 

So I stepped into the boot and felt fine. Then I laced it up and it felt so tight. I walked around the house and felt the metal pressing against the boot. It was a weird new feeling for me. It didn't hurt but just a weird maybe sort of uncomfortable feeling. My foot was so snug and wrapped up in there, my ankle felt very safe. Still nervous to board though. I don't know how it would feel in the cold? 

Then I had to step into my board. So fun! Then I was thinking what if I get stuck in the snow like I once did with the tip of my board and my legs and ankles all twisted with pressure on the calf. I felt like hm, maybe I can snowboard? I do know someone who broke the same bone and had the same surgery with almost the same amount of nails in his ankle and snowboards. He said he had no problems with it! Do I dare to board? Still contemplating. Definitely not this season anyway. It gives me more time to heal. I'll see next season. Sigh. 

When I took off my boot, there was a bit of uncomfortable pressure from bending my foot and pulling it out with force. Felt a bit of that sore feeling. Not in any pain at all! Just happy and excited I was able to wear my boot and snowboard haha. 

Maybe one day I'll be back...

Day 194 - It's Winter and I can feel the cold in my ankle!

Friday, December 6, 2013 - Week 63

Winter is here! There's finally rain in San Francisco during these few days. It hailed tonight!

I can feel the weather change in my ankle! Whenever it starts to get cold or rain is coming. It's kind of feels like a toothache, except it's in my ankle. It's this slight pinch discomfort on the metal parts of my ankle. It's my first winter with this hardware. It's been a year and almost 3 months since my surgery. I'll see how I'll hold up for the rest of the winter. It will get me thinking about removing this hardware if it gets really bad. I'll have to see. 

Day 174 - Bowling!

Saturday, November 16, 2013 - Week 60

I went bowling at Classic Bowl tonight! 

It was so much fun! I played a total of 5 games! The most exciting part of it is beating 2 of my friends haha.

My special pose got me a few of those wins.

It's been over a year and a half since I last played. By game 4, I felt really tired. I also accidentally ran past the line, slipped and fell too! No pain but just felt sore. Definitely felt very tired and sore by game 5. Bowling is a workout, I was sweating. I was so happy and excited! Can't wait to bowl again!

Day 164 - My scar is itchy!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 - Week 59

It's been a few weeks! I am feeling better as each day passes! I definitely feel stronger and more balanced. I still do some of the ankle exercises everyday. After a long day of walking, I do get tired faster and sometimes need to sit and stretch for some rest. It feels like I can still improve. Most importantly, I'm in no pain and not limping! By now, I'm use to the stretched skin from the metal inside. It's like I forget it's even in there. I can't feel it! However, I walk with caution anywhere I go. I notice I am more aware of what is in front of every step. 

Today, my scar is itchy! At the very bottom of my scar end, there's a tiny lump of the skin from the scar you can't see protruding out. That lump is so itchy! It's a bit red from me scratching just below it. I thought it was a mosquito bite at first but when I looked at what I was scratching, it was actually my scar haha.

Day 140 - Fourth time back at the track for a run.

Sunday, October 13, 2013 - Week 55

I'm back at CCSF Track for run.

I stayed in lane #1 for my entire run. I ran for a total of 2 miles. Each lap I ran a 3/4 and walked the last quarter. A total of 9 laps around the track and the final lapped I walked to cool down.

After my first mile, I did feel tired already. My ankle felt fine, no pain or strain. I did feel a weird ache in my heel of all places. It was a first time for this feeling. It was kind of weird. As if someone was pushing hard onto my heel whenever I took a step on that foot. It only lasted for a few seconds and then it went away completely.

My thighs are getting bigger! That means my muscles are coming back! The last time I ran, I wasn't limping the next day like I did a few months ago when I ran! I was so happy! Definitely a lot more comfortable running and feeling stronger. My goal is to run without stopping one day. 

I tried #6 about 4 months ago and clearly I wasn't ready. I'm back to #5 on the track and feeling great! I'm so happy every time I go back =)