12 weeks PO update - supplements, etc
47/F, Trimal with dislocation and level 1 pilon. I had my 12 week post op appointment today, Tues 8/18. My actual 12 weeks is this Friday, so I am 11 weeks and a few days in. Sharing info because reading info like this has been really helpful for me!
At my 6 week appointment I was told to wait until 7/21 (8 weeks) to start PWB, 25% per week as tolerated and to start PT. PT began at exactly 6 weeks post op, so I was doing PT for 2 weeks before I was weight bearing at all. This was honestly a game changer for me as it helped any apprehension I had about doing "too much" and gave me someone to answer tons of questions.
That first week of PWB I used my walker or boot and didn't do much, 25% weight bearing was really not much and I realized I had already been weight bearing about that much the week prior just by putting my leg down more often when I was moving around on the walker, or standing at a counter. So the first week I was doing a mix of 25-50%, always in boot.
By the end of the second week, I was fully weight bearing. After a particularly good PT session and discussion, I ditched the boot entirely and started wearing shoes only. Come August 1 I was walking with no aides ever, though with a limp and very slowly compared to my usual.
I notice improvements every few days since, but I still have days where I hurt a lot and figure I did too much the day before so I rest more. I still have yet to move more than about 4k steps per day.
My xrays today were perfect. My bones were completely healed to the point where the resident surgeon couldn't even see the breaks anymore. My PT has been remarking since day one on how good my surgeon was and great I am doing: scars healed well, barely any swelling (though on days that I drove a lot I did get some swelling so I think I just do a good job elevating when I am not moving around), ROM getting better and better.
I want to share more details about what I did for those who may be earlier in their journey and looking for ways they can speed or prioritize healing:
From the first few weeks, I started taking a daily Bone Restore supplement by Life Extension, daily Live Conscious Beyond Collagen supplement in my morning tea, and daily (30 min) session with my DNA vibe red light therapy device. I eat a lot of protein, drink a lot of water, prioritize rest (took so many naps those first weeks!), and do range of motion exercises multiple times a day once cleared to do them.
That said, I do still have a lot of soreness and pain. Trying to walk when I first wake up is the worst, it gets better as the day goes on and then progressively sore as I am doing a lot. Sidenote: my preferred activity is gardening and I have a lot of stairs/slopes and uneven ground, so when I do get outside its generally a lot more difficult movements than I do at physical therapy. I try to stick to about 20-30 minute sessions of activity outside before I rest and elevate. Prior to this injury I could spend hours outside doing things. That's what I hope to return to.
Anyway, I was happy to be released from my surgeons care today and to hear such good news about my bones and hardware (no breakage, no movement.) I feel stronger and more confident almost every day, but have had to become comfortable with the unknown. My doctor did say expect incremental improvements for about 6-9 months and at that point I should plateau. Here's hoping the pain reduces as time goes on and things feel "easier."
I found a lot to do during the NWB days and accepted it as a good thing (I am a busy mom!) with an end date, and the time actually flew. Being back on my feet is a little more frustrating than the NWB time was just because I don't know what to expect from day to day! I don't know how much I can commit to just yet. I have the energy but not the ability to do everything I would like to. I can do most everything again that I used to, but definitely have a ways to go to be back to normal. Sending the best of vibes to everyone else on this journey.