Okay, maybe I'm cheating... just a little.
I was supposed to be 30 pounds weight bearing (basically toe touch since your leg weights about 30 lbs) until my appointment with Dr. Olson on Thursday. I couldn't wait. So I cheated just a little. I began putting a little extra weight on my leg about a week ago, right around week 7. It felt good, and my pain didn't increase, so I kept doing it. It wasn't much, and it wasn't all the time, but in all honesty, I think it only helped my healing process. I did tell my physical therapist, just in case she thought it would be a problem, but she told me that as long as it felt good, to keep doing it. And I did.
So when I went to see Dr. Olson on Thursday and he told me I could add 50 pounds, I was a little bummed. I was hoping for the "you can go full weight bearing" kinda news, but telling me I had to keep the crutches until my limp is gone just made me feel like this could go on forever.
After I posted on Thursday, I got out the scale. I stood on it with my left (op) leg and pushed down. I was trying to gauge how much was 50 pounds. At week 7 I was probably putting down about that. So I decided to go up another 50 to see how things felt. Now, this may seem to be moving quickly, but Dr. Olson did tell me that I could add more weight, as long as I kept my pain level under a 3. If I do too much and pain gets higher, I am just to back off and know that I am going to quickly. My body will tell me when it is ready for more or less.
So here I am, at approximately 100 pounds, feeling just great! I've attempted 1 crutch today with great success, although I am more wobbly than with 2. Just have to keep practicing!
I was supposed to be 30 pounds weight bearing (basically toe touch since your leg weights about 30 lbs) until my appointment with Dr. Olson on Thursday. I couldn't wait. So I cheated just a little. I began putting a little extra weight on my leg about a week ago, right around week 7. It felt good, and my pain didn't increase, so I kept doing it. It wasn't much, and it wasn't all the time, but in all honesty, I think it only helped my healing process. I did tell my physical therapist, just in case she thought it would be a problem, but she told me that as long as it felt good, to keep doing it. And I did.
So when I went to see Dr. Olson on Thursday and he told me I could add 50 pounds, I was a little bummed. I was hoping for the "you can go full weight bearing" kinda news, but telling me I had to keep the crutches until my limp is gone just made me feel like this could go on forever.
After I posted on Thursday, I got out the scale. I stood on it with my left (op) leg and pushed down. I was trying to gauge how much was 50 pounds. At week 7 I was probably putting down about that. So I decided to go up another 50 to see how things felt. Now, this may seem to be moving quickly, but Dr. Olson did tell me that I could add more weight, as long as I kept my pain level under a 3. If I do too much and pain gets higher, I am just to back off and know that I am going to quickly. My body will tell me when it is ready for more or less.
So here I am, at approximately 100 pounds, feeling just great! I've attempted 1 crutch today with great success, although I am more wobbly than with 2. Just have to keep practicing!