Today my doc checks the wound and a new chapter of recovery begins.
23 days after surgery, my doc finally clears me for full weight-bearing.
What does full weight-bearing actually mean?
Full weight-bearing means the leg can now take the full body weight (no jumping, running, etc.).
I’m supposed to wait until Tuesday and take it slow, but I’m officially cleared.
23 days – that’s insane. Considering the early frustrations like “Summer’s ruined,” this feels like a huge blessing.
At home, I first try simply standing on one leg. Not easy with the mental block.
I try it in the kitchen. Of course, it doesn’t work.
So I set up a scale in the hallway and check how much my head allows.
A measly 20 kg – no more.
But I know: whining about it won’t help. More pressure!
It pulls at the heel, like tiny stabs in the skin. My foot probably doesn’t even remember this kind of load.
I brace myself against the wall with both arms and try to stand on one leg.
Slowly I feel the pressure increase on the injured foot.
I repeat the same on the scale. Standing on one leg, I grab onto two doorframes.
Result: 50 kg… my arms must still be absorbing 30 kg of weight.
I let go, finger by finger, until finally the scale reads 80 kg – my full body weight.
At first, I feel the familiar stinging and tingling in my heel.
It’s like that feeling as a kid when you’d take the igniter out of a lighter to mess with your friends – or be messed with.
Insane – much earlier than expected, I’m standing on my foot again.
But that’s not the end.
“If I can stand, can I take the first steps too?” – that’s the biggest hurdle.
Let’s go: I stand on both feet and now I know, I have to move the good leg forward and then follow through.
It takes me ten minutes just to dare that first step.
But I have to do it. And it works!
In tiny steps, I finally walk through my hallway again. This feeling!
I know I have to document this. If I’m walking properly again soon, I’ll laugh at this very moment.
In the evening, my girlfriend arrives – and as motivated as I am, I say:
We’re going for a walk by the Rhine.
At first with crutches, but I slowly reduce the load.
Eventually I walk on my own again – what a feeling! Without crutches!
In that moment, I remember my physio’s advice from the partial weight-bearing stage:
“Don’t forget to roll through the step.”
Said – tried – works!
To celebrate the day – and because summer isn’t totally ruined after all – I immediately book a hotel in Ticino!
I’m mobile again – and most importantly: on the move!