If only we could make our foot problems magically disappear. I have spent three years in braces, visiting numerous doctors, being fitted and re-fitted for an AFO and custom orthotics, visitng physical therapists, and using crutches, wheelchair, etc. while trying to keep a smile and do my job ( as a teacher). and hope things get better. Meanwhile losing SO much strength in my ankles. I can no longer push the gas pedal down when driving and now have a foot that slaps down when I walk. Encouragement?? anyone?

I need to do SO much physical therapy to regain the strength, but, in the wake of all the discouragement I've been through, I've kind of resorted to doing nothing. while losing more and more strength. I need some encouragement, to get me back 'on my feet' again, so to speak. Maybe just writing this will be enough of a kick in the pants to get me going with the exercises.. It has been a long, hard battle...

You don't have to do massive amounts of exercise. You just need to do it once, today.

Tell you what, I'll go do mine now, and you can do yours. Just this once. Then we'll deal with tomorrow as it happens.

I know it is hard to find the motivation after struggling for song long, it has almost been three years for me too since my first foot surgery, and i have had severaly since then. YOu just have to believe that someday all of this will be worth it and you will be pain free. All that I can say is to take it one day at a time, I know that is frustrating, but it's all I know how to do anymore. You can do it. The strength will come, slowly but surely. I always remind myself that it could be worse. there are people out there suffering worse than me, however I know how much pain, and surgery can take its toll on a person, physically and mentally. Hang in there, and dont give up.

I was in the boot for only 6 weeks and my ankle is weaker than I ever realized it might be. I've been to 2 PT app'ts and can see this will take much longer to get my ankle strength back. Andrea121 I hope you can get motivated to do the exercises soon.

Hi,
I have to agree with JaneWhite and Andrea, I'm still recovering after foot surgery June 2007, and we have to take just one day at a time. I may not be able to do all the things I used to do, but each day, I will try my best. In the middle of my recovery when I was feeling really down, I told my husband that I thought I was really in trouble because I kept having setbacks and he said we will just have to take it one day at a time. The speed of recovering from foot surgery is like watching grass grow, but we can still have hope that we will get better and we can still love our families and we can still pray. I think one is at their strongest when they are most vunerable. If everything was
hunky dory, you wouldn't really need to be strong because everything comes easy. When you have to struggle hard to accomplish everyday tasks, that is when your will is the strongest. You should pat yourself on the back because you have the courage to get up in the morning, knowing things will be hard.
At least for me, when I tell people how long recovery takes for my foot surgery, they are just dumbfounded (and I mean this is a nice way) as to how much pain and misery could come from one foot surgery. Those of us who have had foot surgery understand where you are coming from. Hang in there.

hi andrea, you are a teacher because you chose to make the world a better place. dont give up on yourself. now it is time to take care of you. the strength will come back, but you have to work hard for it. i am also depressed, but each day i wake up i am so greatful for my family. it doesnt always work like that, but if i dont fight for myself, NO ONE else will do it for me.

I must have wrote that on a bad day. I am studying for finals and getting anxious for my next doctors appointment, which is on my first day of summer vacation. I have a feeling it might not be all joyfull. When i went to the doctor over spring break, my tendonitis was worse, my doctor said arthritis was starting to develop. So I am just really nervous to see what he says on thursday becuase I am still in pain. I am worried that more surgery is needed. Most of the time I am positive, I really have no other choice or I would go insane. I am so thankful for so many wonderful things in my life, my family and friends. I always tell myself it could be so much worse, that is my motto

andrea, don't beat yourself up for having a down day now and then. We all do and it definitely comes with the territory. We usually pick ourselves back up after a bit but sometimes whining is good for the soul. While there are always people worse off, it doesn't mean we don't have legitimate complaints as our lives have been drastically altered by something beyond our control. I have SOOOO many things I am grateful for every day. I am grateful that even if I don't walk "pretty" or pain-free, I still can walk for now. This won't kill me as other people's conditions might. But you know what? It's still the worse thing to happen to me and for that I can be down now and then.

I'm glad we have this group to let off steam to.

You know emmie, you always find ways to make me feel better. I dont know why. Maybe its just becuase I know that other people out there know what I am dealing with. Thank you so much for understanding, I never looked at it that way i guess, i just would always be ashamed at myself for being upset over a pain in my feet, when other people have bigger issues. But you know what, sometimes these are big issues too, and most people dont have to deal with foot pain. People take even walking for granted, we dont. Oh I moved out of my dorm today and am now home for the summer. All the packing and moving killed my foot. I am stressed that it hurts this much after 11 months, my tendon still hurts a lot sometimes, but then other times its fine. I got to the doctor on thursday so i guess we will see then. I am nervous

Andrea, glad I could help! pain at 11 months after a lot of activity is totally normal. don't be too worried about it. hope your doctor visit goes well. Let us know :=)

You have my sympathies. I don't know what to say besides keep going, because if you do keep going then I have no excuse not to as well.

yes, I WILL keep going. Thank you - very much.

I guess I can just say, keep going, right back.

I'm back in PT again...I have to do my exercises twice a day.

And the saddest part? All the employees know me, and every time I go back they ask me what I did this time...

Yesterday (my first day back), I got that, I got "it's good to see you again", and from my PT, "It's spring, of course *my name* is back." I also got made fun of because I have terrible balance. Yeah.

I've had ankle problems for about 5 years now...And I'm only 17!

i know, i am 19 and have been dealing with pain all my life and nowfor the past three years have been trying fix one foot, after three surgeries it is still not doing as well as its supposed to be, i know about PT too, everybody knows me at two PT places now, when i went to college this year i had to have therapy down there too, plus at home so i know how that goes.

hang in there, this will all be worth it and someday you will be pain free and happy