Get some calf strength already!

16 weeks, 3 days post-op

Today was a rough one at PT. Apparently I'm not as far as I should be with regards to calf strength. I need to push the calf raises harder, to exhaustion, and not let my beefy right leg do all the work. It was especially frustrating because I feel like I've gotten a lot stronger in the past week - I've been biking more, walking and not getting tired, etc. My flexibility is really good, so that made me feel better. Doing the gastroc stretch I'm at 30, which is about normal. With my knee bent I'm at 30, and 35 is normal. I've improved since last time, and I'd tell you how much but I forgot! I have 3 more PT sessions before they set me loose, so go calf muscle go!

I have been biking for about 40 minutes at a time, in higher and higher gears (I keep it low enough so my injured leg can contribute equally). I've been walking more - I no longer need to analyze the amount of walking in a given activity to decide whether I should do it or not.

A friend from college was in town - Angela and her boyfriend. It was fun to hang out with them, we went to Grand Ole Creamery and walked up and down Grand (see previous comment about walking).

I went to my first sand volleyball tournament this weekend. It was a lot of fun to see my friends and to catch up. It was a little weird to be there and not be playing. I realized one good thing about being injured and not playing sand volleyball: my toenails stay painted a lot longer. I think I'd rather play :) I fielded the question, "Why aren't you playing today?" a couple of times, to which I replied with a showing of my scar.

My handicap pass expired. Not that I really need it anymore, but it was convenient for meter parking downtown.

We did not close on the house. The seller was trying to back out of the deal so we gave him 30 more days and offered a little more on the closing costs. We'll see what happens.

When I need a good laugh, I can always look at the pictures below - taken on my husband's cell phone in the pre-op room. I look like an old lady!