Sunday, August 26, 2012

Where I Stand Sunday - and Just Thankful That I Can

When you fall and break an ankle as bad as I did last February, you start making yourself walk with a little more attention being paid to how you plant your feet on different surfaces.  At this point - I am doing OK.  Some parts of the day (we are talking just minutes at a time) - I walk with a gait - so good - that you can't tell I am ailing (the pain is still there).  I can go uphill pretty good, but downhills are the scariest, even simple inverted spaces on the lawn area. 
 
I have made it a point to ask in a surveying kind of way, to everyone who I would trust with this question...
"What kind of shoe would be best for someone who has gone through what I have and is worried in the stability of her ankles?"  It had to be low top, I have screws in the outside part of the ankle that higher topped shoes would bother - and I don't plan to have the hardware removed.  Before I got an answer where I could try on and test a shoe, I purchased a pair of black AVIAS that are 'slip-resistant'. 
They aren't very good-looking, but I have been wearing them to pull weeds - that is a whole 'nother story in and of itself.
 
My brother-in-law is a PT in Cali.  I asked him.  He said "Keens".  While in Sante Fe, we shopped REI.  I bought a pair - I trusted him. I have worn them almost constantly since.  I even put them on when I get out of bed.  They give me 'high confidence' that I won't be turning my ankle out of them on any surface.  They are such solid shoes, very rugged..not the prettiest or daintiest, but I like the way they feel.  Besides, I don't have dainty feet.
 
I used to wear Danskos, before I broke, dislocated and smashed my leg bones - I will never wear them again.  I will probably not do a lot of things ever again - like run, climb mountains, ski - that kind of thing. 
I have more surgery to face in a month or so (getting rid of the 'floating particles', bone fragments?, cartilage and scar tissue that has formed in the front of my ankle, where it bends - hence the pain, popping joints and inability to walk very good at times).  This surgery will require another 4 - 6 weeks of 'downtime' for me..but for now, I have art to do and I am doing it today, all week and the next week and so on.  That's what I am doing today.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanking God for your good recovery and you being able to find a shoe that works for you. Praying your surgery coming up that you will recover quickly. It is wonderful that you are able to art your time while you wait for this next surgery. Take care and God bless you with good strength and good health. Care from Okinawa, just recovering from a catagory 4 typhoon that just passed directly over us, some had to be evacuated from their homes and some with out electric so far looks like everyone is ok, thank God we were fine thru out just dealing with some water leakage and wind noises like jets passing by my windows!

Leann said...

You don't like the look of your shoes? Paint 'em!

Pattie Wall said...

Thanks for the kind words Victoria. That typhoon sounds very scary. I DO know about wind that sounds like jet planes passing over. Glad you had only water leaks and did not have to evac. Take care. Stay safe and dry.

Pattie Wall said...

Maybe when they are a little older...

More NEW art pieces

  Lukki - watercolor 9" x 12" acrylic done from Unsplash ph ref, thanks C Deluvio!