Re: Muscle wastage and tone - spending 9 months in a cast or boot

[Guest guest]

I always followed the CMT orthodoxy that too much exercise was bad. That

resulted in little extra exercise my first 61 years. After a triple arthodesis

with failure of the heel bone to fully heal, and 9 months with a hard cast or

boot I was in rough shape.

My OS finally recommended a regiment of PT to see if I could tolerate and maybe

lessen the pain and improve strength. MY PT agrees we can approve those Muscles

not effected (other than peroneals)and also compensate for weaknesses with other

muscles and improve some things like balance but minimally because of the fused

ankle

I had been doing 15 minutes light leg weigh exercises with the boot for about 3

months. In June 2010 I stopped wearing the boot and started 1/2 hour of pool

exercises and 20 minutes of floor exercises and exercise bike. Last November I

stepped this up to weight training both free and some machines + 30 minutes on

an exercise bike.

In January I stepped all this up to more exercises and increased weights to

where I have been doing about 2 1/2 hous in the gym 2-3 times a week and two +

withought weight training days between. I also have ridden the exercise bike

about 20 minutes with each routine.

There has been improvemen in functionality and my ability to walk, stand, bend

over,get on and off the floor etc. The pain persists but it seems I have more

better days and longer periods with minimal pain.

The most amzing thing was last august I started regular cycling and could do

about 3 miles in 1/2 hour abouy 4X a week. I slacked off the cycling due to

extra time in the gym and bad weather (even in SW Florida) but one day this week

I rode about 10 miles and felt tired buy OK.

Sometimes I feel there's little progress and get discouraged but when I consider

a year ago how little I did with the boot, and how hard it was last June to

exercise and how tired I was after, I have progressed by miles. Only half

kidding I recently said " 5 more years of increasing exercise and I may be able

to walk comfortably for long periods " .

Truth is there is improvement not day by day or even week by week, but month by

month. Having started with a " what have I got to loose " attitude, this progress

is truly remarkable and enought to keep me going. I only hope it continues.

With this slow improvement, At age 62 I only have so much time left to make up

for 40+ years of a reckless lifestyle but I'll take what I can get. I'll settle

for a few more years of mobility and feeling better and really think I'm getting

that but it's hard ....damn hard, but what are the options.

Lanman