Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Severed EHL Tendon- 9 Weeks Post Op: Healing the Hallux

Nothing to do with Harry Potter, I assure you.
Now that we have been working the ankle and the calf muscle (by know means being anywhere close to normal flexibility) it’s time to move onto the Toe. Partly psychological, partly physical, the movement of the big toe is a scary thought. I’ve managed to twitch it from time to time but to try and bend it forward- not likely.
As I mentioned previously, Jake (Physiotherapist) will bend my toe gently behind a towel. At first I was unable to stomach the visual. As my toe is being bent forward and backward (gently), I can see the EHL Tendon at the top of my foot stretching to the limits. Let me say that I do have a hard time trying to keep my lunch down. To me it is the creepiest visual. Like some horror movie special effect. I’m waiting for something to pop out. Maybe it’s because I have boney feet- not sure. It’s not pleasurable to look at or feel.
Of course, part of my home routine on a daily basis is to mimic the same toe stretches. I have to flex that toe whether I like it or not! So for the past few days amidst all the other physio chaos at home with calfs, ankles and quads; I have to bend my big toe as often as possible.
My legs feel like they’ve been hit by a truck!
If you’re a runner you may understand. Running until the muscles in your legs are screaming, now run further and further until they are rubbery and your feet begin to clumsily lose grip to the ground below. Muscle fatigue. Now get up and do it again a couple more times today.
  On the up side, it’s a sign that the muscles are working hard to gain control, even for what we take for granted as the simple act of taking a step forward.

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