3 Months (LPAO)

I just realized that my handicapped parking sticker expires March 1. Lucky thing I no longer need it.

I am at 3 months post LPAO and 7+ months post RPAO. I had a breakthrough the past week after spending 4 days in the desert. Lots of warm weather, swimming, stretching and walking. I can walk a mile (probably farther but did not try). I was not race walking, mind you, but strolling. Still, it's improvement. Oh, almost forgot ... on Valentine's day I went to a club and danced. Wearing high heels.

My left leg's stiffness is better, but ROM is still limited. There isn't really pain, but there is weakness and lack of flexibility. I still need a few steps to get going when I first stand up from a chair. My limp is about a 3 most days on a scale from 1 to 10, but I can walk pretty darn fast despite the strange gait. Some days my limp is a 1, and other days it's a 5. It just depends.

My right leg is better too. I can stand up from a low chair using only my right leg and no arms, and I can repeat this about 5 times in a row. I don't think most normal people (meaning those who have not had PAOs) can do this ... so my skater quads must be waking up from their muscle amnesia.

Friends who haven't seen me since late January (at Nationals, when I was just off crutches and using a cane) will be seeing me next week when Perry and I go on our Whirlwind 24-hour Olympic Extravaganza trip. They told me that I would have to walk about 300 yards to get from the bus stop through security at the arena, and perhaps I should arrange for a wheelchair. A wheelchair?! Ah, how far I have come! They will be amazed when they see me walking on my own, and able to walk pretty darn fast too.

And now a word from our sponsor: Go Team USA!!!