Dr. John Garcia looked at my right foot MRI and he feels that while the posterior tibial tendon looks inflamed, it doesn't look torn. He says my main problem is a calcaneal or heel stress fracture. He recommended non-weightbearing for 6 weeks. I'm going into Walgreen's Home Care at the hospital this afternoon to pick up a walker with front wheels. I'd rather try crutches and Dr. Garcia says he has no preference but they don't have medium crutches in until tomorrow or next week and I need to be NWB (non-weightbearing) NOW!! I, at first, wanted the walker but I think that I'll get more exercise and strain my back less with the crutches. I may try both. After the 6 weeks, I won't be able to immediately begin hiking long distances - I'll have to work up to it gradually. Therein will lie the potential for reinjury or new injury if I'm not careful.
I'm considering going to a water aerobics class but the thought of slipping in a wet shower or on wet pool deck is scary. The YMCA doesn't have as many recumbent cardio machines as the LA Fitness Center. I have a free one day pass for the fitness center. I will have to buy some type of membership as I don't plan to just sit on my duff for 6 weeks!
I left a note for Dr. Church asking if I still need to see Dr. Miller. He feels, as I do, that it's worth seeing Dr. Miller. Dr. Church believes that I shouldn't be having pain from a stress fracture all this time. I have an appointment for a bone density test next Tuesday. That's a prudent thing to do in any case.
I picked up some carryout for lunch at the Pyramid Cafe. I bought 3 salads - the Salata Bitenjene (grilled eggplant salad with grilled onions), the Salata Mishiya (charred green chile) and Salata Houriya (spicy carrot salad) and hummus. The carrot salad tasted a little old. The green chile salad was an especially tasty way to get my hot green chile fix and the hummus and eggplant salad were good. Overall, though, I don't like so much oil drizzled on the salads. I'm more used to eating less oil now. I wouldn't order the carrot salad again unless they said it was freshly made that morning. Also, there was something hard that I bit on in the carrot salad but no harm was done to my teeth.
The people at Riverview Pines, in Estes Park, CO, have been so nice in helping to change our reservation from 4 nights to 3 and changing us from an upstairs room to a downstairs room. We offered the Riverview Pines room to son in law and daughter but they couldn't get off work to go up there. Truthfully, I would prefer to stay at home but I'm sure I'll enjoy driving around to see the park and maybe taking a baby walk using the walker or crutches around Sprague Lake. I'll also check out the local fitness facility options. I'm still debating, though, if I really want to stop in Denver to visit spouse's cousins but I guess I'll have to.
I just now called spouse and said since I'm compromising and going to Rocky Mountain National Park, that I'd like him to compromise and cancel the Denver visit to his cousins and he agreed to do that. That means we'll arrive early evening at Riverview Pines and have 2 full days at the park and then drive back home. That will be enough for me. Being temporarily a physically handicapped person is going to be an interesting experience. It will give me greater understanding of those who are permanently physically handicapped.