I like looking back on what I was focused on in the past through old blog posts. Sometimes I feel I am doing the exact same things at the same time of year. I looked back on what I was doing last October. It’s eerily the same as this year.
Ever since my ankle and foot surgeries in the past year and a half, my kids and my husband have been urging me to get back to PT. They say they see a difference in my balance and strength. They are right. I’m weaker and I hesitate when climbing stairs or scrambling over a rocky trail at the beach.
So I did it. I went to PT last week for an evaluation. The physical therapist told me to see my orthopedic surgeon. That’s where we are starting in this quest for balance and strength. I’m having pain in my left foot that then makes my knee hurt. She said that’s why my balance is off. Hopefully, I need new orthotics, different shoes and not another surgery. The therapist said she wasn’t going to push me and make my foot hurt worse until I see my ortho. Appointment made for later this week and I’ll find out what’s up.
This is what I wrote last year from a post October 2025:
I was so excited to capture this photo of Red taking off the Ocotillo!
I’m going to the Bay Area to take care of my daughter post shoulder surgery. She has a repetitive use injury from swimming from kindergarten through college. Her practices in college added up to 12,000 yards of swimming per day.
I’ve been especially nervous and haven’t been sleeping well. There’s a back story to that, besides the anxiety and worry. (Ever since our last thunder and lightning storm our house alarm has been going off at 3 a.m. Now that I figured out how to get it to stop, my body is programmed to get up at 3 a.m.) Once awake, I worry about my upcoming trip and my daughter.
Mrs. giving a side-eye to another bird at the birdseed block.
I had an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon to take a last look at my ankle. I discussed my other foot with the doctor. My first visit to her was about the left foot, but she discovered my “sprain” was a break in the right ankle — and I was scheduled for emergency surgery.
Now we’re back to the original issue and I’ll have surgery after taking care of my daughter!
Back to 2026:
Hopefully my kids won’t need my help in October 2026 because of new ailments or surgeries!
How was your weekend? What are your plans for the upcoming week?
I think we get into routines, especially if we aren’t working anymore, and see our interests and days as sometimes repetitive unless we change things up. Surgeries of course should never be routine or repetitive! I hope that nothing major shows up with your doctors evaluation. I wonder if it’s something with all that hardware they put in? My daughter has been fine after her ankle break years ago, but then she’s young. She knows to watch for issues though, things like arthritis as she ages.
I’m glad your daughter is doing well after her ankle surgery. I broke my right ankle but this and pain is in my left foot. I had surgery on it in January and I now have a new bone spur that makes it difficult to walk. I think it’s basically old age things. I do get into a routine that is also dictated by the weather.
Oops! I misread that and thought you were still having issues with the major break. Good to know it’s not that but still, when pain interferes with walking that doesn’t make life easy. Aging does take it’s toll and think about how much stress we put on our legs/feet over the years. It’s no wonder we have issues 🙂
Actually the ankle with all the metal is solid and I can balance on that foot. Who knew? Yes, getting older is not for sissies!
Yikes! Not another surgery. Dang. Well, I hope this time they fix everything right, so you’ll never have to go under the knife again.
I hope not another surgery! Hopefully orthotics and new shoes will help. I guess I’ll find out later this week.
I hope you start sleeping better!
Thanks.
Wow, Elizabeth, that’s a lot of surgery. I love how you are there for your kids – so lovely! As is that photo of Red in flight.
I hope your daughter’s surgery and your time in SF go well. Take good care of yourself too!!
That’s looking back on one year. I guess I wasn’t clear enough on that. Last fall my daughter had shoulder surgery and then my son had hernia surgery.
I hope this season is a little more relaxed and pleasurable than a year ago. Yikes!
Me too! I’m not off to a great start with the PT telling me to visit my ortho. But hopefully it will not involve surgery!
That is a wonderful first photo! Weekend was good. Today, I finished several doc appointments and had a flu shot which went well. A little tired but I had good prognosis on all. I feel we have come far from last year this time. So much has transpired, good and sad with the death of my nephew and my friend’s husband. However, several good things have happened including improvements in health and more knowledge, finally getting the hip replacement, and getting a few good evals, including taking care of several things in the home. It seems to even out. Wishing you the best.
That’s encouraging to have improvement in health and knowledge. It’s sad to lose friends and family. We moved out here because of a dear friend who introduced me to my husband more than 40 years ago. He died from Valley Fever our first year in Arizona. So sad. I am hoping for the best from my foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon. It was kind of a relief to learn that my lack of balance has a physical reason, a bad foot which then stresses my knee…
Take care of that. I am happy you took the first step. That is important! Sometimes the first step is the most significant.
The first step has been one I was avoiding. Our beach trip with stairs and trails that I struggled with convinced me to take the first step.
It’s too bad that foot/ankle/knee issue seem to be a recurring theme, as well as health issues with kids/in-laws. Hopefully 2027 will be a new story!
We had a lovely weekend up in the mountains. Colors in the aspens glowing, and the last weekend to do the downhill mountain-biking trails at the ski area. We got a few long runs in. Watched the helicopter assisting with a new lift installation. Can’t begin to imagine what all that costs!
I’m hoping to stop this cycle of health issues for all of us, too. You weekend in the mountains sounds wonderful!
the contractor portion should be done today. waiting on my handyman . going to movie with my daughter tonight. hair color. podiatrist. good times….
Great news that you’re done with the contractor. Have fun with your busy week.
💕
There’s something encouraging in looking back too. We tend to notice the circumstances that repeat, but sometimes we miss the person who has been growing through them. You’ve already walked through a great deal since last October, and recognizing the loss of strength and choosing to do something about it is progress in itself. I’m glad your therapist was wise enough not to push through pain just for the sake of pushing. Praying that your orthopedic appointment brings simple answers, a straightforward solution, and that next October’s retrospective contains considerably more birds, beaches, and beautiful photographs—and far fewer orthopedic adventures!
Thank you so much! I agree that this has been a tough year. I’m hoping for a simple solution to relieve the pain and not another surgery. I’m glad I’ve decided to take the first steps to improving my strength and balance.
I hope it will be easy to fix the pain in your foot. Doing PT is not a bad idea. Stay well dear friend
Thank you. I see the doctor on Friday.
All the best
Hopefully, everything goes well with your appointment and no surgery is needed.
That’s what I’m hoping for. Friday I will know for sure.
🙏🏼
Thanks!
I’m glad you are going back to PT and looking into the pain and balance issue. Balance is SO important as we age as (I’m sure you already know this) falls can cause so much damage to our aging bodies.
Crossing my fingers and toes your kids are all doing well and don’t need Mom’s assistance this year. 😉
Thanks! I saw my Orthopedic Surgeon Friday and she was able to solve my foot pain in one visit! She does surgery as a last resort and has a plan of action of non invasive things to do we’ll follow up on for the next few months. She’s all for my PT, too.