lol Liza, I dream (Literally) of leaping, running and doing cartwheels like I used to be able to do. Sometimes I wake up so tired because I exercised and ran like the wind in my dreams! I have been noticing the past two weeks how I am now favoring my left side, leg and knee. I was up and down the tomato steps today, planting up some raspberries. I told Dennis it's amazing how I now depend on my right leg/hip (the side of my surgery) and drag my left leg along anymore. Plus when I stand, I tend to put all the weight of my body on my NEW side. Girl, we are gonna be bionic gardeners by summer for sure!

Cindee, what a great toy for you! I had one a while back but it was too heavy and too hard to get up and down from. I am really looking forward to being able to bend at least one of my knees enough to get up and down easily. I have a rocker stool that works fine but sometimes I Could not get down to sit on it. I have long legs so it was scary just to let myself fall into it, then I needed a walking stick to pull myself up! My favorite new toy is Nordic ski-walking poles. They are so wonderful to walk with...they take 40% of your weight on to the poles and your upper body. I have gone out every day on them but one of my knees was fussy today so decided to give it a day to rest. Isn't it great to be finding things you CAN do now instead of those you can"t!? When do you think you will have the other hip done?

I have been running for 40 years and trail running for 20 and hiking and gym and blah, blah, blah. A few years ago I was running and stepped on a pine cone, fell off and tore all the ligaments in my ankle. I went to my doctor, had x-rays and then sent me straight to physio. My kids still tease me about falling off of a pine cone. This is not the only time I have sprained an ankle. I'm coming off of a slight sprain right now from doing ladder work in the gym and then going straight into high knees over low hurdles. I screwed up the transition and went over on my foot. Went straight to my physio and he started the healing process for me. At the very least I would go to a physio if you have one. Only go to one that you trust. They can quicken the healing and give you strengthening exercises for the foot and ankle. If you don't have one then you could go to your doctor. I wouldn't bother with an Ace bandage but rather would get a small soft brace which are available at drug stores. They go under the foot and around the ankle, are velcroed and provide really good support. Wear it when you first go back into the trails and if you have walking poles or can borrow some do so for the first few times as well. Good luck - this really is a pain in the butt.

Just arrived in Porto - sightseeing the next couple of days. DH presents at a conference Saturday morning, then home on Sunday. And you?