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!

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.

I am so sorry...hope it is just a sprain and you are much better soon. Reading all these posts make me realize how fortunate I am. In February, I had company for a week. Despite me asking her not to bring her dogs, she brought them anyway. They dug a couple of holes right in the pathway between the barn and the pasture. I admit, I should have filled them in right away, but I was busy taking care of Jody, and after he passed, totally unmotivated to do much of anything. But the one thing I always have to do is take care of my animals. I feed the horses twice a day. Mariah eats in a stall. I open the gate and she goes to the barn and gets in her stall, but I have to lead her back to the pasture when she is finished. It has rained for a month, and the grass is so tall, I forgot about the holes the dogs had dug, and leading Mariah, I tripped and fell in one of the holes. Since I fell right in front of her, I am lucky she didn't step on me. Also I didn't hurt myself. I was a little sore the next day, but not too bad. I would have been in bad shape if I had broken my ankle. No one to help me. I don't know what I would have done. I know what I did do though, immediately. I got a shovel and filled in the hole. I was mad, and I said a whole lot worse than "poop". I know she is going to want to come back again. She can leave the dogs home, and she can stay there with them.

Having a trainer that specializes in seniors might be a good idea. Youtube also has lots of videos for balance exercises for seniors. I saw this one in the search. I didn't view it, but you might want to take a look and see if any on there would fit the bill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atMJ2opvCvo&ab_channel=Bob%26Brad