Thank you for the hearts I received.

[avebury]

It has been a long journey in dealing with my broken leg. I hope to find out soon when I will be released to go home. Both myself and the facility I am in are hoping that it will be after my 6 week post op appointment. That is when I will find out how the bones are healing and learn about the recovery plan from here on out. Just 10 days until that appointment. I started working on going up steps backwards (really scary the first time) and blindly with my walker hoping up and backwards at the same time can make you anxious. Going down steps is way easier because I can do that facing forward.

[Trueblue Texan]

1. Did the therapists have you going up steps backwards?

Unless it was some kind of strengthening and/or balance activity, I cannot imagine why anyone would have a patient do that. So many times therapists will do things ONLY for strength and balance--I've had to tell so many patients, "Do not do that at home without the aide of your therapist!" I also always cautioned my patients against stepping backwards and to always keep their nose aligned with their toes when changing directions--biggest cause of falls is getting those two out of alignment.

[avebury]

2. I cannot use my right leg for now and

have to use a walker.

With the design of the new steps at house we lined up Facing forward to see if I could do it having forward. I looked at how the walker lined up and did not feel safe trying it. The back of the walker is free of of anything that could get in the way of the jump.

The first day I did it I was terrified. But with a good therapist who I know would spot me and prevent me from getting hurt I did it anyways. With enough practice and learning how to set yourself for the up and backward jump it is not so scary.

You also need to recognize your limitations.
I am short so I don't think that I could comfortably handle more than 5". The taller you are the higher a step you should be able to handle.

Today I jumped up and down 10 times on a 3" step and nailed it pretty solid consistently. My steps at home will be 4". If I can get enough practice on the 5" step before I go home I should be good.

And yes, I thought doing it backwards was insane
Initially but if I want to go home I have master it

[Trueblue Texan]

3. We used to teach patients to use their shower bench to climb stairs...

we would adjust the legs so that the legs on one end of the bench were shorter and the legs on the other end were longer so that when you put them on the stairs, they would make an even shelf for a seat. Then the patient would sit on one end and slide to the other, then stand up, move the bench the direction they needed to go, sit down again, and slide to the other end and repeat the process until they got up or down the stairs. It was tedious, but a lot of patients preferred it to climbing stairs. It helped (was safer)if they had someone available to move the shower bench for them.

I'm sending you healing vibes--I know what you're going through is really hard work. Hang in there--you'll be so proud of the independence you realize you are capable of.