Finally ready for a follow-up with my orthopedist, I knew my ankle and foot problems had not been solved with four weeks of physical therapy. While I am told my ligament is no longer loose and my ankle appears more stable, I received the unfortunate news that I can no longer wear flip-flops, open-heel shoes, or traipse around my apartment with bare feet.
Due to my ongoing plantar fasciitis and now Achilles tendinosis, these conditions will not heal if I continue in the above tasks. While these conditions were not the original cause of distress, they occurred due to the prolonged immobilization of my ankle.
The good news is I no longer have to pay for physical therapy since I've learned every exercise capable of improving my ankle. However, my doctor says I must be diligent on my own or will not see improvement.
So, to sum up my newest set of rules so I can one day run again, I have to wear an insole in every pair of shoes I wear all day, every day or exacerbate my current ankle/foot status, avoid flip-flops (which seems nearly impossible since I lived in them every summer at the beach and even some occasions in the snow), and avidly perform daily exercises.
Maybe, just maybe I will see some real results IF I follow the rules all day, every day, until the orthopedist says, "When."