[Joe Wicked]

I am only walking without the boot from the couch to the bathroom and back. If I have to go outside for any reason, or I will be moving about a bunch in the house I put it on. My last surgery she told me that if I take care of it, I should be able to make it up to 5 years before it needs to be fused. That was almost 9 years ago, and this is the first major injury since then. Knowing that fusing is in my future, I try my best to not take chances with it, and I have not injured it in all that time. The doctor said he believes it is still strong, and the boot is just a precaution. He wants me to walk on it as much as I can, and wants me to switch to the lace up brace when the swelling is gone. He is going to look at it again in about 3 weeks to double check that there wasn't damage that was masked by the swelling and pain I was in on Monday.

Edit: I have about 90% of my range of motion back now, with only discomfort/minor twinge of pain when I move it for my stretching exercises. I am hoping that by mid week next week, I will be able to get rid of the boot for the brace.