The recovery nobody documents.

An honest, structured log of my second foot reconstruction (osteotomies, FDL transfer, spring ligament repair). The stuff I couldn't find when I searched for it myself.

Surgery

June 30, 2026

Currently

Day 28

Phase

Boot / Transition

Entries

Latest entries

The 'Conspiracy Keanu' meme: a wide-eyed young man with tousled hair looking bewildered, captioned 'THE UPDATE IS' across the top and 'THAT THERE IS NO UPDATE' across the bottom.

Day 28Boot / Transition

The Waiting

Some days the headline writes itself. Today's headline is: nothing to report. The update is that there is no update. Exactly four weeks ago I came home from…

NWB boot-transition · weight-bearing · physical-therapy

A meme captioned 'my body after doing absolutely nothing all day,' showing two blue x-ray-style illustrations of a human figure with glowing red pain points at the neck, knees, and ankle.

Day 27Boot / Transition

Scar Tissue

Facebook did the thing today where it reminds you who you were nine years ago. And nine years ago today, I was parked in a chair a lot like the one I'm in now,…

NWB boot-transition · scars · comparison

A Ron Burgundy meme: Will Ferrell in character as the mustached anchorman in a blue suit, looking earnestly at the camera, with bold caption text reading 'THAT'S A HODGEPODGE.'

Day 26Boot / Transition

Here Comes the Sun

I skipped yesterday's entry but I did not skip all the required stuff like stretching and eating healthy and soaking up the sun. I realized I was feeling a…

Pain 2/10 NWB boot-transition · mental-health · vitamin-d

A meme of a happy little white chihuahua swimming through bright blue water with its eyes closed and a blissful grin. Floating labels name skincare and supplement ingredients around it: 'Hyaluronic acid,' 'Retinol,' 'Glycolic acid,' 'Vitamin C,' 'Vitamin E,' and 'Amino acids,' with 'Peptides' near the tail and the dog itself labeled 'Me.'

Day 24Boot / Transition

A Change Is Gonna Come

OK, peptide convo time (so muff your eyes and ears if this is not your jam) OMGGGGG the FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee did something amazing…

NWB boot-transition · peptides · fda

Meme of an open package of Nabisco Oreos with the cookies lined up in a neat row, captioned 'I JUST DID A LINE.'

Day 23Boot / Transition

Lean on Me

Let's talk about how much surgery recovery leans on a positive mindset. Look, I'm not going to get all goofy here or start spouting Brené Brown-isms, but this…

NWB boot-transition · mindset · friendship

The Mugatu 'so hot right now' meme from Zoolander, captioned 'THAT DEATH VALLEY... ...SO HOT RIGHT NOW.'

Day 22Boot / Transition

Walking on the Sun

I've been putting this off for days. But it's time to name the elephant in the room, the one thing in my running life I've never been able to quit. Badwater.…

Pain 2/10 NWB boot-transition · badwater · ultrarunning

A retro-style illustration of Jesus with a halo on a black background, above the quote: 'Remember, God doesn't love people with small biceps.' Attributed, naturally, to Jesus.

Day 21Boot / Transition

Personal Jesus

Today was an awesome day. And not just because it's exactly 3 weeks post-op. And not just because my foot got its first bath. And not just because it's…

Pain 2/10 NWB boot-transition · milestone · strength-training

A meme in bold white text on a black background: 'I asked the ER doctor if I could do my own stitches. She said, Suture self.'

Day 20Boot / Transition

Footloose

THE STITCHES CAME OUT!!! Hooooooooraaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy... one more step (har-har) towards recovery. We are 3 weeks in, and today Dr. Stein popped his head in…

Pain 2/10 NWB boot-transition · milestone · stitches