Free Bird

Ohhhhh, what a day it’s been for my foot. First, let me clear up the great myth: when the doctor and the internet swore that pulling the pins out of my toe “doesn’t hurt,” they were, technically, correct. In the moment it didn’t hurt so much as it felt like pulling a bone straight out through the skin. There was a lot of pressure as the PA tugged, and since it took three or four tries per pin, I had plenty of time to really lock that sensation in. Think cracking a stubborn knuckle the way we did as kids, except the knuckle is a toe and the knuckle-cracker is a pair of pliers. Two pins were in there, and both came out the same way: pliers, grip, and one very determined pull.

But once I got home, the pain arrived, and boy did it come roaring back. I was cleared to take Advil, and I took a lot of it. Ripping a metal rod out of a bone it’s been sunk deep into for six weeks causes the same deep, throbbing ache as any bone cut, and today has been no different.

As I mentioned, I’m cleared to begin partial weight-bearing, and I’ve been able to hobble around the house sans crutches. But the second the foot starts talking, it’s right back to the bitch sticks. I also leaned on them to crutch up to my lifting appointment, because six weeks of keeping all my weight off the right leg means the leg has sort of forgotten how to leg, especially with a big metal boot latched onto the bottom half of it.

The crappy part is (hopefully) behind me now, and it’s all upward from here. I’m including some photos of the pins because, of course I am. The actual extraction video weighs in at a hefty 110MB, so rather than host it here I’ll point you to the Insta reel, where I’ve laid some soothing music over the top to dial back the goriness. Two pins lighter and one step closer to freedom, I couldn’t be happier with where we’ve landed, even as the foot keeps reminding me of everything it’s been through.

Free bird.