So I started physio again… In the spring after the first rupture with conservative treatment I commenced the PT only after I got out of the boot, at 12 weeks.  Then I started with strengthening exercises right away. The first heel raises felt pretty awful.

Now however, I am still in the boot with FWB  so I am allowed to do only range of mobility exercises, gentle stretching with an elastic band. My favourite exercises are the towel sweeping and scooping on the floor. They especially feel good, I think my toes and front of my foot are the weakest, they are eager to move again. The PT wants to see me 3 times a week, they use ultrasound and laser, and massage it with a homeopathic cream,  called Traumeel, to soften the scar tissue.

Though I got the boot 11 days ago, I still can not manage without the crutches yet,  but the last two days  I walked around with only one crutch. It is very disappointing, as the first time I managed to ditch the crutches 2 days after I got the boot. After 2 rounds of immobilization my leg is very weak.  However I am very happy with how the scar is healing and how little swelling I have.

At our hospital the surgeons make the lower part of the incision curve towards the inside of the foot not straight down the tendon, so we will be able to wear high heels more comfortably in the future! :)  Nice. Looking forward to it!

Though most ATR patients (good word - it really describes our situation, patience is what we have to learn first of all!) have surgery I see lots of frustrated bloggers here who re-ruptured after conservative treatment.

I would like to do an absloutely un-scientific survey about the success rate of the conservative treatment.

Who had conservative treatment, was it a full rupture, did it re-rupture, if yes when?

I would like to hear from people who did not re-rupture after at least 6 months. Though a year is a more sure thing I guess.

Looking forward your reply.

I had the visit with the surgeon.  He was happy with the healing of the incision and adjusted my boot right up to 0 degrees.  He said I can start physio therapy and FWB in the boot and gradually get rid of the crutches. He will see me in 4 weeks.

Getting rid of the crutches does not seem as easy as the previous time, it has been 3 days, but can not do without them yet. For some funny reason it is the front of my foot, on top, and my toes that are too sensitive.(or weak?)

The physio therapy will be just ultrasound, and stretching, he prohibited doing strengthening or swimming yet.  Oh well.  My calves look miserable.

But I am happy about the lack of swelling. When I was going through conservative treatment in the spring, I had lots of swelling. This is totally different. Also I used to have a bump at the site of the injury. Now after surgery it hardly looks different from my good leg. That might get worse I guess if I start walking in 2 shoes.  As I can not walk much with the crutches (my wrists are killing me!) I  kept my leg elevated most of the day.

And what a joy finally sleeping comfortably through the night! I tried to sleep with the boot for a few days, but it is worse than in the cast. I gave up.

So 4 more weeks of the boot alas no vacuuming. Yuppie!

….. humming along U2

Finally after 5 weeks  I got my boots!

As it was a 2nd rupture (first in February) I was kept in cast for over 4 weeks this time.  I still have to use the crutches, as my boot is fixed at 30 degrees angle ( we do not use wedges here) . I am allowed partial weight bearing (whatever that means) and will go back in one week to see the doc, hopefully for full weight bearing afterwards.

No matter how good fibre glass casts are, I had enough.

This was my 4th month altogether without driving …. 1 more to go. I read lots of good books and am really running out of things to do in a chair…

Being 2nd round within half a year ; all together 11 weeks in cast ; my calf muscles are terribly atrophied. I am eager to start moving. But not allowed to do strengthening yet.

The boot is so much more comfortable. The scar looks decent, counted 20 clip marks in it. I noticed some lucky people have smaller incisions.

Doc claims he stitched it together so well one has more chance to rupture the other leg not this one.  Hope he is right. (not that I intend to rupture anything more!)