“Boot?”
I’ve been cast free for 24 hours. Yeah!!
Yesterday the doctor sawed off the purple cast. He told me to swing my leg around (off the table) and show my fullest range of motion. He nodded in appreciation of his masterful technique and began writing in my file. I stared at the reduced, ashy appendage that had once been my right foot. I moved it again and felt the stiff tightness so many have already mentioned. The wound was caked with dried blood and scabs. The doctor looked up and casually said “Don’t pick at it. Let it fall off naturally. You can do harm otherwise.”
As I became aware of my husband’s picture taking, the doctor rose, handed him my papers for physical therapy and turned to me and smiled proudly. “So, that’s it. I’ll see you in four weeks.” I articulately quipped, “Huh?”
I was surprised; it was over too quickly…but hey, hang on a minute, where’s my boot?
I’d been online. People had given me answers, sent research articles. I’d even looked at several types of walkers and learned the prices so I wouldn’t get ugly insurance coverage surprises. I recovered quickly and before his lab coat disappeared I asked “Don’t I need a boot? I haven’t put any weight on my foot since the injury. I don’t want to re-injure myself between now and my rehab.”
He looked both surprised and indignant. “You don’t need a boot. Your tendon is fine. You should start walking. You are going back to Nkem, right? (Nkem was my PT from a previous injury/surgery/rehab) He was perfectly composed and perhaps wondered why I had any doubts. I had to think.
“Yes,” I replied, “but I didn’t bring a right shoe. I should have a boot…to protect your work.”
“Okay, you can have a boot. You don’t need one. Okay, all right. You can soak your foot in warm water, but don’t pick at the scabs. Let them fall off. Stand up…put your heel down.”
I actually didn’t have a problem putting my foot flat on the floor. As I slowly put weight on it I felt the weirdest sensation in my heel. Eeeeew. When I looked up he was gone. A few moments later the nurse came in, asked me my shoe size. I had my boot. What mystifies me is that if I hadn’t learned about this site and read the other accounts, I would have happily, yet nervously, hobbled out of the office. This afternoon I took a walk, outside, by myself. I carried my crutches and wore my boot. I walked to the corner, only one house length, and back. It took forever. I was really tired, but so truly happy to have a tiny bit of independence again.
DEAD DRY SKIN [This can be upsetting.]
Following my doctor’s advice, I placed my foot in warm water with a little Detol. As I rubbed the bottom of my foot gently the water began to cloud. The dry skin was literally falling away into the water. I was shocked; I never realized how much skin humans shed. The stuff had been accumulating in the cast with nowhere to go. My little foot was easily a two-loofah job. Today the flakes continue to fall. Not pretty. At least I can hide it in my inflatable boot.
Okay, so how do I change my profile from NWB to PWB?
July 24th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
You and offdib had the same posts tonite about insisting on a boot! Pretty funny.
My 2 cents — you both were right!!
July 25th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Are you saying that the doctor was wrong to just release you in two shoes, and that you were right to insist on having a boot? In that case, I had better bring a boot with me next time! If I can find one online…
July 25th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I don’t blame you for requesting it and wanting to go cautiously. As I posted on my own blog this morning I learned of an acquaintance who had an ATR several years ago at 40-ish and ran a marathon 5 months later. I know people CAN do it, but how many people on that fast track re-rupture? Even if it is low, I don’t want to be one of the few. I don’t mind taking a few extra weeks with protection to get that much better. Good for you for educating yourself and taking an active role in your treatment. I did the same, but your doctor seemed to handle it a bit better, if he didn’t agree with you.
Heh. As useful as this site is, I wonder how many doctors would be interested in referring patients only to have them come back and question the protocols.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:17 am
What is the basic purpose of lab coats? They essentially protect the workers from dirt, grime and particulates apart from protecting them from bad chemicals.