Week 8 - Help with Getting Off Crutches?

Posted on December 21st, 2015 by adamw

Hi All,

I hope everyone is recovering well.

I’m now 8 weeks post-surgery and recovering fine, but still can’t seem to be able to ditch my crutches.  I had a complete tear to my right Achilles playing soccer in October.  Unfortunately I have suffered multiple injuries to this leg in the past (broken tibia and two pulled hamstrings), so my leg was probably a bit weaker from these past injuries.

The Dr. wanted to wait two weeks for swelling to subside then had successful surgery.  I was in a cast for four weeks, then moved into a MaxTrax Boot.  At that point I was also cleared to start aquatic therapy 2x per week.  Unfortunately the boot was causing major rubbing and soreness on the top of my foot and heel, so at my 6 week appt., my Dr. moved me to a Aircast boot instead (which helped) and prescribed another 4 weeks of aquatic therapy 2x per week.  I haven’t been cleared for land PT or any home exercises yet.  So all I’ve been doing is the aquatic therapy for now.

I feel like I’m making some modest progress but it’s frustrating that I can’t seem to put more pressure on my foot at this point to get off my crutches.  Given that it’s been 8 weeks, I thought I would be farther along and off my crutches by now.  Perhaps the two weeks prior to surgery and two weeks dealing with the original boot set me back some?  Or the lack of starting any land PT?  My swelling is pretty contained at the site and in my ankle/foot area but I have a bit of atrophy/swelling (disfiguring?) by my calf.  They said this will go away when land PT starts?  Also the Aircast doesn’t allow for any ankle ROM, so the only ankle movements I have been doing are in the pool 2x per week.  I go back to the Dr. again in a week, so hopefully I will be cleared to start land PT at that point so I can begin strengthening my calf and doing more ankle ROM.

In the interim, I’d welcome any advice or suggestions from anyone here on things that helped you transition off the crutches.

Thanks,
Adam

13 Comments »

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  • bobbie24 | February 7th, 2016 | 8:29 am

    Hello 1step, don’t be confused, we have all had different experiences given our orthopaedic surgeons all have different techniques & protocols.
    I came out of surgery in the boot & no wedges and was told I could FWB subject to pain tolerance as soon as I can. I managed that by the 6th day post surgery. For the first two weeks I was not to touch the boot, it had to stay on 24/7 until my first post op appointment 2 weeks later when the stiches were removed. From then I could take the boot off at night or when not walking, I was given exercises, only gentle ROM movements to start with and progressed to harder ones by the 8 th week when boot was gone & I was back in two shoes. At 8 weeks surgeon was very happy with healing and progress then he referred me on to physio for rehab. I’m in my 14th week and doing really well. When reading all the blogs you will see many of us have had different protocols and yet all coming along just fine. Read up, research, stay positive & committed, accept it takes time but there are little milestones you achieve weekly that motivate you and any concerns can be raised here as there will al

    [...]
  • Holly | February 4th, 2016 | 11:05 am

    1step,
    It sounds like you are moving along well but please be careful. I was also on a pretty aggressive rehab schedule but re-tore my achilles after 9 1/2 weeks. I could also stand on my foot before the first surgery and even move my toes and foot, but it was definitely ruptured. I thought I was doing SO well and then the re-rupture happened with a simple mis-step.
    If your doctor isn’t being responsive, maybe emailing him would get you a more thorough answer? I was pretty persistent in getting the protocol in writing the second time because everything was so vague the first time.
    Good luck!

  • 1step | February 4th, 2016 | 12:46 am

    Also my doctor has explained very little to me and treats me as if he doesnt have time for me.

  • 1step | February 4th, 2016 | 12:45 am

    Manny and Stuart, thx for ur reply. I am currently awaiting my own blog in which I will give mote details. I was first told I had a complete tear. At my first post op visit he tells me it was 85% torn. I had full weight bearing before the surgery already. I could stand on injured foot before the surgery so I was in total disbelief that I had a complete tear. I wish I able to post pics and or video. I can walk without boot right now as well. I take it off at night to sleep.

  • Manny | February 3rd, 2016 | 6:05 pm

    1step, I understand your confusion, since I, myself, was shocked to learn that some patients get to go full weight bearing (FWB) at their first visit with the orthopedist, after surgery or non-surgical, thanks to the marvel of the CAM Boot/MoonBoot with wedges.
    The wedges keep your foot with the toes poinding down, and the tendon repairs itself naturally, in its shortened position. Taking out wedges progressively allows for the tendon to repair itself gradually, replacing the scar tissue with new tendon cells… a fascinating process that my orthopedist explained to my wife and I when we questioned why I didn’t need surgery.
    I started putting weight and moving around as soon as I got my “MoonBoot” with wedges, at 2 weeks, and by 4 weeks was able to go full weight bearing and walk around in my boot.

    But recovery is a slow process. You are very lucky not to have any pain, and I hope it stays that way! Just trust your orthopedist, and then your physical therapist! :-D

    Manny

  • Stuart | February 3rd, 2016 | 3:31 pm

    1step - I doubt you have been misdiagnosed since they cut you open for a look. Early weight bearing is good. Yours is a bit earlier than most but not incommon. We have no information about the surgical procedure. My surgeon told me of a process called LARS which is an artificial tendon or ligament replacement. Used more commonly with ACL’s but it can have you up and about much quicker.

  • 1step | February 3rd, 2016 | 12:08 am

    Hi Adam, I am confused as ever reading ur post and others. Im actually wondering if I was misdiagnosed. I was told I had a complete tear. I had surgery on 1-16-16. I was put directly into a boot with 3 wedges. I went for my post op visit 10 days later on the 28th. After only 10 days I was cleared for bearing full weight. I actually walked out of office on my own. I was told after 2 weeks to remove another wedge and was scheduled my next visit in 4 weeks. I have zero pain and I can stand on the 1 injured foot by itself, that is why I feel Im missing something here. any thoughts

  • adamw | December 26th, 2015 | 10:52 pm

    Thanks Andy. This is very helpful. I’m hoping to get cleared to start land PT next week. I hope your PT continues to go well!

    Adam

  • Andyw | December 24th, 2015 | 3:13 am

    Hi Adam. Well my PT has me working on range of motion first, and strengthening the surrounding muscles. So, I’m on an exercise bike, 5 mins no resistance to get range of motion. Also he’s got me doing pelvic lifts while lying down and feet planted. This actually feels like I’m using the injured leg to push down in the floor/bed and thus putting weight on it. Finally he’s told me to keep trying to balance on two feet while standing, carefully of course. This will let me feel more confident in putting weight on the leg. I am to slowly lean towards my injured leg while standing. I’ve been doing that near a wall just in case I lose my balance. Hope that helps you.

  • adamw | December 24th, 2015 | 2:36 am

    Thanks Andy. My leg was also swollen a lot in the early weeks post-surgery. I found that elevating my foot above my heart and icing 3-4 times per day while elevating really helped to reduce my swelling. I don’t really have any swelling below the site now, but I still have some swelling/muscle atrophy above my site near my calf. Good luck with your recovery. And yes, if your PT says anything interesting or helpful, I’d definitely be interested in hearing!

    Thanks,
    Adam

  • Andyw | December 23rd, 2015 | 1:51 am

    Hi Adam

    I’m at the same stage, in an air cast boot and starting to wean myself off crutches although I’m at week 6. The doc gave me the go-ahead only yesterday. My leg is swollen below the site, down to the toes. For me it’s a confidence thing. I just don’t feel confident leaning on the injured foot. What I’m doing is to first start standing on both feet and trying to not use crutches. Also I’m doing the full range of walking motion with the injured leg, even if I’m not putting much weight on it. I figure I’ll get use me to that motion first then lean more on that leg as I go along. Tomorrow I’m going to PT again. If he says anything useful I’ll let you know.

  • adamw | December 23rd, 2015 | 1:16 am

    Thanks for the advice, Stuart. I’ve actually been trying to put more weight on it as I go. It doesn’t cause pain, but when I put too much on, I just don’t feel like I have much strength to hold myself up when transitioning onto my bad foot. I will try the exercises you suggested. I’m able to put pressure on my leg without pain, but do feel some soreness/discomfort afterward (probably due to it being so limited in use). But that eventually subsides. Again, I appreciate the input!

    Adam

  • Stuart | December 22nd, 2015 | 12:54 pm

    Adam - Many people find adding weight to the foot while they are supported with the crutches helps. You can then put more weight on as you go. The treatment so far including the surgery should not have put you back. If you experience a great deal of pain then back the weight off. You can also hold onto a bench and put your boot forward then rocking back and forth from your back foot to front. If it hurts when you put the weight on the bad foot then rock backward to take the weight off. If none of these work or give you too much pain then it is something you should discuss with your doctor.