Cast off, boot on. What to expect from physio?
December 20, 2009My cast was taken off last Tuesday, seven weeks and six days after my ATR. I’ve now got an Aircast boot with one wedge in it.
Just after the cast came off the consultant did the Thompson test and my toes moved, which was quite a relief. He asked me to push my foot down on his hand, and I was able to put some pressure on. Likewise lifting it was fine too. So that was all excellent news, and seemed to show things are going to plan.
My calf muscle is much smaller but there’s still quite a bit of mass there, even if I can’t tense it fully at the moment.
So, I was given an Aircast boot, and told everything looked fine and I was discharged. I had my physio assessment booked for the next day.
It all felt like great progress, but I left the first physio session feeling confused. The chap I saw was fine in that he checked the tendon again and was reasonably upbeat about how things were going. But he wouldn’t give me a good idea on how things might develop from here.
He said the Aircast boot was not totally necessary as I could be doing my PWB in shoes. This was surprising, but he said I should keep using it until my next appointment, which is on 6th January. I have a maximum of six sessions on the NHS, but I might only need 2 or 3.
Does that sound right? I have a sheet with some exercises I can do at home, but I get the feeling from other blogs that some physio is very hands on and more frequent.
Anyway, I am taking it as an indication that things are going well. But, I’d really like to spend a decent session with a physio who’ll take me through the exercises, and give me strong indication of how much I can push the tendon. Hopefully that will happen in the new year.
I don’t want to sound like I’m moaning, but some more answers from consultants and physios who are treating me would be very, very welcome. Thank goodness for this website! Happy Christmas!