wk 4 and Ultrasound 29th June
Well as always the circus of my local hospital continues….
I got to the hospital 45min before my ultrasound appointment, knowing that they would need to send me down to the cast room to have the cast removed…..even though this was not considered when the appointments were arranged.
It’s all done now, the scan specialist tells me everything is working ‘as one’ and from a scan perspective everything is as good as it could be.
People further into recovery than I am will already know this…. but just to be out of the fiber cast for those few minutes… it just felt so good for the leg to breath, and to be able do it feeling that your achilles is doing some work too it a brief respite.
Then a trip to the cast dept again, where (I assume to save money) a new cast is not applied, they simply bandage the old one back up.
All good so far, I am just glad that ultrasound scans are not required often and that the episodes where I have to manage a cast, an ultrasound and the two depts that don’t talk to each other are (I hope) over.
The patient care and the depts work excellently to help and do a great job, the administration, however, leaves much to be desired……the staff put up with a lot.
Still the time on crutches really does give you a deeper appreciation for those whom have to cope with this as part of their daily life for all their life.
I see the specialist Tuesday next week (5th week of foot in cast) and I am praying for a boot with a heel insert…….
Happy healing all 
Hi Andrew
I didn’t realise that ‘old’ casts were renewed in this way, especially as calf size usually changes and modern protocols often call for boot asap - saving resources I guess. Perhaps they are saving their money so that you can have a Vaco boot - no heel insert, adjustable ROM/hinged ankle, alternative soles, etc.
Are you doing any exercises yet, or weight bearing?
Good luck - and maybe no more scans…
Some people even get “split” casts held together with elastic (”Ace”) bandages. A simple boot, though not made for walking. I’d pray for a boot and also ask for one. They’re way better.
Hillie - I am kinda putting some weight on the toe area when I can.
In terms of exercise, I have been moving my foot and tensing my calf muscle (kind of pulsing then holding) but it all feels feutile…. the shape of the cast (equinus) really prevents me from doing much else.
I am certainly going to be pushing for the boot, I feel behind the ‘curve’ of effective recovery protocols already.
I never had a cast. My ortho put me in a fiberglass split that was held in place with elastic wraps. At my 4 week appt he took the splint off and into a walking boot for the next 4 weeks.
Between visits I would call my doctor about once a week and ask him if I could do more. Walk barefoot, sleep with the splint off, do my own PT etc. sometimes he said yes and sometimes he said no. Write your questions down and ask. You never know - he just might say “yes”.
As most people appreciate, muscle groups work together to action the required body movements. When injury happens, more strain and imbalance can occur elsewhere, even on the opposite side of the body. In the case of ATR weakness it is important to keep the thighs strong, and not only work on the calves. Poor posture and core strength too will affect the gait and balance, and I have heard that this can even cause an ATR.
Andrew, I’d talk to your physio about the exercises that you can be doing now while your AT is still relatively immobile.
I don’t have a physio attached to my case yet (damn you NHS).
I’ll make sure I ask about such things on Tuesday morning (I am going to be expressing quite strong needs for the walking boot)….it’s good advice thanks for the heads-up.
Hi Andrew
My treatment has been completely on the NHS, and it is very disappointing to read your comment. Just seems to confirm the varying experiences of those who post here.
I met the ortho consultant on first visit/diagnosis supported by ultrasound and Thompson test, then passed over to plaster tech for lightweight cast, and physio’s. Given my written protocol at that time.
Just 2 weeks in the cast, then the Vaco boot with fortnightly reviews, exercise instructions and adjustments by a senior physio. Boot was for 8 weeks, then 2 shoes. Able to start ‘gentle’ swimming earlier than that, at week 8, and barefoot in the house (carefully).
The week after that, physiotherapy continued at a nearer ‘cottage’ hospital, which itself has 2 NHS physiotherapists. I didn’t see the doctor again, although they were always available should the physio’s, or me, need additional advice.
I feel as if I am boasting but I’m not. Just fortunate enough to have been treated by specialists following or improving on current best practice.
I think you are right hillie, there’s definitely a variance on nhs treatments up and down the country.
So I hope at 5 weeks to be getting a rom boot and a physio regime, tomorrow.
There’s some flex in my (now)split cast so I have been Pwb on it cheekily today, it feels fine but I am well protected, the cast still prevents any real movement and the crutches keeps the weight bearing control high.
What are the things to watch out for if I do get a boot and decide to go to bed without it on, or would it be to soon to consider that?