Confidence seems to be an issue for me right now, that and the two week gap between physio appointments.

The good news:

Exercises are doing great, walking is doing great (okay I still limp if I don’t focus, but it’s great if I shorten my stride ), I can walk up stairs on the balls of my feet (ATR leg starts on ball on lowers to flat though) and walking downstairs is not perfect but when I forget my injury I can canter down them quite easily….my atr leg now has more DF than my good leg (physio was worried it may heal long if I stretch more) so I am doing physio on the good one to stretch that one too

I do have a concern that the pain at the front of my foot comes and goes and is more apparent walking down stairs than any other exercise.

The physio and the timing (13wks)
My physio tells me to lay off doing standing calf raises and the exercise bike, treadmill etc and I am reminded by Sheena’s unfortunate re-rupture that I am still in the danger zone.

However, yesterday when I had to reach for something on top of the Kitchen cupboards, without thinking, I performed a standing calf raise on both feet to get what I wanted, there was more weight on the good one but it was only when I was fully extended that I realised what I was doing. The fear that it could POP even doing this hit me and gave me a bit of stress after the event - the lack of thought for just one moment at this point could of caused that undesireable consequence.

When I read other people’s blogs and they’re doing more at this stage, so in my mind I keep asking should I continue to be restrained or should I push through it - but also (it may just be my perception) it seems more of the surgical repair patients are doing more at this time period than the non-surgical.

So this is a kind of limbo post - It feels as though time has stopped, things I am doing now feel easy nor am I doing new things (which makes these exercises repetitive), the concern of the dangerzone ever present I probably should continue with what I have been instructed to do for this week and physio next Tuesday will be 14weeks hopefully they will test me abd allow me to push more to my limits rather than their own perceptions of what an ATR should be doing I’d like to include the bike, treadmill and possibly the cross trainer.

NOTE: By the time some people get to 15 weeks (2wks time), they’re able and allowed to do what this guy is doing in the video below (surgery 9th May 2009, video dated 22ng Aug 2009), jimminyc was cycling an 11mile round trip to work (surgical repair again 15weeks), Skutr was kickboxing!! I’ve not done any real strength/endurance exercises yet I am sure other ATR’s were also doing more but I can’t date things on most blogs without following the timeline and working it out so apologies if I missed any other capable rehabs

Well it’s a moment of relief and happiness with a new set of challenges ahead.

Having walked into the ortho center prepared for a challenging discussion, wearing my trainers and boot in hand, the guy just smiled at me, assessed the ankle, did a thompson test and stated they can do no more for me, everything looks great, I am now discharged and moved to physio…..so pleased and relieved.

The day started well - I only waited 20mins to get in and 10mins to get out (opposed to the 2.5hrs previously)

Then it got better - The physio was available to assess my status, I got in there in less than 5minutes from walking through the door and after some discussion and foot wiggling she was pleased with my progress (although we did discover that both of my feet invert well but not so good range the opposite way) - all that plus a physio therapy rehab appointment was available in less than a weeks time.

I was instructed to get me a tennis ball to roll around under my foot, to activate the balance sensors in my foot, I decided to get the marbles too.

Keeping the boot at the ready for those off-road/uneven surface walks was also mentioned at least for the next 4weeks.

Some advice I got about driving at the early stages - after a long motorway drive (1hr or more) don’t get out the car and go for long walks…..apparently the driving is a good workout for the right foot and a 30mins plus walk after would be putting the achilles at risk….don’t know how true this is with the modern protocols??

It’s not like winning the lottery but with this injury, things like this for me feel like massive wins….bring on the rehab

It’s that milestone…so pleased - two shoes, that’s normal shoes, slippers, barefoot, trainers no wedges

I drove a 140 mile roundtrip on Friday in my work shoes for a customer visit - the foot was sore when I got home and although I started off the day walking okay, there was a limp at the end of it, no additional swelling though and 1hr 30mins behind the wheel the shoes started to feel really uncomfortable (I may keep a pair of trainers in the car to drive).

I feel myself getting cocky a few times - stood up on the bed to change a lightbulb this morning and the foot sank into the big mattress - the ankle tightened up as I maintained my balance, I felt it and was able to shift my weight and breathe a sigh of relief - not out of danger yet must be vigilant.

Going down stairs - every ATR’s nemesis, at home, I can go down them okay, not quite fluent and adjusting my descent as per norms advice but normal…. I push myself to keep exercising though, the gains are less noticeable but still coming and now is not a time to consider easing up.

Still airing on the side of caution, the boot follows me wherever I go, on hand just in case I am going off-road (uneven surfaces etc) the boot is set to a cautious 15degs dorsi my ankle has more flex than that in it though

I am definitely and defiantly going into the hospital without my boot on for my review tomorrow (give me the physio!!!) and I may even go to the gym tonight and try some treadmill, cross trainer and stationary cycling….not sure about rowing though, any advice?

Happy healing all

While I am exercising and trying to gain more dorsi flexion I reach my max point, feel I can go beyond it and then get hit with some local pain at the front of the foot ankle area - the attached photo of a generic foot which I have marked for ease of explanation….. anyone have similar experiences or know why that is?