Rupture to Recovery

Sounds like you are on the right path Bigred,
I haven’t seen my surgeon between the 2 month and 4 month appointments, it was the PT who decided how to progress. Anyways at 4 months (quick glance at my scar, that was all the exam) the doc told me I can jog or whatever I want (no jumping yet though).
Besides the physio I also went for massage, as the insurance pays for it, why not to have some fun. Had the good calf massaged, too, it worked double time for a long time, it deserves it!
Enjoy your heel raises! Cheers.

Thank you everyone once again for great comments.

2ndtimer - I’ve renewed my gym membership and at the pool, slowly but carefully testing and self-rehabbing.

Doug, I have a tonne of admiration for your bravery and strength to get back into things juggling everything you have! Keep up the great work!

Mari, thank you! I’ll mention at my next appt.

Very cool Kath!! I’m glad to pass along the gift of music. Your son will be the coolest kid on the block, as I’m sure that this band is just up-and-coming and will be making more in-roads and becoming more popular as time goes on.

Happy New Year everyone! All the best to you in your recoveries in a new decade!

B-
Had to pass on that I played some of your blog music for 19 year old son and “we were promised jet packs” CD has appeared on his Christmas list.
K.

I’m 10 weeks out and have had 2 weeks of PT now.
Yesterday was a big day for me at PT.

I do believe it helps.

It is annoying how casual so many docs are about how long we are out of commission, isn’t it? They do the surgery, see us for a few minutes now and then over the next few months, and seem to give little thought to our recoveries and how they impact our lives. I had a mixed experience with my ATR.

On one hand, I’m very unlucky to have a big, strong daughter with autism and severe behavior problems, so any time is a terrible time to have an injury like this. On the other hand, I’m very lucky because my doc put me in a removable splint after my surgery, which left me free to use my medical training and my sports background to fashion my own rehab program.

Had I followed my doc’s advice, I would have been NWB and doing nothing but light stretching for the first 6-7 weeks, and my wife might have chosen suicide by the time I recovered. Instead, I was walking in my shoes in 3-4 weeks, holding up my body’s weight on my injured foot’s toes in 8-9 weeks, and my wife survived the ordeal.

Someone said recently that this recovery is not a race, and that is true. Still, we all have somewhere to go, so sitting at the starting line i

I wonder why some docs do not like physio….
Anyways, you can always go to a clinic, and pay out of pocket.
OHIP covers only at the hospital - and they may be too busy, or closed for the holidays indeed… To build the calf muscle back and get into good habits it would be useful. Or you can try on your own - the pool would be a good place to start - but do not slip there!

B-
Kind of funny that my anti-spam phrase for this comment is “get better.” I have been going to PT twice a week. Maybe this stuff will help. I see 3 different people b/c of scheduling and here is what I get out of it: One thinks the key is strengthening of bum leg and has me do various leg extensions and lifts. Two says I gotta stretch so has me focused on basic calf/tendon (runner warm-up) standing stretches and theraband stretches. Three just keeps saying, “Gee. It’s still so tight.”, and makes me feel hopeless and eventually leads to tears, usually in the car on the way home. They all have me do warm-ups on the bike and all recommend rolling the foot/ankle around on a ball while stuck sitting around. They also agree on the importance of trying to walk w/o limp (so sloooow, so hard) and to help with that I bought a cane on their recommendation. I kept leaning with one crutch, thus the cane. You don’t rely on it so much for WBing, but it helps the stride, maybe w/ balance?? They all do a great massage. I’m pretty diligent about massaging scar because I had adhesions with an arm injury and I’d like to avoid that! No one has giv

Hey Kath, no rickrolls intended, I didn’t even think of that actually! But isn’t that song awesome or what? Congrats on getting sans boot! I felt the same way about missing the boot, oh that’s hilarious! Wait 2 weeks after walking, you’ll be happy you got rid of the boot with the progress. The hard work is worth it! Cheers!

B

B-
I keep forgetting to ask…were you rickrolled or were we?
Also,after PT today, I’m w/o the boot in the house! Never thought I’d say it, but I miss the boot… so safe and fast! But believe me, I’ll get over it.
K.

Happy belated Thanksgiving Kath! Good luck and have fun with those patient therapists!

As always, 2ndtimer, thank you so much for your great tips!!! I’m doing just that!

Mari: I guess comfort standing in shoes depends on how you’re progressing. I recommend the patient “slowly but surely” approach. My progress started as putting a bit of weight on the foot while on crutches in the boot. I would touch heel to toe in steps as it was comfortable. As it got easier, I put a bit more pressure on the foot. It gradually got me to a point where I would stand on the foot while in the boot without crutches but having the security of the boot. And so on…. so basically baby steps. When I was told to get into shoes I started by just walking indoors in shoes but in boot outdoors (for safety). I can tell you that after 2 days in each “new” phase, I could sense better comfort and confidence moving around that way. But definitely be careful! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask and I’ll pass along what I know.

Brian

I’m at 8 weeks as well and still in the boot.
Can you stand in shoes?
I’m worried my right leg won’t support me when I put shoes on.

Love the video! congrats!

Congrats Bigred!

I do not think you will miss the boot… just give it another day and you will never go back!
Keep moving your ankle, as many times a day as you can think of it (when you are sitting for a while it is a good idea to warm it up, move it around before you get going, it is probably stiff) . Ideal place is a hot bathtub - I used to always take showers, but since my injury the evening bath is my treat. Turn your foot in and out, up and down slowly and gradually it will become more flexible.
To my disappointment my foot still can not be flexed as much as the good one, but it is quite good. Maybe doc just wanted to stitch it together real well so it won’t come apart again…
And yes, there is a bump where it was reattached…

Congrats on getting to 2 shoes.

Let me be the first to congratulate! I saw doc yesterday and I am supposed to work into shoes in the next 2 weeks. He doesn’t want to see me for a month and turned me over to the therapists. After getting yelled at via phone by Doc’s nurse last week that I had to wear the boot all the time (which made me super cautious) I was not very ambitious with the boot - always used my crutches - so he suggested getting the confidence to go boot no crutches, then shoes with one crutch as interim steps. I wish he’d told me that last time - I would’ve tried harder to progress. I’ll be glad to work with therapists b/c they take time to answer ALL the questions. None of my providers ever seemed like they were on the same page with this thing. I have a lot of swelling after the foot has been down so shoe is hard to imagine. I don’t think I have the bump thing on the tendon but everything around it and ankle is super tight. Happy Thanksgiving!

Brian:
I made it exactly 1 1/4 nights with the boot at night. Into hour 2 on night 2, the room was filled with that sound of undoing the velcro with wild abandon and I never looked back! I had a great physio (we are all starting to get a little British, sounds so much cooler than PT) today and it was with a different person w/ more experience in this area. My other guy is good, but I feel like he was okay with just getting me functioning, as opposed to active. The woman today had me on the bike to warm up, starting a balance board (seated!), and doing some strengthening for the rest of my wasted left leg. Also worked on my PWB gait so that I get out of the habit of doing that “lifting the foot” thing that you mentioned above. She really stressed the importance of regaining my ROM to get the swelling down, too. I feel like there is hope, if I can just get over the fear of hurting it! I’m not working so I go bootless (and shoeless) at home and wear the boot for protection when I am out in the world. The type of boot I have prohibits a normal stride because of the big sole so I seem to make more progress without it. Therapist enc

***2ntimer: Thanks for the tip on people watching at a cafe! Great idea!!

***Kath: yes, I do get swelling after a while around the ankle and foot as well. I haven’t really worried about it during the day, I just “inspect” my foot afterward at the end of the day/night. I figure if it’s not causing me pain, then it’s not a big deal. I know that the aircast doesn’t have the greatest cushioning for me to walk around all day with it, especially on concrete. As fyi, when I’m not standing, I do tend to elevate the leg on the couch. I wonder if it’s my subconscious thinking it’s a good thing since I did the same while in the hard cast. Other than that, how are things on your side? I know you were having a bit of a rough go sleeping at night, are things more comfortable now? Are you still wearing the aircast at night?

***Doster: Nice to meet a compatriot in the same rupture to recovery timeframe. I’m amazed you fast-forwarded to shoe so quickly. Very cool to start the physio and seeing progress. Congrats!

For me, I have “okay” ROM when wiggling the foot. I recall that when I first moved out of the hard cast, my tendon was

Hi Bigred, wow that’s an excellent scar and healing. I’m around 7 weeks post-surgery and I still have quite a piece of dried blood at the lower part of the incision which really restricts my ROM. I got into the boot last week and will remain NWB for another 3 weeks. Like Kathy above, I’m experience some swelling around the foot and ankle, especially at the end of the day. Just wondering if you have any of these conditions?

Good luck with your recovery!
Mike

Bigred - that’s one sexy little scar you’ve got there! And off to the side too, so it won’t rub on your shoes.
We’ve had a lovely autumn here too and it breaks my heart to see dog and husband go off for a romp in the woods without me. But won’t be too long before I can join them. Funnily enough, dog has developed a mystery limp in her front left leg. Can’t see anything wrong with it so reckon she’s taking the p**s out of me!
I like the neighbourhood cafe idea - as long as it is one of those special cafes where they serve beer!
Smoley

bigred, how’s everything. i see we had surgery just a few days apart, and was wonder how far along you’ve been coming. i’ve noticed my doctor has had a more conservative approach, after surgery i was in a hard cast (also up to my thigh) for six weeks, and he didn’t put me in a boot, right to wearing a sneaker with some heel insert. i’ve been going to therapy for a week and a half now, and have noticed a lot of improvement in my range of motion, but my foot is still very stiff, and i when i first move it in the morning i need a little assistance from my hands.

hope everything is going great for you

don

Hey Brian:

I agree- scar looks most excellent. I saw my Doc Wednesday and was given the go ahead to “bear weight as tolerated.” So I’ve been going 2 crutches and trying to find the happy balance between progress and risk. I am with you on the “acceptance” phase idea. This feels a lot like a plateau and I have to remind myself that if patience truly is a virtue, I should work on gettin’ some. I spoke with a friend today who did this last year. Because of his tear, and a conservative doc, he was in a cast to his THIGH for 6 weeks! He is playing soccer now and assured me that I have to trust that the rehab will come and not let the frustration cause me to do something stupid. After a couple of hours moving on with life I have foot/ankle-swelling. Do you get that? If so, do you stop and elevate or just forge ahead?
Kathy

Very nice scar Bigred! It seems very thin!

Yes, we will have to make up for the lost milage on the trails next year…. Till then, try some people watching at the neighbourhood cafe. Shopping is the worst enemy, never realized it takes so much time till every minute on my feet counted heavily!

I had to specifically ask for recommendation for physio - and I got one. Both surgeons were kind of humming with not much conviction about the physio available at the hospital. My experience is that at the hospital they basically just want to make patients be able to manage on their own, to be able to climb stairs and get in the bathtub, that is good enough for them, they are so overwhelmed. I mostly saw elderly patients there. I was seen 3 times and then told I can manage the rest on my own, I seem to be doing well.

Dr Dan was pretty quick in his visits with me though I did get to see him however briefly every time I went in to St Mikes. I didn’t get ANY recommendation for physio at all, which I thought was unusual, but I didn’t ask either. It always felt like he thought I had a handle on things since I had so few complaints.

I think i’m one of the fastest healers here. I’m just shy of being 9 wks Op and just given the ok to start to try to jump rope.I’m walking with a slight limp. I started strength training two days ago. I never had pain and always had full range of motion (it was a full rupture). It’s best to just chill until your 8th week mark (I didn’t). But until that time you could elongate it and then your screwed.

2ndtimer: Doc mentioned physio briefly, I’m guessing that may be at 8 week timeframe - so maybe my next appointment in 3 weeks may be the last one before I start physio? And to be proactive, I did call a Sports Rehab Clinic near me just to see about availability and they said they’re available but wouldn’t touch me until after I’m discharged from doctor.

I get a bit of contribution from work benefits for physio, and definitely plan to work hard to get back to top form. Thx for the tips. I’ve been reading your blog to see what sort of exercises they’ve had you doing too.

Kath: Thx for your perspective! I’m trying similar follow-throughs of walking motion. On your side, don’t lose hope! You’ll get there! I have swelling too. I’m trying to bear it, but I’m finding I get tired quickly. I think our progress will be slower from here forward, so maybe we should just focus on progress and ‘quick wins’ and not worry about making the ‘big’ milestones so much. Until next time!

I have an MD friend who refers to Ortho Surgeons as the carpenters of the medical profession… all about putting pieces together perfectly and would just as soon wish a person wasn’t attached. It’s so frustrating and I feel like I’m wasting everyone’s time in the office with my questions. I feel fortunate that I was immediately referred to a PT and got in for a consult the day I was surprised with the boot. He answered a bunch of questions and coached me in NWB walking (oxymoron!) with boot and crutches. I go slowly with boot, sort of rolling the bad foot to maintain the range of motion in my entire leg. Doc had noted I could be 10% wt-bearing so PT had me press flat bare foot on digital scale so I could be aware of what 12#s pressure was and to not overdo. Frankly, at 6.8 I was wincing (wimp!). Anyway, so far I hate the boot. Only good thing is, it comes off. I did a bunch of stuff yesterday with no rest and elev. & today I am paying with swelling and pain. PT again tomorrow-hope I learn new tricks!

Hi Brian,
Great news you manage to walk around without crutches.
I have the impression keeping patients in the boot and no serious strengthening up to 8 weeks is kind of standard around here. Doc did not recommend physio yet?
I tried the physio at the hospital (because that is covered by OHIP - but there was a waiting list of 6 weeks) and I found it very inferior to the one recommended by the surgeon. (because of the waitling list I started going there first - and stuck with them. I know if I have any questions they will answer. Wonderful support. )
You should ask around for a good PT and it is worth paying for it (or if you have insurance).
The massage of the scar tissue and ultrasound seems beneficial.

Paulette. Thanks for considering me one of the girls. Definitely sounds like a very aggressive recovery schedule for you! I guess the main thing is if you feel comfortable and aren’t hurting yourself doing it, then it can’t be bad. But it seems like everyone here seems to have such different approaches to recovery from their docs. I agree the boot is heavy. I’m looking at the positive that it will help build the muscle again by having a bit of extra weight to lift for a while. I wish you all the best in your progress!

Stroh: Thanks! And best of luck for your recovery! Hopefully some of my learnings I’m passing along will help others.

2ndtimer: I’ll have to ask about the white tape next time. I admit I’m a bit afraid to see just what it’s going to look like without the tape, definitely good for Halloween though.

2ndtimer+Kath: Agreed. This boot is definitely hotter and more uncomfortable to have on. Since I feel somewhat comfy putting some weight down and knowing I’ll be careful in my steps, I’ve loosened the strap around the foot to give a bit of air breathing room. It seems to help a bit.

My first night in t

So… slept in the boot last night. Very uncomfortable. I was so scared of letting the foot ‘freewheel”. Out of desperate sleep deprivation popped half a percocet at 1 a.m. and slept like a baby. I have been Tylenol only for weeks and I’m a real lightweight with meds, but I was near tears (ok, in tears). Tonight hubby is back so maybe I’ll try w/o boot b/c if anything happens he can pick up the pieces. Making peace with my post-op foot. I don’t have a cankle, but rather a heenkle (heel/ankle). Wound looks tidy, but man do I BRUISE!! Showed it to 15 yr. old daughter for sympathy points- it worked

I was puzzled by the white tape and when I asked, the nurse told me I can remove it myself, best once it is wet in the shower. I felt squeamish having to do it myself - but it was all right.
I was taking showers (not bath) until I saw that the wound was all well closed and dry.
My surgeon told me to PWB for a week and put more weight on it as I feel it comfortable. I guess you need to get used to the 0 degrees also.

So did you sleep in the boot?
It was such a joy to be free, I found trying to sleep in the boot worse than in the cast. (I was told to - but I could not take it - the boot is bulkier and hotter than the cast)

Good Day and Congratulations on your milestone………happy to hear things are progressing along for you. I have my first post op appointment on November 3……..I’m pretty excited to say the least. Cut off the old cast, take out the sutures…..get a good look at how the foot is healing up. I’ll be sure to ask some questions as well……..hopefully my boot-wearin’ days aren’t too far off! Best wishes on your recovery………..Stroh!

Hi girls, I had my 2 week post op today to remove stitches. I had been in a splint only NWB with my foot pointed down. I expected another splint with a degree change for 2 weeks. My doctor surprised me and wants me to start wearing my boot now NWB with crutches. Over the next 2 weeks he wants me to keep removing one of the wedges (3 to start) with the hopes of getting to 90 degree(flat foot) at the end of the 2 weeks.( I’m going to double check that timeframe with the nurses in the morning) Then I am suppose to start 25 % weight bearing ( this would be 4 weeks post op) then 50 %, 75 % until full weight bearing on a flat foot still with crutches thought not walking. when I return to the Dr. in 4 weeks (at that time I would be 6 weeks post op), I don’t like the boot, it is so heavy and I am feeling soooooo old “60″ I’m using the boot for 1-2 hours at a time, mostly setting just to stretch the calf & tendon gradually. It does burn a little, but seems to be able to handle it. Then I remove to boot to give my leg a break while hobbling on the crutches. He also has no problem with me sleeping with out the boot (this is only 2 wee

Hey Kath! Congratulations to your milestone! I’m probably not PWB. My doc doesn’t really give me much info for each appt, so I’m probably premature in saying that. I’m still full crutches too, but being able to put some weight on the foot without pain feels like such nice progress I probably want to say I’m PWB sooner than I really am… we’ll have to compare our progress along the way! Cheers!
Brian

Hey! I got out of a cast today and into a boot, too. I am 4 weeks post-op and I was expecting another cast at the doc visit today. I don’t know why I was so clueless. I think I’ve read too many of these blogs late in the night and others’ experiences have taken over my brain. My boot is much shorter than yours and way less “bionic” and much more “frankenstein”. I am supposed to still be pretty much NWB - still crutching full time.The foot feels so weird and fragile on its own. It’s liberating and scary all at the same time. It was suggested that I sleep in this beast. Good luck to us both!

I love this. Thanks for sharing, everyone! and good one, 2ndtimer! But no thank you!

Short term - getting out of cast and starting to rebuild my leg
Long term - Watching Strictly Come Dancing with my girls (I think it’s called Dancing with the Stars in the US) without wanting to murder all the dancers for having such bloody good legs.
Smoley

Short Term: Developing a calf again and gradual stretching of the tendon
Long Term: Bounding up the stairs without thinking about my leg and running another marathon.

Short Term: Out of cast and into boot–start PT
Long Term: Walk 3 miles with no limp and minimal pain

What a lame excuse! An ATR should not stop you! In 2002 Canadian athlete Jeff Adams became the first person in a wheelchair to climb the CN Tower. (took him six hours to go up the 1776 stairs) You missed the opportunity, could have been the first to do it with crutches maybe!

My goal: being able to walk WITHOUT remembering my tendon down to the harbour and back, 7K. I will let you know when that happens…

Smoley: I did check out Show of Hands on Youtube and they sound amazing! That Santiago is especially good! Sounds like it would have been a great concert! As for embedding video, as you can see with my post, I had some issues in the overall post trying to do it, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. :^) Next time I post inspirational songs/videos, I’m just going to pass the Youtube URL.

Pendersnitzel and 2ndtimer: Great advice. I guess I was a bit optimistic that it was a unique experience that he didn’t chit-chat at all, but that pretty much negates any polite wait-my-turn manners that I may have previously allowed for.

I went to see The Cult at Massey Hall 2 months ago, seats weren’t too bad at all.

Ultidad: Yes, unfortunately. And it’s interesting to watch the progress of Obama’s push and significant backlash against government funded health care. Definitely good and bad. But I’m thinking, like 2ndtimer said, that this is primarily a surgeon issue. I’ve never had my family doctor act that badly.

But glad to hear everyone is still making sure to get out and enjoy life.

I’m thinking that Feeling the Pull

Wow, guys, from my understanding of the Canadian system, I would’ve thought that you could demand a little more attention from your surgeons. Guess I know less than I thought I did.
Re: concert-going, I went to a magical Lyle Lovett-John Hiatt concert when I was in the boot, last week (when I was just shy of 5 weeks). Luckily, we were in box seats that had regular, moveable chairs. They played for 2 1/2 hours and I did feel a little sore towards the end, but it was well worth it.

Yep, sounds familiar. This is OHIP. These guys have 20 patients booked per hour.
Pendersnitzel is right: as soon as he enters start asking the prepared questions next time.
And no news is good news.
I guess if they were chatty people they would have become surgeons but family physicians…

Massey Hall’s seats are not too comfortable though….

Loved the music….Yeah, 1 week post op I figured not much for Doc to do but look at the incision and say “looks good” or “looks bad”. My Doc spent about 10 mins with me on first visit and about 15 with me on 2nd.. Most time spent with people that do the cast stuff.

One thing I have learned….don’t chit chat. From minute he comes in, start asking your questions…He is at work and has many more patients to see after me.

Like someone else said, keep it elevated, don’t feel bad when left alone all day on the sofa. My wife makes me a lunch, snacks, etc. and leaves next to me on the sofa…When she walks out the door, I am on my own til she gets back. My world consist of laptop and TV… I am situated so that I can see outside, that helps.

Keep on keepin’ on!

Bigred - Great song! And great idea to get out and about like a real person. It takes a bit of extra effort (actually a lot of extra effort on crutches!) but I’m always so glad I did. It’s all too easy to take root on the sofa. We went out last night to see a British band called Show of Hands which you might like. I haven’t quite sussed out how to put the YouTube link into the blog, but if you bash Show of Hands into the YouTube search bar it all comes up. Santiago and Cousin Jack are my favs.
Smoley
P.S. I hope your doctor is better with the scalpel and sutures than he is with his people skills!