Week 5 - Hey, can’t you see I’m walkin’ here!?
I started off the week frustrated about my status, feeling sort of useless and not knowing my next steps in this healing process. Aside from some general instructions to wiggle my foot in an up and down motion, I got no other instructions for exercises to start building up the strength or flexibility in tendon or calf. But I kept having these thoughts that there must be some opportunity to get the muscles going again instead of just letting it sit there and mend by time alone.
I had been exchanging a few e-mails with a work colleague and discovered that he also tore his tendon (once you get the injury, you realize just how many other people have had this injury but we’ve never known, because we’ve never asked!). He told me he purposely focused his doctors and physio people to get a more aggressive treatment to recovery and through sheer will was walking on the same day that he got out of his hard cast, on his own, immediately after it was taken off at the 4 week mark. I was amazed and inspired, and decided to try. I had to do something!
So I stood up with crutches and tried to test the weight. I started to notice a few days before that I could balance on the aircast and had no pain, but now I decided I was going to see if I could try some more steps with a bit more weight. Not so good, but not so bad.
Later in the day, I actually started to get okay!
Last night was the concert for the band Swell Season (some of my you may have seen sample Youtube video from a previous post - look them up on YouTube if you like the rock/folk genre). This is the first band where I VASTLY underestimated how big this band is - they practically sold-out all 2,800 seats of the beautifully acoustic Massey Hall. Seats were a bit tight up in the heights, but we managed. I am so glad I got to see this band, what an unbelievable show! www.theswellseason.com - currently N. American tour!) The only thing that was a bit of a challenge was climbing the 4 flights of stairs to get to my seats - there’s no elevator in the building to get there).
I think the stars aligned because without the strength or confidence in being able to walk in the cast, I would have had more trouble going up and down stairs and may not have had the strength to last.
Today’s doc appt lasted 10 seconds. I literally did not even know the doc had finished with me. They took out the lifts so seems I’m 90 degrees now. The message was “put weight on as comfortable, see you in 3 weeks”. I had to ask the ortho tech the other questions because the doc had already left. Aside: answer to white tape removal question: whenever they fall off is fine, no big deal.
Message to my doctor.
Hey doc. Remember me? No, I didn’t think so. Well, if you’d bothered to ask, you’d know I’m comfortable walking around, so that’s what I’m gonna do! And sorry doc, but you really are poor when it comes to patients. Though the surgery may be a successful one, and I am happy and thankful for this, you still need to TALK TO YOUR PATIENTS! It literally would have taken 2 minutes to explain the proposed plan for recovery.
All I really ask is that if there were others in more need, that you spent more time with them and that there was real value and help that was received instead of a nice paycheque that is behind your desire for speedy patient appointments.
I wish there was a way to get this feedback to doctors as a way they could improve. But I guess docs don’t really get performance reviews like we might at work.
Thanks for letting me get that out of my system. 
SO HERE WE GO!
Just measured my calves: right = 16″, left = 14.5″ all around.
From here on, I’ll take it slow but plan to see how I can take steps forward (no pun intended) to gradually get the muscles working and more flexibility/stretching of tendon, calf and ankle. I’m feeling pretty good that with the aircast, I’m going to be able to get out again and be a little more independent again.
Tomorrow I think I’ll get a haircut. (And much needed one, methinks! )
Cheers to everyone on their recovery paths!
Brian
p.s. And now for something completely different:
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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.
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!
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 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.
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 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.