No boot after 5 weeks = freaking out ..

I’m sure someone with experience will chime in but wanted to wish you luck. Two shoes is exciting news! Did he at least give you some exercises to do at home?

He said to flex up and down and to make circular motions but that’s it..didn’t say how many or how many times a day..
I’m just scared of a re-reupture..I can’t afford for it to happen again

No physio? Shoes after 5 weeks? Be careful… I’m not sure I could have done that.

Those are pretty much the same exercises my doctor recommended for me now. Based on other’s Dr.s rec’s I’ve been doing it three times a day. If you still have your boot, can you just wean yourself off slowly?

Check out bit.ly/UWOProtocol for a schedule from a team that doesn’t just FIX ATRs for a living, they document and publish their excellent results for a living! HALF of all MDs finished in the bottom half of their class. Every ATR patient who gets worse-than-average results (HALF of us!) had a Doc who did it — badly — for a living. The worst cab driver you ever saw did it for a living. I’d avoid that kind of dismissive arrogance myself, and look for a doctor who listens and learns and empowers your informed consent to YOUR treatment of YOUR leg. SOME “specialists” aren’t like yours. I wonder if he learns from the literature….

BG - I am really surprised. If the doc gave you no help other than tell you to put some lifts in your shoes then I would say it like giving your car keys to a 10 year old and say ‘teach yourself how to drive’. I know that it was the physio that got me through this injury. You are under no obligation to go back to this doc or do what he says and you can find your own physio without a referral. Having said that, it is your decision and this forum is more about giving you support and information so you can make an informed decision. Hope it goes well for you.

Wow! I didn’t even rupture my tendon just had it debrided and I am in my boot for 7 weeks plus at physical therapy. I would definitely just try to see if there is a second opinion you could get so you don’t end up rehurting yourself! Good Luck!

I’m still very reluctant about what he has told me to do. He was extremely offended when I questioned his directions. However, I am sure this is the way he treats all his achilles patients. I guess I have to trust that he knows what he’s talking about..I’ll give it a go but if I start to feel uncomfortable I’ll stop. He took my boot off me (long story but I’ll get it back), so I can’t even use it to learn to walk again….

If you need Physical therapy, you have a couple options depending on where you live. Since you called it physio you may be from out of the US and I have no idea about it, however. If you are from the US you can just see another doctor, explain everything, and probably get a prescription out of them. Some states have “direct access” laws and you don’t need to see a doctor first. They see you for a limited amount of time and then have to send paperwork to your doctor to get it approved(you can tell them which doc).

Just saw you live in Sydney. I don’t know about the laws where you live. Sorry!

BG - I have had a bit to do with surgeons over my time and most of them are arrogant. They think they are the fighter pilots of the medical profession. Spend some time on the phone calling a few physio’s and guage their response to what the doctor has told you. It will cost nothing. Not sure what suburb of Sydney you are in but I have called a couple there recently and have discussed treatments over the phone directly with the PT. I know it is a public holiday weekend so it will have to wait until Tuesday. Take it easy around home. Hope you have someone with you most of the time. If you were playing netball with a team there should also be some medical insurance available to pay for rehab. And yes, get the boot back. He no doubt took it because he thought you would not follow his direction. So far his methods seem outside any protocol, modern or otherwise, that I know about and I have read a few. To get a good result in the shortest time I feel you need some expert help. After talking to some experts you may be better informed and more confident about your own decision.

Hi Bored gemini, how are you getting on? I was out of the boot at 6+ weeks, so only a week more than yourself. I was given the choice of taking the boot home, or leaving it there, so I left it! I know from reading on here that its a rapid rehab compaired to most but apparently the hospital are getting good results. The physio for me is less than others seem to get across the world though. I saw the physio before I went home in shoes with exercises and help to initially walk, then 3 weekly after that. Physio is essential in order to advise you on what to do but also to assess how you are doing, for instance after my second physio appt he told me to reduce the achilles stretches as my range of movement was good and he didn’t want me to over lenghten it(or something like that, I can’t take it all in!)
I hope you are getting somewhere in getting the best treatment. Keep in touch.

Thanks Micah1. I am yet to attempt walking as I am still waiting for the shoe lifts to be put in my shoes. Hopefully they will be ready early next week. I am 6 weeks post op today so have probably fallen in line with the norm. I have exercises that I’m doing 2-3 times a day and massaging a bit myself. But by the time I start walking with the crutches I will be 7 weeks post op and maybe will be a bit more prepared to give walking a go. I think because I was NWB the whole time in the boot, walking seems very daunting and I do not want to go through a re-rupture. My surgeon seems adamant that no physiotherapy is required, so I have to go with it!!