7 weeks post op 2
Today is 7 weeks since my operation on August 28th. By this, I mean my second operation and all future posts will be reference to the second op. I expect my rehab to be somewhat more than a year from this date since there is more trauma and healing will be slower than most. Let’s say October 2009 - wow, this sounds a long way off!
Yesterday I had my first physio post op 2. Sue said my leg was more swollen and tight than after op 1but I was expecting this. She gave me ultra sound and some quite painful massage. There is much work to be done to get the swelling down and she recommended that my wife Elaine helps by massaging it. I felt that despite the consultant’s advice that I take it easy for a couple of weeks, Sue wanted to get things moving straight away. She asked me to rise up on my toes. I found it difficult not to just use my good leg and could only put 10% on my bad leg. I also needed to hold onto to something to keep my balance. She told me to stop using the crutches as I can be FWB now and if necessary only use one to warn people that I am fragile. I need to start walking normally by taking short strides and pushing with my toes on my bad leg. I really have to concentrate to do this, I have not walked normally for 15 weeks and I have forgotten how. There were a couple of other exercises intended to stretch the AT.
I mentioned to Sue that Elaine and I wre planning a break and had booked a couple of nights at a Spa Hotel at the end of October. Sue said that using the pool will give me good hydro therapy and suggested some exercises.
This morning my leg was really tight, much tighter than yesterday. Perhaps this was the result of the physio and my attempts at walking. It took a lot of work to get it going. I have been in more pain today as I have been trying to walk.
Inspired by another blogg I took some photos of my ankles and legs. It might help if I can see the swelling go down. I was quite shocked to see the difference between the two legs. I will try to take photos each month.
I managed to do a bit in the garden and even some housework this morning to keep mobile. This pleased Elaine when she got in - this is quite a rare event for me to volunteer to do housework. But Elaine has been great over all these months and now I can move around I want to help her as much as possible. I am also doing most of the cooking these days. I choose a couple of new meals each week and Elaine buys the ingredients.
I was really pleased to get some feedback from people who had read my account of the first 3 months. I am beginning to feel part a community. I would like to hear if anyone else has ruptured their AT twice. It is going to take quite some time to read everyone’s bloggs but I am sure there are some interesting stories there.
What I really would like to know now is 1) when can I expect to be able to drive? 2) has anybody had two ruptures like me?