PWB and other questions …
August 7, 2012 by carissa321
So I’m PWBing … I must admit, the first day or two I was really apprehensive about this. But now I’m forcing myself to PWB everytime I go somewhere. And I’m forcing a normal type gait as well .. don’t want to have huge issues overcoming a strange gait later on.
I am very happy to report that I am getting around the house more now 
things like folding laundry and cleaning up the kitchen.
No handrails to the basement yet … the husband wants to bring the exercise bike to the main floor for me. I’m fine with that
I do have some questions though ..
1. When I feel tingling in my heel and achilles, is that what a stretch feels like? I’m thinking it does .. but not sure.
2. How much time can I spend with the boot off? I take it off for a sit-shower and do a little bit of water therapy in there (hot water, cold water, hot water, cold water) .. I also take it off for about an hour at night and try some wiggling and ROM exercises. But, can I leave it off more when I’m just sitting with my feet up?
3. Is it dangerous to flex my calf muscle? I don’t feel pain when I do do it.
4. What supplements do or did you all take when you were recovering? Glucosamine? Extra vitamin C?
Happy Healing
Hi Carissa! I had a similar experience once they put me in a boot. Hopefully this will help you out a bit:
1. That tingling feeling I only ever felt in my foot, but it helped to massage my foot. It also seemed to help me transition to walking barefoot on week #6.
2. I kept the boot on for the first 2 weeks I got it almost exclusively unless I was going into the shower, at physio or icing it. Once I could feel there was better strength I would take it off much for frequently.
3. At 2 weeks I would still be careful with regards to flexing. You’ve only been healing for a couple weeks now, so you do not want to jeopardize anything. If you are going to physio or seeing your Ortho weekly ask them as they will better understand where you’re at overall.
4. I’ve been drinking a lot of Biosteel daily as it is supposed to help with muscle and tendon recovery when you’re working out, so I figured it couldn’t hurt.
Does your Ortho have you “physio’ing” it up yet?
Your first few weeks seems very similar to mine, so it seems like we’re both on the same recovery protocol. Happy healing!
Carissa,
I was also in a boot at 2 weeks and pretty much told I can WBAT- It took a while (around 5 weeks) to consistently walk without crutches. At 6 weeks i was not to use crutches at all.
I started PT immediately, at 2.5 weeks, everything we did was non weight Bering. PT consisted of lightly stretching in all directions (being very careful and not stressful when pulling toes to chest), spelling the alphabet with my toes, picking up marbles with my toes, but mostly was about reducing swelling, once the steri strips came off at about 4 weeks we did a lot of scar therapy.
I felt a some tingling in my foot and heel as well, It was your foot/heel getting used to the pressure being put on it after 2 weeks of none as well as increased blood flow.
Besides showering (while sitting) and the pt exercises, I did not take my boot off at all as its essentially your cast and there to protect you. I actually slept in my boot up until 5.5 weeks.
Hang in there and be cautious when moving about!
@eva10 - Thanks for the answers
I don’t have another appointment with my Ortho until week 8 and then they’ll start the PT. Until then, I was told to wiggle toes, move my foot a little bit and that’s it. I guess I’m just itching to get moving more .. but do understand the need to take it easy. My husband keeps telling me I have to “be on vacation” for the next little while 
@Adam - Thanks for the info on your PT .. that’s pretty much what I’m doing on my own now .. just not the alphabet thing, don’t think I’m ready for that just yet. I’ve been keeping the boot on except for a small window for showering and an hour at night .. I’m sleeping in it as well. Wish they made something better to sleep in.
I documented my supplement program here:
achillesblog.com/ryanb/2011/09/26/tendon-nutrition/
I think it helped.
@ryanb - thanks for the link!
I don’t think there’s much downside from un-booting whenever you’re seated. And wiggling, too, as long as you don’t go above 90-degrees aka neutral for the first few weeks — see bit.ly/UWOProtocol . Gentle plantarflexion should be fine. (Why do you fear spelling the alphabet with your big toe?)
If your house has snakes or dogs or something that might make you jump up and run around, I’d keep the boot on while you’re seated, otherwise Not So Much.
Many of us feel/felt tingles and other weird feelings while recovering. There’s a lot going on in your leg — and a few things that normally go on are NOT! No worries usually except for pain or strong calf spasms.
@normofthenorth - I’m very happy to hear that about un-booting when seated. I did that last night while watching TV and it felt great! The tingling was a lot less yesterday, so that was nice
and I moved and wiggled my foot a little more. I guess the main thing right now is that I’m afraid of re-rupture .. can you re-rupture just from moving your foot around? Anyways, I think my fear is becoming less … my achilles does feel a little bit stronger and less like fragile glass. I’ll try the alphabet today .. just afraid of having pain and hurting myself .. so I’ll be super careful 
Thanks Norm!
I’m a big advocate for unbooting and wiggling too. Those alphabet exercises are a good place to start. I really don’t think you can hurt the Achilles doing this- unless you really tried to stretch it or something… force on the tendon SHOULD be avoided. Motion however, I think, is a good thing- partly because it will keep the parts that are supposed to move relative to one-another moving; preventing adhesions which is something many folks struggle with.
C, I think you know the answer: no rerupture from gentle toe-wiggling in the air, ESP if you keep your toes below neutral.
You can also apply ice if you’ve got swelling. Boots rock!
@ryanb - unbooting as we speak *lol* I did the alphabet today … felt very very strange and some letters are a lot harder than others. I’ve been massaging my foot too .. just the toes and mid.
@normofthenorth - well .. in the beginning it sure is scary … the ankle feels so fragile .. but I am getting more confident that it won’t shatter if I move it
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