5 Weeks Non-Op!
August 27, 2012 by carissa321
Well, here I am at 5 weeks .. whew .. I can’t believe it’s been 5 weeks already! week 4 went by really fast.
I’m still getting some aches and pains, but not nearly what it was before. I did the Thompson test last week and I got my first real movement! which was awesome!
I’m still wearing the AirCast all the time but taking it off for showering and sitting around watching TV. I do some movements during those times but no stretching.
I’m still PWB with crutches, but have taken my first steps with just one crutch and a couple steps with no crutches. Not totally comfortable with that though .. my achilles doesn’t hurt .. but the top of my foot does … It feels alot like when I fractured a bone in my foot a few years ago. I’m almost thinking that I did that again when I crashed and tore my achilles. I think the doctors are so zeroed in on the achilles, that they forget about the rest of the ankle and foot .. especially because I didn’t just “feel a pop” when my achilles went … I just collapsed mid-push on a longboard and landed spralled out on the concrete. (I’m sure that would have won a America’s Funniest Home Videos for sure)
Anyways, I don’t have a doctors appointment for another 3 weeks. I’m sure I’ll be way beyond where they want me to be a that point, but I’m confident that I’m doing the right things .. especially because I’m listening to my body and following the UWO protocol pretty closely at this point.
Oh, I’m down to one heel wedge in the boot and that will be coming out on Friday .. I’m sure FWB will be a lot easier once I can even out my legs with a wedge shoe on my good foot and the AirCast with no wedges 
The funniest thing that has been happening, almost since the beginning of all this, is “walking”dreams. Dreams where I’m walking around with my husband and then all of a sudden I stop and say “look at me!! I’m walking!” *lol* Actually it is kinda disappointing when I wake up and realize that I have to grab the crutches to even get to the bathroom … but still, something to laugh about
You are doing well….don’t get complacent, I re ruptured last Friday at 13 weeks non op. Waiting to see doc tomorrow morning. It is easy to forget this injury once you are better…don’t forget it for at least a year. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
@sheena - thanks for the advice
Sorry to hear about your re-rupture!
Carissa,
A simple X-ray would confirm whether of not you also broke any bones in your foot. If you really feel it is a possibility that you broke a bone, you need to insist they do an x-ray.
Until you get the wedges taken out (and maybe even after that if your boot is still too high), you need to build up the other shoe so that both feet are level. I wound up folding a pair of athletic socks up and stuffing them inside my shoe at the heel. It makes a huge difference when both feet are level.
A few more weeks and those dreams will come true. It is an awesome feeling when it happens.
Carissa,
Ha, I have very similar dreams. Seems like you’re ahead of the curve if you will be able to have no wedges by 6 weeks. Are you able to flex into dorisflexion past neutral? Do you have any tightness?
@starshep - I don’t think it’s a complete break .. just a fracture. And I’ve had two of those in that foot before … they’ll just put me in an AirCast, which I’m already in
I can’t wait until I’m walking .. even in the cast *lol* I have some wedge shoes that are quite comfortable and almost bring my good foot up to the same level .. I think it will once the last wedge is out.
@californiaguy - don’t those dreams just make you laugh! and then cry *lol* I’m not allowed to flex past neutral … but have tried just gently and it is tight. I think I may have hurt the tendons on the outside of my ankle as well .. that’s where most of my swelling and pain are. We’ll see in 2.5 weeks I guess
until then, I’m going to try to enjoy the rest time before it comes to the hardwork time with the physio and all that 