8 weeks, no limp now
I am just past the 8 week mark, since my surgery, and I think I have finally gotten rid of most of that walking limp. My wife, who works in a busy PT office, took me to the office today and did ultrasound and e-stim on my leg, both of which must have helped. I am pain free, and mainly just feel tightness in my tendon. Later in the afternoon, I was able to walk, normally, in two shoes.
I do still have some swelling most days, which I don’t feel, but is obvious when I take off my sock. It is a good reminder that I am still healing, and in a phase where I still must be extra careful not to re-rupture. I played golf yesterday, for the third time, with no issues at all. When I wake up in the morning, my leg is always at a normal size, but usually shows swelling by the afternoon. I am playing in a three day golf tournament next weekend. I think my leg will hold up fine, if only my scores will show it too.
July 11th, 2011 at 5:45 am
LOL! love your last line. Yep, I think your golf score is one “handicap” you’ll be battling the rest of your life: a worthy battle! But how awesome is it that you are over the AT recovery bump and are now concerned about getting down to business on the links! I like your approach very much, while you’ve fast-tracked your recovery, I like how you clearly acknowledge that you are still healing and you keep that in mind- very responsible. That is my model for getting back to the tennis court (or I should say, walking without a limp, to start). I am PWB now and took your advice to take a few steps in bare feet. I did 5 steps (aided with crutches for support) and then back, gingerly, carefully, but successfully. After that tiny exercise, I felt even more confident walking in the boot. Good luck in the tournament next weekend and happy continued healing!
July 11th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Awesome stuff guys! Questions for you…
Well, I am 11 days post op now and feel remarkably better each day. I still try not to be upright for more than 30 min at a time. I have passed the toe wiggling landmark and just wonder if I can take it further. I do see the Doc tomorrow so hopefully I get the sutures out and he cranks my boot closer to neutral. I am anxious to see what he suggests I should do next. What were you both doing at this point? Did you try any weightbearing this early? Thanks for reading and answering!
July 11th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Polly: Keep doing those little weight bearing tests. It adds to your confidence to do more, when you get over each little hurdle. Listen to your body (and especially your AT), but if it doesn’t have a negative response, try a little more. I still have some tenderness on the outside of my AT, such that shoes with no padding on the back heal don’t feel so good. Instead of walking in those type of shoes. I will resort back to my running shoes. Who cares if I am wearing khaki pants and running shoes, anyway? Looking forward to tracking your progress!
July 11th, 2011 at 9:30 am
Unclebuck, Others may have different expereiences, but for me: no. I was in a cast for 4 weeks. I did not put any weight on my AT with the cast on (there seemed no point since the cast halted any dosiflex motion. At 11 days post-op, my thinking was that I need to let both my incision and my internal sutures heal. I did the toe wiggling and was instructed to feel free to do upper body stuff. In my first two weeks of healing, I listened to my Ortho surgeon very carefully and followed instructions to the letter. It was only at 4 weeks post-op when I went into a boot and was given the go to try putting weight on it that I started challenging myself. (just my personal experience- others will certainly have their own take on their specific progress).
July 11th, 2011 at 9:36 am
Hi Uncle Buck (by the way, I think that movie is hilarious): I got my sutures out, around the same amount of time as you, and the doctor put me in a boot, with a lot of heel wedges to keep any strain off the tendon. He also encouraged me to do some ankle pumps to start stretching the tendon a little bit, and keep the scar tissue down. I didn’t try any weight bearing until about week 4. Around that time, I had another doctor visit and he took a wedge out from under my heel. Over the next 2 weeks, I took the rest of the wedges out myself. The wedges are there for a reason, but mostly they just made my heel hurt, ’cause they are really hard. Happy Healing!
July 11th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Chuck I look forward to every one of your posts since you’re a week ahead of me and you seem to have my same mindset. I’m 7 weeks post op and am in shoes anytime I’m indoors now. I’ve also started doing assisted heel raises by pushing on a counter. I use mostly my good AT on the way up then put more pressure on the bad AT on the way down. I’m also working the theraband at least three times a day.
I don’t golf but i am planning on taking a few swings at a softball later this week (with the boot on and locked of course). My company team is missing me.
July 12th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Univ of pb: Thanks for the feedback. Yes, it looks like you are on a similar track. I am also doing heel raises, gradually trying to put more weight on the repaired AT. Based on my golf experience, I would guess that you can hit the softball, with shoes on, and not have any issues. Just don’t push off and run to 1st base! Good luck with the shoes, and healing!
July 12th, 2011 at 9:57 am
Chuck-
When did you play your first round? were you 7 weeks? I am 7 weeks today but dont quite feel like I have that much strength to play a round yet. I have only been to 2 Pt sessions and the first one I basically did nothing. So I am just starting to get some strength back in my tendon and calf. I walked about a quarter mile in my tennis shoes 2 nights ago and my calf was pretty fatigued by the end of it. I was thinkin bout trying the driving range out this weekend. I am dying to play!!
July 12th, 2011 at 10:11 am
Hi Nick: I went to the driving range at 6 weeks, the first day I put shoes on. It was probably overly aggressive, but I was dying to give it a try. Things went so well on the driving range that day, that I went out a few more times during that week, and deemed myself ready to play a round. So, my first round was at 7 weeks. I love to walk and golf, but I know I am not ready for that. I took a cart, with friends, and played 18. No problems during the round, and no side effects after, other than a little swelling.
Try the driving range first, and see how it feels. On the first day, I mostly tried to keep my feet planted and use more shoulder/hip turn. It something I should do more anyway, to improve my game. Happy Golfing!
July 12th, 2011 at 10:22 am
Will do. I am off work on Thursday and I think I will try the range out! Are you pushing off of your right foot when you play yet? I have taken some practice swings in the yard and just have no strength to push off at all.
July 12th, 2011 at 11:04 am
Nick: Yes, I am pushing off my right foot now, but I wasn’t the first couple of times that I went out. The first couple of times I mostly stayed with shorter clubs, like sand wedge, pitching wedge and 9 iron, so I didn’t need to push off on my right leg. I didn’t try any longer clubs until about the 4th time at the range.
July 13th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Glad to hear the nice progress Chuck. It’s inspirational for me. I’m doing well at almost 3 weeks, but I have to be careful not to overdue it. Doc says I can be PWB and hobble around in the boot but not too much. Doing my ABC exercises. I’ll never take walking for granted…