So I’ve been PWB since the 20th.  I make sure that I put the weight on my heel and I’m not pushing off with my toes or anything but I do have some pain, in my calf and on the sides of my ankle and a little soreness in the AT area down by heal (below rupture area).  I basically take a half step with my bad leg, bring my right leg up to it and repeat.  I’m not really stepping in front of the bad one with my left or leaning forward on my bad foot.

The ankle pain almost feels like my ankle is sprained, little sharp pains here and there on the sides mostly, maybe from swelling?  I’ve been walking mostly with 2 crutches but have done one on occasion on my non-injured side.  I even took about 10 mini steps without the crutches touching the ground, basically shuffling my right foot up to my left.

I have heel pain on the bottom - some people say it’s like broken glass, to me it’s more like someone shoved an electric extension cord in there and plugged it in when I step.  I think that parts normal, at least normal for recovery at this point because it’s on the bottom..  I’m a little worried about the calf pain though.  I’ve read from some people that it’s normal and am just looking for some thought.

I went to a Detroit Tigers game 2 days ago and a big thanks to how accommodating they were.  I crutched the entire way in, hobbled a bit on one crutch but made it to my seat.  An usher told me when I’m leaving, let him know and they’ll get a wheelchair.  Again, humbling being pushed around, but really saved me.  It was a LONG walk (crutch) in, so kudo’s to them - too bad they lost, still fun to get out though.

What pain is "normal" or expected might be a better term during PWB?  I’ve taken the last two days off more or less, just to rest it because of the calf worrying me and being sore.

I don’t have any wedges and am at 0 degrees on my boot.  It does take a few minutes to get my foot in there to stretch it back to the boot after sleeping with it off.  I’m thinking about sleeping with it on, but man does it hurt my knee and hip.

Thanks everyone.

After going back and forth whether I should sleep without the boot, I finally decided I would.  Sure, my doctor told me I could and all, but what a scary thought.  It’s been protected in a cast or boot for over a month and to have it exposed for such a long time without me watching it was almost too much to leave to chance.  I worried about falling out of bed, something I haven’t done since I was probably a kid.  Worried about the wife kicking it, trying to push with it, etc etc, but in the end after reading many posts on here I decided to give it a try.  No problems and I had the best night sleep since the injury and my back didn’t hurt.  I also had a protective barrier between the wife and I, a body pillow.  I did wrap it in an Ace-type bandage so if I woke up to go the bathroom I would be reminded it.  Although I didn’t think I would forget, it helped me.

By the way, the body pillow was great with the boot too, I recommend it for those still in a boot.  It might not be for everyone, but I was able to sleep on my right side with my boot leg on top of it and my good leg under the pillow.  Not only that, when I’m awake I use it to elevate when needed.  I can fold the top 1/3rd of it over, which creates a bump for my knee to be comfortable and it’s still long enough that the boot rests on it.  I tried tons of different stuff and after the bean bag for the first few weeks (which was higher) this was and still is my go-to method.  It’s tough getting comfortable and it’s just another option for someone if  you’re looking.

Went to Dr today - He took the tape off my incision, weird looking but looks good he said, I’ll post pic later.  He flexed my foot to check it and to  make sure the neutral position would be good for me and it went a little further, he was happy with it and said I was ahead of schedule.  They adjusted my boot to a 0 degree angle, neutral/flat.  He then said I can PWB with heel walking as tolerated.  He recommended 25% weight, then 50% up to 100%.  Plus I don’t have to sleep with the boot on anymore.

These things are great and scary all at the same time.  I already did the 25% and probably even got to about 50% today and it hurt, but was tolerable.  Still using the crutches for now.   Maybe I’ll pay for it later but it felt so good to just use that walking motion, even though my leg is out to the side and I’m on my heel.  I was able to conquer stairs without crawling, felt like a major accomplishment in and of itself.  Also told me to work on ROM exercises  and scheduled me for a PT assessment on the 2nd of July.  PT will probably start after the 4th of July - on Monday the 8th.

My biggest setback so far was that I broke a crutch when I was in the basement about a week ago.  I was moving a box out of my way with it, so I didn’t fall or anything, which was good.  I had to crawl across the floor, up the stairs and to my room while my wife made a bunch of phone calls to buy some.  She found a friend who’s husband just had some from an ankle sprain and didn’t need them, so it all worked out.  It was super frustrating at the time though.

Hope everyone is doing well and for those that this happened to, it DOES get better.

Went to see my doctor on Monday and they cut that fiberglass cast off.  Last time I was freaked out just having my foot exposed and out, this time wasn’t as bad but still concerned me.   The doctor checked the flexibility and decided I was good to get a boot!  So he orders one up for me and I’m good to go.  Now the scary part - I had to crutch out of his office, down the hall and into another office for the boot, with my fragile little leg hanging there, completely unprotected.  What a weird feeling that is, I never worried about anything like that before, but I made it to the next office without a problem  So I got the boot - still NWB, but I can put it down on the ground while sitting, etc….just can’t try to walk on it.  Next appt in 10 days.

The first night sleeping in the boot was very weird, and painful.  I no longer have my leg on anything when I sleep and I think the way I was sleeping torqued my back, maybe due to the weight as it’s heavier.  I woke up in some pain from that.  While I’m trying to stretch my back out, I had a weird sensation in my foot.  It felt like the bottom of my foot was on fire, especially the ball of my foot and my toes.  Maybe because it wasn’t used the the slight pressure of being in the boot or the fabric or whatever.  I loosened the boot, didn’t help.  I took the thing off and put on a sock, which was NOT easy, but the person who fitted me said it might help with comfort. Thanks to my wife for waking up and helping me, she makes it so much easier.

I’m not sure how much of this is mental at this point, I’m just so hesitant to move my foot at all.  I do wiggle my toes and raise and lower my foot in the cast, just the inch or two of room that’s in there, but that’s it.

I was still sitting in bed quite a bit with the last cast.  My foot would swell up in there and it would just hurt real bad pushing out on it.  I was getting to the point of calling my Dr, thinking something might be wrong and then the next night it wasn’t as bad and got better after that.  It almost seems like there’s about a 5 day break-in period for me and casts.  Hopefully I take to the boot quicker.  Another weird thing was that one day I was sitting in bed and it felt like someone tied a string around the base of my big toe.  It wasn’t painful, just really annoying.  I researched it and it seemed like nerves.  I sat in different ways and once I was on my side for a while it went away.  Very strange sensation.

This site is great and I read it all the time, including in the middle of the night when I wake up when something bothers me.  Great source of support, but sometimes I think I read too much and get discouraged that I’m not where someone else is or that I’m behind the healing curve or whatever.  I just remind myself that this is indeed a Marathon and it’s not "no pain no gain", so I’m prepared for slow and steady for now.

Thanks everyone!!!