First day at work after 10 weeks off.
Posted on December 1, 2008 by dazf
I have done my first full day at work today after 10 week off. Luckily the majority of my job is office based. I hobbled around the large office quite well really with no crutch or boot on. I used trainers with the last remaining heel strip inside the right foot. I do feel that is its very slowly loosening off but I mean slowly. The problem i feel now is that to compensated for my hobble I am out turning my right leg. Did anyone else suffer with this and is it common? I feel like I don’t and wont for a while have the natural rolling of the foot from heel to toe, If it is how long does it take to correct itself.
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Hey Daz,
I catch myself pointing my left (bad) foot out to the side when I walk too. I try really hard not to though. When I find myself doing it I have to slow way down and really concentrate on walking heel to toe. It’s not that it hurts so much, but more that I want to go faster.
I have to remind myself that the slower I go with correct technique will get me moving faster in the long run!
Hi Daz,
It’ll come back over the next few weeks. It’s because when you are in plaster on crutches you natually swing you bad leg outwards with your hip which keeps your foot clear of the ground and now you have to re-train the brain to stop doing it.
When you’re walking, focus on lifting your knee and keeping your foot in a straight line. It’ll feel really unnatural for a while yet though. I found it helpful going into the studio at our gym and watching myself walk in the mirror which really highlight how gammy my limp was.
Happy healing,
Jon
Hi dazf, I’m almost 2 weeks ahead of you. I hear you. I’m still having to focus on my heel-toe gait. Like Jon said, practice walking in front of a mirror. I feel like a total klutz at times as it seems my body has forgotten how to walk! Along with the heel-toe gait, make sure you push off with your toes. I find I chop my step short and have to think about pushing off. My PT says the Achilles is strong enough now and I need to trust it. Good luck!
TEN WEEKS OFF WORK!?? Blimey! If I’d had 2 weeks off I’d have gone bankrupt weeks ago! I guess you aren’t self employed……..Why are you still hobbling around after all this time? I can walk almost normally after 2 months post op; I was in a cast for 6 weeks, then trainers & heel lifts. My physio told me not to walk with my foot out on my first visit: it hurts but you just have to MAKE yourself walk normally & within a few days; it IS normal again. Take smaller steps & concentrate. XX
ah….just realised your blog is 2 yrs old! Hopefully you are now walking normally again!
I had 1 week off and got back into it.
I ‘m a teacher too and had to teach using crutches with my leg in the air the whole time.