Another milestone of sorts. I am officially out of the boot starting today! My ankle feels fairly good, and I’ve been walking around outside appreciating the newfound normalcy without the guilt of not following my doctor’s protocol. I have an obvious limp, and I am a bit hesitant to push off with my recovering foot. I made a half an attempt to push off with my foot, and my foot flatly refused. 
Stairs are still a problem as I am going down them sideways using the handrail.
It’s a strange feeling being officially out of the boot really. I feel like I’ve reached the top of a hill, only to find out there is another hill to climb. So my next milestone will be being able to walk without a limp. Again, I have to remind myself to be patient. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Since a year is 52 weeks, and I am at week 8, and a marathon is 26.2 miles.. then it means that I am at mile 4.
If this is the nyc marathon, I am still in Brooklyn.
26 responses so far ↓
1 Jim // Apr 8, 2008 at 3:06 am
Nice analogy Dennis,
Having run a number of marathons, there is really nothing like running 20 miles and then thinking you have 6 to go. I see the doc for my 2nd post op on Tuesday morning. I am in a cast now and am hoping for the “boot” (I will be 5 weeks 1 day post op). I have been getting in a lot of upper body work, and have actually lost some fat around the middle. Possibly because the effort to get a snack is just not worth it. Also have been on the recumbent bike quite a bit with the cast. As long as I put the pivot point of the pedal in a neutral spot under my heel, it works well. I know once I get the boot it will just be a new phase with it’s unique challenges, but at least I will be able to scratch. Everybody sounds like they are doing great, keep up the good work.
2 Doc ross // Apr 8, 2008 at 8:42 am
Dennis..
Congrats…we are all looking forward to that day. Be careful in Brooklyn as you can’t run away from a mugger…
Must feel weird after 2 months with something on your ankle…did you have any swelling or pain??
Go get’em
Doc Ross
3 brendan // Apr 8, 2008 at 9:14 am
Dennis - another milestone..that’s awesome. I couldn’t agree with you more that each one is the start of something else though. Stay positive and keep us posted. You are exactly three weeks ahead of Jim and I…you are a moving target for me!
Cheers!
Brendan
4 johnskier // Apr 8, 2008 at 9:28 am
Great Dennis! I like the illustrations, too. Be careful!
5 Tom // Apr 8, 2008 at 10:14 am
Congrats Dennis! A little more freedom. You are exactly right about the “false summit” feeling. There is still a lot of work ahead. But, don’t be afraid to take a moment to pat yourself on the back. Think back to the days when it felt like an eternity before you’d walk again, and then look at where you are today. It’s very gratifying. Keep up the hard work, but do so safely. You’ll be in central park before you know it!
6 dennis // Apr 8, 2008 at 10:21 am
Jim - yes, mile 20 was really difficult for me.. hamstring tightened up, feet hurt.. and there is not as many people in the Bronx cheering you on.
Doc ross - I don’t think I had much swelling.. maybe the first couple of weeks. Maybe it’s because I was vigilant about elevating my foot. There isn’t any pain, but there wasn’t much pain when I ruptured my AT either.. so I have to be careful.
Brendan - thanks. I am staying positive, and motivated!
johnskier - Thanks! Hope your recovery is going well.
all - I thought maybe creating a widget that keeps track of everyone’s progress through the nyc marathon route. Please let me know if there is an interest in something like that. (Maybe there could be an option to select what the analogy could be.. like an illustration of a person walking, or a different route for a different event.. like tour de france, flower growing, etc..)
7 Philip // Apr 8, 2008 at 10:33 am
Dennis,
Well done on getting out of the boot but be careful. My doc is definitely being much more conservative with my protocol. You and I are within 2 days of each others surgery, and I wont be out of the boot for at least another 3 weeks and then he has me getting some type of orthotic brace for my shoes to wear for another 3 to 6 months. I believe that part is a little crazy so I will have to see whether I wear it or not. I may also be dealing with a slightly different injury as my Achilles tore very high on my leg at the connection with the Gastroc muscle. This tear might be the reason for the slower progress.
Whatever the case. Congratulations on your progress.
BTW, I have been analyzing my gait in this boot and trying to determine why I can’t seem to walk with my foot straight. The biggest reason is that I have very bad ROM as my toe is still pointed down at -12% from neutral. The PT is trying to get it to +10%. I think that and the shoe height just make it impossible to walk normally. I see the PT today and will discuss it with him.
PK
8 Tom // Apr 8, 2008 at 10:40 am
I like the idea of a marathon widget, or something similar. Illustrations are always nice for spicin’ up the blog. But, I just took a punch to the gut realizing that I’m only between miles 6 & 7. I think I need a Gu packet! I just hope I don’t hit the wall at mile 20 (or sometime around Halloween!) I’ve been there before and it’s not a lot of fun.
9 mbargo // Apr 8, 2008 at 11:19 am
Guys don’t feel bad. I just got assigned my number. I am at the back of the pack so I am still jogging to the start line. 4 days post op. I am dreaming for mile 4. But I am moving forward that is what counts. It great to hear your progress. My attitiude has changed big time the last 24 hours thanks to the site. On a side note is anyone a golfer? Any prognosis when you could start swinging a club?
10 dennis // Apr 8, 2008 at 11:57 am
mbargo - Glad that you found the site useful. Keep us updated on your progress.
johnskier used a walking device called iwalkfree. With it, you should be able to start walking around.. golf, etc.. (as long as it’s okay with your doctor.)
Here is a link that you might find interesting: http://www.iwalk-free.com/reviews.html
11 Philip // Apr 8, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I believe that I can claim the craziest doctor. I just returned from the orthotist who had my perscription from my surgeon to build me a metal leg and foot brace to wear after the boot comes off. Now mind you, I had my doubts about this as no one I have talked to or on this blog has had another brace after the boot, but I decided to go and see what the story was.
The devise he wants me to wear for 6 months after the boot is basically the Forest Gump metal leg brace. Check out this link. http://members.frys.com/~orthofun/pages/seep2003.html.
It looked a lot like that. They needed me to bring in a shoe so he could add it to the shoe.
I just laughed and walked out. Funny stuff.
PK
12 Tom // Apr 8, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Philip - That does seem a little excessive. Run Forest, run! I, too, haven’t heard of anyone else using a similar device. Perhaps it is because of the location of the rupture or the suture technique. Were you able to speak with the surgeon and ask him why he recommends using the device? Maybe you want to meet with a second surgeon to get another opinion?
13 Philip // Apr 8, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Tom,
I have a call into my cousin who is an orthopedic surgeon to see what he says and I will be meeting with my surgeon in a three weeks to evaluate my PT and whether the boot can come off. We will see.
PK
14 Jim // Apr 8, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Hi All,
Just got back from post op visit #2 at 5 weeks 1 day post op. I was hoping for the boot and not another cast, well, initially I got neither!!! My doc said that all I needed was some heel lifts and a regular shoe. I also asked about PT, to which I he said I didn’t “need” it, but could go if I wanted. He says many of his patients have never gone to PT after this injury with no ill effects. Well, needless to say I was shocked, and asked for the boot and PT. My GF was laughing at me because I did a complete 180 from the last visit when all I wanted was the boot, but got a cast. I got an Rx for PT and a boot, with a FU visit in 1 month. My doc is a board certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon, but I want to take it just a bit slower and he was fine with that. He said the repair went extremely well, and he used some “really extremely strong suture”. He did mention the reasons he likes to be aggressive include; the fibers of the tendon remodel better with some tension on the tendon, and this is how he was trained and has had great success with this protocol. It’s fantastic to be out of the cast, although a very vulnerable feeling. Now to climb to the next peak.
15 Tom // Apr 8, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Jim - Cheers to heading towards the next peak. Amazing that your ortho felt comfortable with you walking un-braced at week 5! The conversation with your doctor sounded very similar to the one I had with mine. He, too, said I didn’t “need” PT, but he didn’t mind writing a Rx. He also had the same description of the tendon fibers remodeling. But, I guess my doc’s aggressive approach (PWB at 4 weeks) isn’t anything like your doc’s. That may be due in part to my surgeon’s preference to use less suture material, relatively speaking.
I think you made a good choice with the boot and PT. You can always ditch the boot after a week or two if you’re feeling confident. I also think the PT will be helpful. I can do most of the PT exercises at home on my own, but it is really nice to have a professional gauge my progress and watch my mechanics.
16 Jim // Apr 8, 2008 at 6:23 pm
For years I have worn Superfeet in my shoes, hiking boots, snowboard boots, you get the idea. I just stuffed one into my cam boot and holy cow, is that comfortable. There is no strain on the fascia of my foot anymore and my heel is cupped nicely. If you have never used Superfeet, they are not soft at all, and have a fairly high arch, but are very comfortable even though they don’t seem like they should be. Oh well, just excited to be out of the cast. Weather forecast calls for a skin flake snowstorm today.
17 dennis // Apr 8, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Jim - I looked into Superfeet, and it looks like they have several kinds. Which kind do you have? I’ve considered getting the blue one, and it looks like they have lots of choices.. sometimes too many choices is bad.
18 Jim // Apr 8, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Dennis- I use the green version trim to fit. To use this you have to make sure that the insole of your shoe is removable, otherwise I think you use the blue. I have never tried the orange, but may next. I always save my old ones and always seem to find a use for them. If you have an REI near you, you can go there and try them out first also. I had a custom pair made for me once and they were amazing. I was a bone head though and in order to fit another shoe, I cut them too short.
19 Tom // Apr 8, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Dennis - I’ve used both the blue and the green in the past. I believe the difference is in the thickness, the green is slightly thicker than the blue. So, it kinda depends on what shoes you plan to use them in. I’ve used the green in hiking boots w/ more space and the blue in more casual shoes as well as “gym” shoes.
20 brendan // Apr 8, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Jim - That’s crazy about your appt today! Wow…how is your heel feeling? My first day on ROM a week and a half ago was a little scary…I can’t imagine being in a shoe at the same time. What does it feel like pulling your toes up to your shin? Does the tendon feel tight?
I’ve been doing ROM now for 1.5 weeks and I have noticed increased strength and flexibility, but I feel like I’m as far as I can go flexing up towards my shin. The tendon is super tight and I haven’t been given any OK to use any force/pressure to start stretching it anymore.
I have been cheating a little and bearing some weight in the boot, the heel feels good in that realm…no pain at all.
21 Jim // Apr 9, 2008 at 12:35 am
Brendan
It basically feels like what you said, very tight and vulnerable. When I pull my toes up toward my shin my tendon feels, I don’t know how to describe it, but dull. No pain, no real stretch feeling, just stiff and dull, not swollen either. The sole of my foot feels tight, almost like I stepped on an inflated balloon, popped it, and now the sole of my foot is covered with the rubber, pulling the whole sole to the middle of my foot. I was cleared for a shoe, but got the boot also and will probably wear that for a few weeks at least. Since I was cleared for FWB after week 2, I have been peg-legging in the cast for at least 12 days without crutches, so the boot today was awesome. After about 5 min getting used to it with crutches, I was moving around the house at what seemed to be warp speed. My ROM is low now, but I am in the boot without heel lift and no pressure on the tendon. I do have some sort of rash from the cast, but that seems to be improving already. I have worn myself out today just moving around so much. Going swimming tomorrow!!!
22 Herb // Apr 9, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Dennis - I bet it feels great to be out of the boot. I got out of my cast last Friday and I’m already walking (slowly) around the house without a boot. I’m not supposed to be FWB, but my foot actually feels fine with little discomfort.
Also, your at the stage where you can do heal lifts, do a lot of these because this will correct your gait.
23 dennis // Apr 9, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Herb - thanks for that info. I feel a slight pain/discomfort in my heel if I push off too hard with my foot. I am going to take it slow.. I’ll limp for a while if I have too, but I don’t want to push it too hard. I still have a long ways to go.
Glad that you are doing well. Patience is the key!
24 Bridget // Apr 10, 2008 at 10:17 am
Dennis,
congratulations. I am so proud of the way that you are walking along now. You are still in Brooklyn, but that is better than being in Staten Island!
Just don’t push yourself too hard…
Bridget
25 Doc ross // Apr 10, 2008 at 2:11 pm
ouch on the Staten Island remark…
I was born in Brooklyn but grew up on Staten Island…
on second thought you’re right…LOL…
Doc Ross
26 John Philip // Apr 11, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Hey Dennis,
Good to see that you are recovering well. Good luck with the physical therapy.
john
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