Three months postop, and happy
Hi all,
My surgery was three months ago today, so I thought I’d post an update. Things are going well. Most importantly to me, I can bike all I want, with my feet clipped in normally, including getting out of the saddle when climbing hills. I can walk as much as I want, including in the woods on uneven ground, and run until my arthritic knees hurt (which is only about half a mile, getting old sucks). I do 30 single leg calf raises at a time several times on my “hard days,” but they aren’t very pretty, not full height yet, and the heel goes to the ground each time, certainly not what my good leg can do. On the alternate “easy days” I’m not limited anymore by calf soreness. The calf is still rather weak, but I can do whatever I want to do, short of “high impact” activities. It seems I’ve made it through the hardest parts of my accelerated rehab without any problems. So, was I foolish but lucky, or could lots of people do this safely?
Best wishes everybody,
Doug
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Hi Doug,
Your blog has been my inspiration to push things a little harder. Like you I was in 2-shoes by 4 weeks following the op. Interestingly the NHS physio today expressed a little concern about how flexible my bad leg is on dorsiflexion and has written a note for the consultant appointment on Monday questioning whether the repair is complete, or whether they just “fixed it long”, she said most people we really stiff and I’m not. I have to say all feels connected, but very weak so I think (hope!!) she is being over cautious. I see my private physio tomorrow so be interesting to hear what he makes of it.
What has recently hit me is that although getting to 2-shoes was ahead of schedule, the road to full reocvery and getting the strength back in the tendon/calf is going to be a long one.
Like you, I believe that the “normal” rehab protocols are way too conservative and keep us cast/booted up for more than is really necessary and that makes the recovery once out of the cast longer.
Hi jgsquash,
That’s rather funny, that being more normally flexible is cause for concern. If it feels connected, it almost surely is connected.
For what it’s worth, I’ve been doing the near-maximum strength work every other day, but lots of sub-maximum stuff every day, doing whatever works the calf somewhat that I can do while doing something else. I just made up exercises as I went along. I don’t think the specifics of the exercises make much difference, (as long as it’s not too “jerky”), just do something, as much as you can find time for. For example, when driving with the radio on, I would push my toes into the floor in time with the music, alternating light pressure and harder pressure.
Did you see bennet’s rehab program? Maybe we should all go get treated in Shanghai.
Good luck getting that strength back!
Doug
Doug,
Your recovery is certainly inspiring. I’m at the 3 month mark as well and I thought I was doing pretty well. I’m walking almost without a limp and teaching my power yoga and spinning classes, but I haven’t tried biking outside yet (scared to unclip and land on my bad leg) and I don’t do any standing in spin class. I am also far from being able to do a single leg calf raise — I’m doing 3 sets of 12 calf raises with only 50 lbs. (on my back so no body weight added on), and that is really challenging for me. I’d like to try biking and hiking soon, but I’m a bit nervous. I’m seeing steady progress, though, and trying to be patient, although patience isn’t usually my strong suit.
Keep up the good work!
Stacy
Hi Stacy,
I was lucky to have a ready-made device to help with that getting-off-the-bike worry, my lightweight splint that ran down my shin and over the top of my foot that was put on at the end of my initial surgery. I would put on my shoes first, then ace wrap that splint to my lower leg. The foot part of the splint sat on the top of my shoe, ready to limit dorsiflexion, if needed. (I suppose I could have attached my foot to the splint somehow, too, but I never did that.) As it turned out, I never had an awkward dismount that made the splint necessary, but it was reassuring to have it there, nevertheless. Perhaps you could call your physical therapist, who may know a way to have a similar splint made for you.
That’s great news that you don’t have to go through the PICC/antibiotic mess. Overall, it sounds like you’re doing great.
Do you ever ride the Blue Ridge Parkway? I used to bicycle camp there in my younger days. I loved to go there in early May, with the nice spring weather (except when it rained) and all the wildflowers, but before Memorial Day weekend when the hordes would arrive.
Have fun next week!
Doug