6 week Dr. visit
November 3, 2010
Went for the 6 week visit today. The doctor looked at everything, felt around a bit and said: “…just what I wanted to see.” Looks as though my only known issue at this point is a small “superficial” part of the incision that hasn’t fully healed. The doctor initially said he wanted to wait on my PT until he saw me back in 2 weeks to check on the wound. After a little protest he agreed to let me start the PT and do some “gentle stretching”. First appt that I can make is a week from today then back to the doctor on November 19th. I’m hopeful that on that day I get cleared for 2 shoes - just a short (not) 8 weeks or so from surgery.
Generally all feels good - no pain and walking in Vacoboot at 0% - or basically perpendicular to the rest of my body and no “toes pointed down” for around 3 weeks now.
My experience has been that transitions are a little scary - going to pwb, going to fwb, sleeping without my Vacocast for examples - but once you get the courage to do it, the confidence follows quickly behind.
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1. gazroscoe | November 5th, 2010 at 6:47 am
Hi drewt, I have just had my surgery two days ago and live in the Uk, where 90% of the time the aircast system is used not vacocast, can i ask at what point were you actually putting full weight on to your cast (approx 3 weeks is it?) and what configuration was the vacocaste in? degrees? wedges? etc? Many thanks
2. drewt | November 5th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Hey. I had to ask for the VacoCast here as well. The doctor hadn’t heard of it. I went partial weight bearing at 3 weeks 2 days and worked up to full weight bearing over the next 4 days. I used my crutches less and less each day.
I started in the Vacocast when I went to partial weight bearing (in a splint prior) and was set as:
3 weeks (post surgery) - 30 degrees
4 weeks - 20 degrees
5 weeks - 10 degrees
6 weeks - 0 degrees
Seems to be going well - I hope to be in 2 shoes in 2 weeks but who knows! Hope this helps and good luck!
3. melanie | November 7th, 2010 at 11:49 am
Hi, Drew,
I was glad to read this because I have been feeling like I was either Superwoman or totally insane. I had surgery three weeks ago and two weeks later was moved into the boot and crutches, PWB. Within a couple of days, I realized that I have pretty good ROM and can bear weight without the boot enough to walk across a room, though of course I wouldn’t dream of taking the boot off for more than it takes to get from the sofa to the fridge! It’s a pain, though, to keep the boot on all the time - my ankle actually seems to WANT to move and stretch, and it feels good to move it and push it some, if you know what I mean. I am just afraid of doing damage, even though walking a bit without the boot in the house feels natural and healthy. I go back to the doctor in a week. His last instructions were to wear the boot all the time except in bed and put no more than 50 percent weight on the foot with crutches, so I feel guilty - but I also feel good. Like so many other things in life, eh!
4. southafrican | November 7th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
You lucky to be doing all that at 5 weeks , i am not even doing that at 10 weeks post op .
But be warned i did that 3 weeks post op and fell and re - ruptured my Achilles ….. not nice i am now ultra conservative and don’t move 5 feet off without boot
5. John | November 29th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
hi guys very helpful blog much appreciated.
fantastic progress drew, you’re way ahead of me.
I’m in week 5 and now in an adjustable boot set at 30 degrees but I’m not allowed to place any weight on my foot. happy with progress to date and now back at work so the days dont drag as they really did at the beginning.
I would be keen to hear what type of exercises you find most effective and any advice on the physiotherapy stage.
best of luck with your next visit to the doc and hope you in shoes at week 8!!!
John
Dublin.