Ready to Recover!

Posted on October 14th, 2010 by ehattoy

I am so glad that I found this site.  I had my Haglund’s Deformity removed on September 3, 2010.  I had a bone spur under my achilles tendon that was diagnosed in 2008.  After 2 long years of suffering, I finally elected to have my bone spur removed.  I was very hesitant to have the procedure, but could not take the pain any longer.  I am a very active person having completed  3 half ironman’s, a marathon, 5 half marathons, and multiple olympic triathlons.  My training has suffered, especially the last year where I could hardly walk to the bathroom nevermind run.  My doctor has been wonderful so far.  The procedure went well and I have followed the doctors orders to a T.  After the surgury, I was lucky to have a friend take care of me for a long weekend.  I stayed completely laid up and did not have to do anything but get p to use the facitlities.  I only used the pain medicaine prescribed the first day and 1/2.  My first post op appointment went great.  I had no swelling 4 days after surgery but kept in a splint.  I was able to fly home to my family and able to stay off it for almost 3 weeks before post op #2.  During this visit my heel looked pretty good and I was put in a full cast from the knee down.  I have 1 week before the cast will be removed.  The plan then is for a walking boot for about 4 weeks.  I hope to get some PT then but will have to wait and see.  Has anyone experienced this type of treatment?  Am I ever going to get off these crutches.  I have just about had it with them!  Well, I hope to read and find out more of what I am up against.

6 Comments »

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  • Shelton Culbreath | March 29th, 2011 | 12:20 am

    This is the perfect blog to find information on this matter. Thanks for posting this, it’s information i can use. Be making time to read your other posts; you can ensure I’ll visit to review your newer articles.

  • normofthenorth | October 15th, 2010 | 10:18 pm

    I agree that the Donjoy liner is quite low density. By the time I got it after my first ATR (and surgery), I was about 12 weeks (and 3 casts) post-op, so I always wore a high ski sock, and the light-weight liner never bothered me.

    The second time, I didn’t reach for Donjoy until 7 weeks post-non-op, and by then I was also wearing a kneesock, and the liner seemed fine. Maybe it’s one of those “YMMV” things, that makes life so interesting!

  • GerryR | October 15th, 2010 | 9:39 am

    I had a DonJoy fixed boot and even with my reasonably muscular calf(prior to the ATR of course) there was just way too much of that foam wrap, which really needs to be denser than it is. A denser foam would be a lot more comfortable.

  • normofthenorth | October 15th, 2010 | 3:39 am

    Interesting thoughts about the DonJoy fixed boot, Gerry. I got a DonJoy HINGED boot toward the end of my first ATR rehab (early 2002), and it fit my relatively skinny calf just fine. Lots of boot-liner overlap, but that just made it cushier and comfier. The Velcro on the bottom strap(s), over the foot, got a bit tired, but they still held when I dragged that boot out of retirement to replace my new AirCast fixed boot this time. (I was thinking of sewing some new loop-side Velcro onto the top of the liner foot, but I never had to do it.)

    I went “hinged” at 7 weeks into a non-op protocol, as outlined on my blog. I think a hinged boot makes a great transition from total immobilization to total “normal” (Hah!!) in 2 shoes. I’ve never seen any evidence that I’m right, but it feels so right. . . You’re protected from almost all threats to your still-vulnerable AT, and yet you have a chance to get your calf muscles working. . . it MUST be true!! ;-)

  • GerryR | October 14th, 2010 | 11:10 pm

    Oops, you already have your own blog. Good work, but try changing it so people who leave comments can edit them. It’s under Settings/AJAX Edit Comments in your dashboard.

  • GerryR | October 14th, 2010 | 11:08 pm

    It sounds like you will get off the crutches in another week and since you’re getting a walking boot then there isn’t much reason to rent a knee scooter. But if you have a desk chair with wheels you can use that to move around on surfaces that allow the wheels to turn. I don’t know where you are but don’t let them put you in a DonJoy fixed boot. The things are made for someone with very fat legs and they’re not very comfortable for walking. Tell them you want a VacoPed, there’s a link on the main page here. But, whatever boot you get, make sure that on the opposite foot you wear a boot or shoe with a sole thick enough to “even you up” from side to side. I wore a heavy backpacking boot and it was close enough in thickness to the black boot that I never had any hip problems.

    Good luck with your healing and read and follow the instructions in the third paragraph on the main page to set up your own blog.