Oct 26 2009
Cast-away, new boot and start of PT
Today was the 2nd doctor visit after the surgery. They removed my cast. The nurse had this saw like device that cut the hard part of the cast off. I didn’t spend too much time with the doctor, since this was another doctor in the office — I will try to schedule something when my doctor gets back from time off. I was afraid the nurse might accidentally cut too deep and cut into my skin, especially when she ran the saw along the area where the incision was; however, all turned out safe and fine. She then slowly cut and removed all the padding. The nurse briefly looked at the would to see if it was ok, and then gave me the CAM boot. The CAM boot was set at a maximum of 0 degrees (foot at right angle to lower limb) … and it could flex down about 45 degrees.
Two feet and injury after cast removal
The boot makes me feel like a robot because it has some dials and metal parts to it — I thought it might look a little less intimating.
CAM Boot
A few hours later, we went to our first physical therapy (PT) session. The PT was friendly and walked me back to the room, where she proceeded to ask a number of background questions … how did you get the injury, how often do you exercise, do you stretch (i.e., should have stretched more 
) , what are your goals.
She then proceeded to look at the wound to see if it was OK and take measurements of the movement in both the good and injured foot. Then the PT rubbed the incision area to loosen up the scar tissue … I guess this helps in the healing. After that the PT did some passive movement of my foot to see where it was at in terms of flexibility and strength and to start working the foot. She said that I was at the right pace (I think from the flexibility) … I was thinking that I may be a bit faster on the recovery.
At the end of the session, she put a compression sock on the injury to help with the swelling and she gave me a sheet with some exercises I can do daily.
One response so far
I got two weeks and two days (not that I am counting) til I get out of cast and into the BOOT.
Sounds like you are “on your way” to the next milestone.
Hope PT goes well and that you are ahead of schedule.