I thought this day would never come!  Doc changed the angle on my boot to neutral (90 degrees) and cleared me to full weight bear.  To shed the crutches and finally hobble around the apartment (albeit gingerly and sloth-like) is a huge milestone - both mentally and, of course, physically!  And to think that only 8 days ago I was NWB and miserable…

I also got a scrip for PT today.  2-3x/week for 6 weeks.  Luckily, the PT clinic is located downstairs in my work building.  Talk about super convenient!  My first appointment (and my first day back at work) is next Wednesday, March 18.  I’m actually a little nervous about going back to work seeing as my brain probably atrophied more than my calf muscle over the last 6 weeks.  

The first steps feel really, really, really weird.  I’ll get up out of the chair and gently place the ball of my foot on the ground.  Meanwhile, I’ll gradually place weight on the heel until my weight is evenly distributed among both feet.  There’s a slight “pins-and-needles” sensation when all the weight is on the heel, which totally freaked me out (I am assuming this is normal?) but it goes away pretty quickly once you start moving.  Yesterday, I was still using one crutch to get around, but then I graduated up to a cane.  I can maneuver around without it, but it’s probably safer to have something there for support and balance.  I can’t stand up for more than 5 minutes at a time without my calf muscle barking at me due to fatigue.  Simple and mundane daily activities such as brushing my teeth can become rather tiresome because my calf muscle is so weak.  Oh well - I’ll get there eventually.  I’m just happy to be on my own two feet again!  And my wife is happy that she doesn’t have to wait on me hand and foot (no pun intended) anymore!

So to recap:

Jan. 23:  Ruptured right Achilles tendon playing indoor soccer

Jan. 29:  Surgery (spinal anesthesia, outpatient, fiberglass splint/cast)

Feb. 13:  NWB in a CAM Walker (105 degrees and splint/cast removed)

March 4:  PWB

March 11:  FWB (90 degrees/neutral)

March 18:  PT begins and I return to work

March 25:  Next post-op doctor visit

April/May:  Two shoes!

THIS GUY!

I’m 5 weeks post-op and my doc just cleared me to 20 lbs. PWB!!  It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s really a huge “step” in the right direction.  

My last doc visit was 3 weeks ago, when he put me in the CAM walker at 105 degrees and NWB.  I’m still at 105 degrees, but at least now I can bear some weight.  He said to come back in exactly one week, at which time he’ll change the angle of the CAM to neutral (90 degrees).  

He was “marveled” by the way my wound healed and how well my leg/foot looked overall.  He administered the Thompson Test and I passed with flying colors.  I noticed some scar tissue building up around the tendon, but that’s perfectly normal.  The new tendon is considerably thicker than the one on my good foot due to the scar tissue.

I was also surprised to hear him say I’ll be starting “light” physical therapy in only ONE week!  That was out of the blue.   He said he’d write a scrip for outpatient PT next week, and that would ramp up to more serious PT in about 4 weeks.  I’m thinking the “light” PT will consist of basic ROM exercises and nothing too crazy.  We shall see…

I’d been getting a little stir crazy, anxious and impatient over the last week or so (I can only tolerate so much daytime TV).  I’m not sure how I would have handled any “bad” news from the doc today - it may have sent me over the edge!  But luckily I got some great news, and I’m well on my way to recovery.  Slow and steady wins this race!