Well, it seemed like an eternity but I’m officially released from my surgeon’s care and PT should be ending soon. I’m back to running, but climbing and hockey might be a few more months away. I can do a few single calf (half) raises but it’s still progress. It’s ok considering where I started. So grateful for this site for helping me get through those first few months! Happy healing, everyone!
Hi everyone! Recovery is progressing albeit at a very slow pace. The pain is starting to go away and range of motion is increasing. However, calf raises are only possible with my good leg doing 99% of the work. Nothing happens when I try single leg calf raises with my bad leg. Is this normal at 14 weeks post-op, or could something have gone wrong during my recovery? Thoughts and experiences always appreciated! Happy healing 
Yesterday, I started my day in the boot but ended it with a short walk (to the kitchen and back) with sneakers on. It felt strange without the protection/stability of the boot but there was no pain. Any tips on staying “safe”? I plan on sleeping with the splint on for a while longer.
I had my first sessions of PT this week. They were actually not as brutal as I anticipated. The most painful parts were: rolling out the calf and deep massage of the arch - ouch. I’m still on crutches but removed a wedge today (down to tẃo). With PT 3x/week and exercises 2x/day, I feel the ankle’s ROM is improving everyday but I can’t imagine actually weaning off the crutches in 3 weeks…
I started weight-bearing in the boot 3 days ago. I feel sharp pains in the heel in the first few steps but they subside after a while. Anyway, today, in addition to the typical swelling, I noticed new bruises in my inner ankle (black/blue) and along my shin/calf (yellow). Is this normal? How much should I be “walking” each day? Thanks for any input. I see my PT for the first time tomorrow.
My surgeon said I should start full weight-bearing in the boot today and, over the next 4 weeks, to take a wedge off per week. Then, over a 2-week period, transition to 2 shoes (increasing hours per day) and get rid of the crutches (timeline = 10 weeks post-op). I will be re-evaluated regarding my driving status at the 10-week follow-up visit. Of course, I remain NWB as of this evening since I don’t feel ready to go FWB at this very second. I’ll try it tonight and gradually increase the % over the next few days.
As slow as this process seems to be, I’m glad things appear to be moving forward. The surgeon said the wound is healing well and the bad leg "matches" the good leg perfectly - he was very proud of his work, which I greatly appreciate! He cautioned that the physiotherapist should not be doing any stretching of the tendon when I go to PT (starting next week - Week 5). How can I tell the difference between "stretching" and "non-stretching" exercises?
Ten days after surgery, I had the sutures taken out and was placed in a boot. It was such a relief since the original cast was just so big and heavy. I’ve been wearing the boot religiously as instructed, and only taking off to do ROM exercises (3x/day) and for showers. I am still NWB and will be seeing the ortho surgeon at the end of the week when, I suppose, he will write a script for PT and re-evaluate my driving status.
I was wondering about how long after the surgery people are usually able to drive? Also, any tips on how to drive as safely as possible? My injury is on the right side and I drive an automatic. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
All lottery winners has a secrets they will never share to the public 90% will keep the secret of their success to the grave, but in this life of no mans own you have to help others in other for you to gain more help in the future, its been seven years now i have been playing the lottery the highest win i won was $700, night and day something inner always tell me that there is a perfect way to win the lottery so i continue my search which lead me to Dr.Oluwa the great voodoo doc who cast a lottery spell for me and i won (40,million dollars) i doubted him at first, but success was the final result you can ask well write him on his Email{ Oluwajesutemple@gmail.com} for more details vist him on his website {https://oluwajesutemple1.wixsite.com/dr-oluwajesu}
Hopeful,
Thanks for the update! I’m almost 4 years in and can report that, while it does change your life, you can come back and do almost anything — or more than — you did before (I’ve posted about this in a few places on here).
That said, it takes work and always will. If I slack off on stretching or calf raises, I feel it. After a hard run or a day of skiing, I feel it. You’ll feel it when you get back into your hockey boots, but who knows, you might play your best hockey ever.
It needs massage, flexion control, and work. It requires diligence. And that’s okay! It just becomes part of your life, and can serve as a good excuse for making other healthy choices with exercise.
As you said, this site is invaluable for the mental and emotional recovery process. Glad to have you on here!
Cheers and good luck
==//==
Way to go hopeful! I’m at 6.5 weeks. Went back to Orange Theory and couldn’t run yet, due to a healing incision from another surgery, not due to my foot. But I had no problems walking with #13 incline. I was surprised when I couldn’t do 1-footed hip bridges with a weight on my stomach. Just a reminder that I’m still getting strength back in my legs.
lol Serpent. Good attitude My PT said my calf is only at 40% right now so no single calf raises for a while longer. She did increase the weight on my leg extension exercises. It feels great to feel my quad/hamstring again!
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.
Hi Hopeful! Well I get to do single leg calf raises now as part of my latest PT exercises and I’m at week 15. However I had very good range of motion and basically no pain at week 14 (and earlier) so I suspect I’m healed up more than you. I also didn’t have ATR so my recovery will be a bit different. What I found is I can do one single calf raise but it hurts so my PT guy said start by leaning on a table and let my arms hold enough weight so when I do the standing on tiptoe it doesn’t hurt. Right now that means I put a LOT of weight into my arms. But that’s OK - eventually things will get stronger. The goal is to be able to do at least 10 of the single leg calf raises, standing, in 3 weeks. We’ll see if I get there in 3 weeks. If not then it just takes longer. Of course my left (good) leg just laughs at my right leg since it can do them with no problem - LOL! Once I can do them again on my right leg I’ll be better than I was before surgery. The pain had gotten so bad from the bone spur before surgery that I couldn’t hop or do 1 leg tiptoes on my bad leg anymore.
hopeful - If I remember my first ATR correctly (5 years ago), I don’t think I was able to a single foot heel raise at 14 weeks, either. Everyone progresses at different rates. Actually, I don’t think I ever got really great at it. But, I’m not judging my progress or success at whether I can lift myself off the ground with one foot. That didn’t stop me from doing anything I wanted, including competitive volleyball (hard court and sand).
Just keep up the good work. You will get back to doing everything you want to.
BTW - I’d be interested in hearing what your PT said. Let us know.
Happy Healing!!!
Let us know how your PT session goes today, hopeful.
And if PT doesn’t answer your questions sufficiently call your doctor. If he hasn’t given you a recovery timeline from now until you see him again tell him you want one. You need to know what to expect, what you should be working on and when! I don’t see my doc again until about the 5.5 month mark but I can email him anytime I have questions and, if I needed to, I would get in earlier to see him. Nowadays YOU have to be your own healthcare advocate.
I’m going to PT tomorrow and will ask. I don’t see my surgeon again until mid-June (5-month mark). It’s comforting that this may be par for the course, so thanks for your responses.
I’m just at the 12 week mark (same surgery as shell37) and the only calf exercises I get to do until June are sitting on a chair, put weight in my knee, push up to tiptoes. No standing and going to tiptoes until next month which will be around week 14. What does your PT tell you to expect? I don’t expect to be able to do them right off the bat just as I started out with no weight on my sitting calf raises and am now up to 11 pounds. I can only go to 20 pounds until I see my PT guy in June. Right now I’m doing all the flexions with a theraband. Best thing is to talk to your doc or pt on what to expect and when. My doc gave me a 3 month plan with what additional things I work on each month and my PT guy keeps me in line so I don’t overdue it.
Are you in physiotherapy? Have you asked your PT or your doctor about this? I know even after almost a year after my ankle arthroscopy I really struggled to do single leg calf raises on my bad leg. Can you plantarflex your repaired foot? Could you start doing plantarflexion with a theraband for some light resistance, and gradually build up your strength to be able to do calf raises on both feet equally, until you can build up to single leg raises. Building strength back up is gradual, and can take awhile.
I didn’t have an ATR, but a Haglund’s Deformity removal and Achilles repair, but from what I’ve read, I think 14 weeks is still pretty early in the ATR recovery process.
Yay for 2 shoes! I get to try that tomorrow I had the haglunds surgery so my healing is a bit different from yours (I’m at 8 weeks now). Unfortunately my doc specifically put it in my weekly plan for this month to wear the night splint - ick! But considering how I like to sleep it’s probably a good idea for me. My next appt is 4/27 and I’m hoping the night splint can go into storage with the boot at that point.
good luck, and keep updating. Thanks
just be very careful when you do anything. walking is really the best kind physical therapy you can do for you self as well, so don’t be afraid to do so. Remember to eat healthy and have a positive outlook and you WILL recover and feel better than before! at 9 weeks there is no need to sleep with the splint on.
Congratulations, hopeful!!! That’s a big milestone!!!
I don’t have any real advice, other than to take it easy. Pay attention to your ankle and slow down if you feel pain, or swell up.
Keep up the good work!
Happy healing!
Yes, slow progress is still progress! Good luck with PT.
I am at the exact same point as you, I’m at 6 weeks and will be starting PT next week. It has been kind of frustrating as of late because it feels as though my progress has slowed the last 2 weeks or so. The swelling is still lingering and I am still nervous to put much weight on my foot. I am feeling a world better than where I was a couple weeks ago however!
Even slow progress is still progress right!
Positive thoughts
The bruise on my ankle is still there, but not the calf. My physiotherapist said that the bruising is normal and she’ll watch it over the next couple weeks. Although, she did say that I shouldn’t go out of my way to “practice” walking, so maybe I overdid it when I got the go for PWB from my doc last week…oops. Thanks for asking!
How’s it going? Did the bruising go down in the end?
I think you want to avoid anything that pushes your ankle to the limit of dorsi-flexion, especially against weight and holding it, if that makes sense.
When in the boot I was just given mobility exercises, concentrating on being able to move the ankle around in all 4 different directions. Plus a gentle strengthening exercise which was pushing the toes down against the floor from full plantar-flexion in order to try and activate the calf a bit.
Now that I’m 2 weeks in two shoes she’s still strictly avoiding static stretches (so no holding it in a stretch) but says it’s fine to experience a bit of “dynamic” stretch as I push off when walking.
Per my doctor’s instructions, I’m supposed to keep using the crutches with the boot for 4 weeks, and then wean off the crutches and get into 2 shoes over 2 weeks afterwards.
I had been getting around with the iwalk since surgery too. It was strange putting my foot down on the floor for the first time in 4 weeks. I felt a mix of tingling and sharp pains in the heel with the first few steps. No pain (or feeling, really) in the Achilles or calf. Gradually, in the same walking session, the heel pains would go away. Fatigue and ankle pain set in pretty quickly, so I would be afraid to do without crutches at all. It seems that I have the next 3.5 weeks to get to this level of comfort - so I just have to be patient, I guess.
Good luck with your recovery!
So how was the transition when you first put your foot down and walked FWB? I am still 10 days from getting the cast off and into the Vacoped boot. I’ve been using the iwalk since the day after surgery so I’ve been “using” the ATR leg - just no pressure on the foot obviously. Does everyone need a crutch at first when using the boot, or can you just hobble along? Thanks and good luck. Chris
Thank you, everyone! Today, my surgeon said I am restricted from driving for the next 6 weeks and will be re-evaluated at the 10-week (post-surgery) follow-up visit. So, it looks like I’ll be contributing to Uber/Lyft’s coffers for a while longer.
I’ve been a left foot braker for the past 20 years so driving with both feet has been natural to me (automatic transmission). I have a Right ATR and am currently in a cast. We live 20 miles from my work and also live the opposite direction from any relatives that could transport me back and forth to work. It is probably not the best thing, but I’ve been able to put my right leg over the console and drive rather well using my left foot. We are fairly rural, so there is usually not much traffic density. I am still super careful and have increased my following distances. I’m not sure driving with the left foot is for everyone, but it is working out for me just fine.
For all - this question comes up regularly and there are many answers but if you want to protect yourself from liability then you should obtain a clearance from your doctor. If you drive with your left foot crossed over and you have a collision then you could be prosecuted. Doctors should not give legal advice. I believe I could argue successfully in court a degree of negligence in this action and I have proscecuted many traffic offences. Modern cars do not require a great deal of foot pressure to stop quickly and it is usually your brain that forces the foot down hard. ABS was invented to take away the action of the brain and prevent the wheels from locking. Once I was cleared for 2 shoes I was cleared to drive but I stress you will need to get that clearance from your doc or your insurance company may decide not to pay out. When you start driving again it is better to keep more than the ‘proper’ distance from cars in front (not double your usual distance for some). A 3 second gap is considered proper so increase that to give you more time to stop slower. Driving slower can help but it can also annoy other drivers depending on your
[...]I wasn’t able to drive until about 2ish months after surgery. I however sometimes would drive with my left foot if I was just going up the street to the grocery store. My doctor said its not illegal to drive with your left foot but you probably shouldn’t 
I am right ATR and manual car. I am also a rep and do about 200 miles a day so have not been able to work since 9th December when i did this. I can second Morcs - basically when you can do an emergency stop without hesitation you can drive according to my physio. My brother who has done both AT first time he had surgery and second time on his right he was treated conservatively. He found he was driving quicker after his conservative approach and i think he was cleared to drive by 12 weeks. He does say that he drives differently now…. a little less aggressive…. which is no bad thing. i can’t wait to drive but i am also not prepared to push it as it’s just not worth it in the end. part of my personal rehab plan is to sit in my car on the drive making engine noises and practicing the peddle action.
I was also left leg, non-op, manual transmission. The clutch on my car is actually stiffer than the brake; I wasn’t able to drive until around 13 weeks. I also broke my right leg not too long ago, and only started driving again last week.
As morcs said, to drive safely following a right leg injury, you need to have the leg strength to slam on the brake without hesitation. Also, depending on how you place your foot on the pedals, you might also need dorsiflexion flexibility and strength to transition smoothly/quickly from the gas to the brake. You’ll probably be able to drive once you can comfortably walk around unaided.
On a side note, it’s worth considering the possible implications if you get into a car accident. Insurance companies may challenge your readiness to drive.
I’m sort of the opposite in every way (non-op, left-leg, manual car) but I can tell you what my physio said. She said I’d be able to drive when I can perform an emergency stop without thinking about my Achilles. At 9.5 weeks I feel like I’m almost there. I’ve actually had a go at moving my car around in my car park and it felt OK. I think I’ve just got a bit further to go before I can slam my foot down sub-consciously.
Since you’ve had surgery you should hopefully recover strength a bit faster than me, but on the downside it’s going to be harder to press the brake than a clutch. I guess generally it’ll be some weeks after you get into two shoes.
Hopefully someone with a more similar rehab can be more specific
