hoppymodo’s AchillesBlog

I decided to stay home for the 2 weeks recommended by the surgeon. With the three weeks holiday and one week spent at home beforehand, this has turned out to be my longest break from full time work, ever (albeit with email enabling some work-from-home!). It was great to have my parents visit for a few days to help out and provide more than enough “Get Well Soon” wishes. Thanks Mum’n'Dad!

I feel very lucky that I’ve hardly felt any pain or aches, apart from the first 24 hours at home. If I stopped elevating my foot for more than a few minutes, it would start feeling prickly and pressured. This, coupled with my mental image of my poor foot filling up with blood ready to explode, would send me scrambling to the couch (using crutches of course) to elevate again. However, yesterday marked 9 days after surgery and I physically felt like I did before surgery - Hoppymodo was hopping around again, sans crutches! But not too much, “just in case”!

“Moon boot” experiences:

• It’s got a bit of weight… I’ll have a massive thigh to compensate for the scrawny calf
• It is snug and warm, but easy to un-velcro so I can air out and wipe down the sweaty limb inside. There is a bandage on the ankle region. Haven’t dared to actually take off the boot, will leave that to the Dr.
• Showering turned out to be a breeze in our bathtub-shower - I just sit on a small stool in the bath and hang my booted leg out, sealing out water with the shower curtain.
• My elevating “structure” of one rectangular pillow, one U-shaped pillow and a bolster has become a permanent feature on the bed.
• I recommend not swinging the rigid heel of your moonboot into your other ankle.

Check up with the Dr tomorrow, I look forward to Rehabilitation. I’ll be sure to peruse the other AchillesBlogs for comparative recovery programs - reading all your stories really makes me feel better  :oD