Walking 15 days after surgery!
I went to my 2 week post op appointment to have my staples removed and boy did I get a surprise! Not only did I get my staples out, but I also had 1 wedge removed from my boot. That in itself was a major milestone, feeling my tendon stretch that extra inch as my heel worked it way down to it’s new perch inside my boot was pure bliss. Just when I thought my day could not get any better, the nurse instructed me to lose my crutches all together!! YES!! I am now walking around in my boot, though the boot does not allow me to “walk” normal, I am able to get around and actually carry something in my hands. The boot is VERY heavy so it does take its toll on me to move around, but remembering that just a few short days ago I was laid up in my bed and not being able to move period is a huge boost to my mental state!!! The only downfall to my recovery so far is that I still suffer from numbness in half of my foot and the possibility of permenant nerve damage is real. I’ll keep you posted on that issue.
My treatment going forward is simple; I exercise to stretch my tendon to regain movement. Currently I have about 2 inches of movement up and down with my foot. Each week I return to my doctor to have 1 wedge removed, meaning if everything goes well I should be in regular shoes in about 3 weeks! So in a nut shell that would be back to normal activities 5 weeks after my repair!!!
If you have not had your surgery yet, I would discuss with your doctor the option of the Beldsoe boot over a cast! It’s not pretty and it’s very heavy but it does allow you to get back on 2 feet much faster than the traditional cast treatment. Additional benefits include being able to take it off to sleep, shower and rest. I was able to shower 2 days after my surgery and I could clean and dress my incision site daily and most importantly I am able to apply ice often. Here is a link to the boot http://www.bledsoebrace.com/products/achilles.asp and just to clear any doubts, I am an IT Consultant and not a sales person for the boot!
My doctor tells me that his treatment path is somewhat new and not all doctors have joined this new thought process. One other advantage I see to this treatment process is costs. The cost of casts (approx. $300.00 USD each), therapy (since I am able to remove my boot and exercise my foot I will have less muscle mass loss over a cast treatment and do not need therapy) and less doctor visits. This may not be for everyone, but it is an option to discuss with your doctor.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
That is great..Just be VERY careful. There have been re-ruptures(DaveLeft and Chiptin) who tried an early aggressive protocol..I am jealous, it has taken me to about week 12 to feel very comfortable with regular activities.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Matty is right, but I would add another VERY to being VERY VERY careful.
Your tendon at 2 weeks is nowhere near being healed, not even close. The boot gives some protection but not as much as a cast, so dont be fooled into a false sense of security.
I’d concentrate on elevating your foot above your heart and ice 3-4 x’s a day…and sleep w that boot on too. If you dont wear it to sleep your foot will naturally point down as you sleep and the tendon will naturally contract. You need to wear it when you sleep.
I hate to say it but normal activities 5 weeks after severing the largest and strongest tendon in your body is just not going to happen.
All of this is one man’s opinion, but I’d bet my meager savings I aint alone.
Best of luck.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:14 am
There you go Walshie, bursting my bubble! Just kidding, what you say makes very good sense and I Thank you for the advice!! To me, just being able to move around again has been a huge boost. Let’s face it, all of us were active people before our injury. So it is natural that depression can become part of our daily lives. I know for me, not being able to even get up without help, coupled with the fact of not being able to do anything but lay with my leg up was very, very hard. So though the thought of returning to a normal way of life in 5 weeks may seem un-reachable to you, it allows me to think the end is near and keeps my depression at bay. I still feel strongly that the boot will allow me to recover faster over traditional cast treatments, but I will add that I feel this treatment is right for me and may not be the best for everyone.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
My doc had me walking 15 days post-op, but in a cast. I asked about the boot; he felt a cast was safer and more secure. Tomorrow’s the big day for the second cast. I saw that even Ebay sells boots cheaply. But how to buy the right one, right fit, etc? I wouldn’t risk bucking the protocol.
With doctors one never really knows; they don’t seem to want to tell everything ahead of time. I have come to realize that perhaps they don’t know for sure how each pt. will do; and trying to promise anything in advance doesn’t work; what if a pt. takes some numbers literally, then has a setback.
Doctors remind me of my mechanic: they focus on the injury (broken part of car) but don’t want to promise anything, even when the car MIGHT be ready; what if they take a look at the engine and discover MORE wrong?
So stop leaking in the driveway!
Mary
July 31st, 2008 at 7:42 am
Mary - HA!
I too wanted the boot in part because I felt it could head off some of the side effects of being in a cast (locked ankle, showering, ability to massage the scar tissue, etc) so that once the tendon was ready for PT, the ankle was already loose. However, the method of immobilization doesn’t change the speed at which the tissue heals back together. Only time can heal the wound. The boot can be a great tool, but we still have to be cautious with how much stress we put on the wound as it heals. My foot feels GREAT at 8 wks post-op (today). As much as I want to walk w/o the boot, I know each day I leave it on my tendon is a little stronger AND I lower the chance of a re-rupture that much more.
I learned about an acquaintance last week who had an ATR about 5 yrs ago at age 40. 5 months later he ran a marathon. Now, no way of knowing the stats, but I wonder how many people could have been on such an aggressive recovery track and stayed healthy and how many would have re-ruptured along the way. I have nothing i have to do in 5 months that requires me to push it right now and risk starting the recovery clock over. That’s what helps me to slow down - the thought of going back to Post-Op, Day 1. * shudder *
And we’re not trying to pee in your corn flakes, just alert you of the risks. We all understand how exciting it is to think about being up and mobile so quickly. Keep us posted! We wish you all the best.
August 5th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Great feedback and honestly this is what I was trying to do. I want to get people to think about different treatment options that are out there. Looking back on my progress, I can really see the benifit of a cast for the first 2 weeks. Keeping the leg stable and allowing the wound to heel is paramount and with the boot it was so heavy that I spent more time (because of pain) with it off then on. But after the first 2 weeks I do feel the boot is the way to go. being able to take it off to shower, Ice and massage is so nice. I do take it off to sleep with the doctors blessing, and yes, my foot does retract some every night. However, part of what the tendon is suppose to do to strech and retract, so when I put my boot on every morning I do experience that streching discomfort. But each day it gets better and my ROM is actually really good.