Comments on: Walking 15 days after surgery! http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/2008/07/28/walking-15-days-after-surgery/ Simply a place for me to complain :0) Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:11:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: horselvr http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/2008/07/28/walking-15-days-after-surgery/#comment-17 horselvr Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:17:31 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/?p=5#comment-17 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. 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.

]]> By: sheila http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/2008/07/28/walking-15-days-after-surgery/#comment-16 sheila Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:42:46 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/?p=5#comment-16 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. 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.

]]> By: sanfrantourguide http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/2008/07/28/walking-15-days-after-surgery/#comment-15 sanfrantourguide Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:24:19 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/?p=5#comment-15 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 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

]]> By: horselvr http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/2008/07/28/walking-15-days-after-surgery/#comment-14 horselvr Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:14:14 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/?p=5#comment-14 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. 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.

]]> By: walshie http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/2008/07/28/walking-15-days-after-surgery/#comment-13 walshie Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:37:14 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/?p=5#comment-13 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. 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.

]]> By: matts http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/2008/07/28/walking-15-days-after-surgery/#comment-12 matts Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:12:06 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/horselvr/?p=5#comment-12 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. 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.

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