Jul 21 2008
First Post Op
Had my first post Op today, 21st July 08, 2 weeks post Op; plaster off and stitches removed. All looked OK. The Consultant wanted to put me in the boot but the guy doing the plastering has replastered my leg; when I asked why he said to protect the scar and I am to come back in 2 weeks for a boot assessment with them. I will see the consultant again in 6 weeks.
Although the boot can be taken off for showering apparently I would still have to sleep with the boot on, which is more bulky and uncomfortable than the plaster (fibreglass actually; very neat and light).
Does anyone sleep with the boot off so soon after first Op? Just curious.
So dissappointed not to get the boot (its seems an ATR recovery milestone) but the surgery & healing seems to have gone well. I actually fell onto my bad leg 2 days after surgery (my first night home) when I slipped on a sink splash in the bathroom. Glad to see thats not done any apparent damage.
I will have an appointment about every 2 weeks to get the foot adjusted back toward 90deg. Only slight muscle wastage on calf, I was expecting a lot more.
Whats the opinion? Is the boot better than plaster?
5 responses so far
5 Responses to “First Post Op”
it looks like we had surgery on the same day so it is interesting to see how doctors are treating each injury very differently. I go to get my staples out tomorrow and I know i’ll be going into a cast for some 4 to 6 weeks…and then going into a boot and getting to some PWB and PT….it seems that going to a boot 7 or 8 weeks post op is somewhat conservative but I know it all depends on where the tendon broke etc.
So it’s plaster for this guy for at least a month more…looking forward to the day I can throw my crutches away…dying to get there.
good luck and keep us posted.
jack,
is it a plaster/cast?
as you have said the advantages of the boot is it can be taken off when you need it off like bathing , when you have itching , clothing , etc. But it does make us prone to be more agressive like take it off coz it feels good but it does not protect us well.
the palster/cast will be there all the time for protection but cant take it off.
id say if you are someone careful with things - a boot is a better alternative but if you are clumsy and such -s tick with the plaster.
Yep, its a cast using fibreglass strips. Very light and not too bulky but I still have lots of trouble sleeping in it (was awake from 2am this morning); the boot would probably be a real no-no for my sleep as it sounds a lot bulkier. I wouldnt feel safe sleeping with my foot out the boot as I am a restless sleeper and wouldnt want to risk damaging the AT.
Like screwdriver says, I feel I would be inclined to sit on my bed with the boot off and then the phone rings and I hop over to it without the boot and then bang my unprotected foot.
Ive ordered a shower bag to protect the cast and for some reason I have never had any trouble with itching (even when I had a full leg cast on a broken right leg, or even when I had Chicken Pox at 28 (but I looked like I had the plague); I must be itch proof!). I think the cast is a good choice for me.
jack ,
one piece of advice . i learned the hard way .
after i got the boot and started walking . my ATR leg is very weak from the ankle up.
when walking i feel the muscles working but not enough power in the quads and gluteals.
i wanna ask you to do an exrcise regimen on the atr leg without harming the ankle/gastroc/soleous muscles. that way when its time to walk - your atr leg will feel great .
Thanks for the tip, screwdriver. Muscle is a case of “use it, or lose it”, I remember well when I had a full leg cast after breaking my right leg. They took the cast off 5 days later and I had a pencil for a leg, no calf or thigh muscle.
Ive been making up some exercises (e.g. I put my ATR knee on the edge of my bed then put my weight on it; exercise the thigh) as well as doing leg-curls when standing/sitting. I also tense the ATR calf muscle without straining the AT.
If anyone has any tips please post and share.