jdotjones85’s AchillesBlog

Just went and saw my OS yesterday. He and his assistant were very proud of my recovery and also were proud of the job they have done thus far. It’s been a long ordeal, but I feel like I am finally rounding the corner in my recovery process. I realize there is so much more time left before I am 100%, but yesterday felt like a small victory to me.

The OS checked out my Achilles and said it looked and felt great. They cleared me for my first PT session starting Friday. I asked about ROM exercises and the like, but they want a physical therapist to take care of those steps for now.

I also asked about some upper calf and knee pain I’ve been having. I’ve been having some pain behind my knee, right beneath where it bends. They said it’s just the act of the muscles stretching out again, and that I can expect that type of pain. It hurts most when I walk, so I guess that’s what it is. Anyway, I’ll update tomorrow after my first adventure to the Physical Therapist’s office.

P.S. They also took the heel wedges out!!!!!!!!

Happy Heelin’!
-Justin

This Wednesday will be my 7th week since surgery. My doctor told me to go ahead and start putting weight on my injured leg, incrementally. I’ve been doing so very slowly and kind of satisfied with the results. I’m not getting any pain really in the Achilles, just some slight ankle pain and a little bit of soreness in the calf. I kind of half expected this since I have been immobile for quite some time.

I worked my way up to one crutch and even brought one crutch to work one day. My injured leg felt fine with no pain again in the tendon. I’m pretty confident on one crutch, however I prefer two crutches because I can just get around much faster. I must say however, walking without crutches has been quite disappointing. I haven’t really been able to walk “normally” per se. I can stand on two feet without the crutches and put a good deal of weight on my injured leg (whilst in the boot of course). When it comes to walking without crutches however, I just can’t do it. I just kind of balance a little bit on my injured leg and do a hop type movement with my right foot. Has anyone else started off like this? I’m kind of worried that it might be a mental thing, because like I said, I feel no pain in the Achilles when I put a good deal of weight on it.

I appreciate all the tips if there are any!

Happy Heelin’

Justin

So I met my doctor yesterday, after looking at the tendon (and telling me how vicious of a tear it was - worst he’s ever seen) he cleared me to begin PWB. I’m supposed to put some weight on it while on crutches and in 5-7 days ditch one of the crutches, while eventually working my way to ZERO, none, zilch, nada, CRUTCHES. Sorry, just excited to burn these things in a raging bonfire and prance around it and drink merrily. Yes, I hate these damn crutches.

On another note, “walking” while on crutches is kind of weird to say the least. Putting weight on my boot (about 1%) is a little strange to me. I’m kind of worried that if I push it too much something can go wrong, so I’m being a little conservative to start out, at least until Saturday, my self prescribed day to test out the waters with 1 crutch around the house. I’ll make sure I blast some jock jams or something to get me pumped that day.

But in the meantime, has anybody any suggestions for this PWB stage? What are some tips? How long did it take you to ditch the crutches and go FWB? Any tidbit of info always helps.

Happy Heelin’.

-Justin