My Physical therapist gave me a list of exercises to continue to do at home and I am no longer in their care. So 5 weeks and 1 day after surgery and I am on my own! I have a noticeable limp for now but I am working on it. In therapy today I raised up on the toes of both feet. It was more mind over matter in a way. It hurt a little bit but I got over it. I will still keep it slow and pace myself my chart says heel raising at 6-8 weeks. So I am going to back off that one until next week. When you get to this point after surgery its hard to get your brain back in the mode that it is ok to use the muscles again. Keep working my friends and the you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have a wedding to do this Saturday the 24th and I will post on how that went as well.
Dr. cleared me for 2 shoes today! I just have to be careful with long strides and no standing on my toes. I am really impressed with how well it is healing. I have a wedding to shoot on the 24th and I think I will be with out the boot on!! One thing I have noticed is that the boot has become my security blanket. I am really nervous about moving around with it on and the Dr. said that is normal just be careful and work on my gait. He also said if I can do a strict home physical therapy then I can quit going in to the therapy office. I think I will go for one more week and then start my own therapy here at home. I am going to the book store today with two shoes on and no boot to meet a client to sign them up I hope! Wish me luck.
Just some really good work in PT today worked out my quad and hamstring muscles. And then did some balance exercises. Left to right is a little off, but front to back was perfect. So I have some work to do. I walked outside a bit today with the boot on. But the big day is tomorrow and I go see Dr Roeder for his evaluation on my progress. I think he will like my progress and move me up on my PT and make my work outs harder. By the way, when you get your walking boot slip on a cowboy boot on the other leg. The heel of the cowboy boot brings your legs to even. It was way more comfortable to walk after I put the cowboy boot on.
PT went really well I was walking around the work out area in tennis shoes! Well, I was limping around ok, but it felt good to be on two feet with out the aid of a boot or crutches. The therapist thinks my tendon looks really good and I should be on schedule for full recovery. I shot a wedding Saturday day with the help of my son and we did a great job! I sent some sample photos to the bride and groom and they loved them. If anyone want to see them I will send you a private link.
Lupe
Yeah! No crutches!
When I got to PT my therapist said she called my Dr and told him about my progress and he said remove the lifts out of the boot and walk.
So, I first did the normal warm up exercise’s and the I walked around using one crutch. After one lap I put the crutch down and was walking on the boot! My boot is a cloth and Velcro number that is really lighter than it looks. But I think the weight of it is minimized by the amount of exercise I have been doing with it on. So I am very happy today to be walking around with out the crutches and now I have my hands back too! Carrying items and walking was really missed. Once again I have to thank God and my family for all the help and support. I will keep posting for the day I graduate to 2 shoes. I was told to bring 2 tennis shoes to PT Monday too!
So far still very good. Today I rode the stationary bike for 15 minutes, put two ankle weights on the boot and worked my quad muscles out. In that work out I tried to focus on my knee. Then I worked out my hamstrings wow that was painful but felt good. We have 20 stairs that lead to my bedroom and I went up and down them 5 times. I did it on my knees and only used the hand rail for balence. Later tonight I will try to walk on the leg a little.
During my last PT session I put full weight on my recovering leg and no pain. I think tomorrows PT will be a lesson on not using the crutches. My PT said that she would call Dr Roeder and let him know I am doing good in PT and it might be time to lose the crutches. I will post tomorrow and let you know how it goes.
All is good all is good I am recovering well. I started a exercise routine here at home. I am working out my leg muscles. It only lasts about 20 minutes but I get some good work in. I want to in good shape for next weeks PT. I would like for them to tell me I move to one crutch. I really need to be on one crutch for a wedding I have to shoot on the 10th. Wish me luck! I hope you are feeling better and stay positive.
Very easy day at PT just stretching and measuring my movement and control. My therapist says all looks good and by measurements my right (healing ankle) is only 1 inch larger than the other one. And the bruising is clearing up really good too. I asked the therapist if she thought I was on a rapid recovery program or if it is normal. Because I have read so much on this site about being in a cast for 6 weeks after surgery. And she said that there have been so many advances in the surgery itself that the cast is becoming a thing of the past. Even for other injuries not just the Achilles surgery. So next appointment will be Wednesday at 10 am and she said for me to take some Advil before my appointment just in case. Sounds like she has something in store for me. So until then I have to do some stretching exercises and then put a ice pack on. This past Saturday my wife helped me do an engagement shoot and we did a really good job. I was moving around on the crutches and she was carrying my stuff and holding a flash unit for me. Here is a link to my engagement sessions but last Saturdays are the final 9 photos. http://www.gr8clicks.com/Portfolio/Engagement/8005028_wXb93#P-2-20
Take care and I will post again after Wednesdays PT Session.
Well, the Dr took my “Stich” out today. I was impressed, he just pulled on one string and it came right out. It was one single thread that was about 6 inches long. No mutliple stiches to pull out just one! If you are in south Texas and you need to have your Achilles repaired this is the doctor. Dr. Loddie Roeder in New Braunfels, Texas he has been in Sports Medicine for 25 years. And he cleared me for 50% body weight and to keep using 2 crutches for now. Also, he removed some of the padding in the boot so my foot is almost flat at 90. He said I could walk/crutch my way along as far as I wanted to. PT starts Monday morning and we will see how that goes.
I am very happy with the way my recovery is going. It has only been one week, but it is all good. Once again I have to thank my family for taking care of me. I am getting around pretty good with only 10% body weight on my right leg. Yesterday, I vacuumed our bedroom all I did was walk behind it on my knees. I go up the stairs on my knees too I think I will need some knee pads. I am really hoping that on Thursday, my next doctor appointment, my stitches will come out and I will be cleared for 25% body weight. That might mean I get to use one crutch. I have an engagement photo shoot to do on Saturday and Giselle will have to help me with that one. I will make that photo shoot one of my best. The whole time during recovery I have been coming up with ideas of where I want my photography to go. And that direction is up to a new level and raise the bar in Texas for photography.