why didn’t his mom just redunk achilles?

mattmecs - Congrats on moving on from the boot!
I had setup this page: http://achillesblog.com/things-you-might-need/donated-achilles-equipment/

There was one person that mentioned wanting a boot (someone from India), but when I followed up with her, I didn’t hear back.

In the end, I ended up throwing mine out. Yeah, it would have been good to donate it somewhere, as these boots can definitely be reused after washing the padding.

I say turn it into a planter.

That’s a great idea to find a place to donate your boot. If you are unlucky enough to A) rupture your Achilles and B) not have insurance to cover the boot- it’ll cost almost two hundred dollars!!! And I agree- here’s to all of us never needing one again.

The most important thing is whether the new incision drains after the stitches are removed. If it is still draining 2-3 days after the stitches are removed call the doc immediately because it is probably infected. Demand that a culture be done if needed. I’ve had more infections (and 2 extra surgical procedures) than anyone else here that I’ve read about. If the infection gets out of hand it can cause the incision to open up and then things can get really ugly.

Yes, make sure you get all these questions answered this week when you see the surgeon!
If you go to physio, they need instructions also from the surgeon what you are allowed to do.

When I went in for my first post-op visit, I brought a list of questions with me, so I wouldn’t forget to ask them all. When you see your doctor to get the stitches out, be very assertive about getting your questions answered. It can be hard, especially if the doc is in a hurry, if worse comes to worse you can just hand him/her the paper with your questions on it. Sorry to hear you are still dealing with these issues after all these months. Get better every day!

See if you are interested in trying the Sea-Buckthorn oil. I was 20 years old when I had a 2-3 degree burn on my left foot. I went to every doctor I could find, tried every existing drug, but nothing wirked. 2.5 month in bed…
Then, my great uncle, who was a renouned surgeon, stopped by and told me to get rid of all the dressing (open the wound) and cover it with Sea-Buckthorn oil. Within the next 4 days my wound completely closed.
Years later my Dad was receiving a chemo therapy and started developing mouth sores. He could not eat as it was, so we had to get read of those annoying things. The cream he got in the hospital barely relieved the discomfort. Then I remembered about the Sea-Buckthorn oil. My Dad used it ever since and did not have one other mouth sore.

I hope this helps,
Marina

Oh man, I know how you feel, but 7 months? They actually fooled around for 7 months before deciding to do something? I’ve been told that that the lower leg is a really lousy place for wound healing; there’s a fair amount of lateral tension on the skin and not very good blood flow. I highly recommend that you talk to plastic surgeon. I had a second surgery to clean out infection and close the original incision, but it was a miserable failure. I finally had a third procedure, Z-plasty by a plastic surgeon that relieves the lateral tension and allows the original incision to close. Talk to a plastic surgeon right away.

Sorry to hear the bad news…. what does it mean afterwards, the tendon is intact, so I hope you do not need to be in cast/boot?
How is your calf strength? Are you progressing with that?

Oh, good luck!

Another West Side Story lyric, for those earlier in their recovery:

I feel shitty!
Oh, so shitty!
I feel shitty, and gritty, and gray!
And I pity
anyone who feels like me today.

apologies to Stephen Sondheim

From one Jet to another:

Boy, boy, crazy boy!
Stay loose, boy!
Breeze it, buzz it, easy does it.
Turn off the juice, boy!
Go man, go,
But not like a yo-yo schoolboy.
Just play it cool, boy,
Real cool!

Stay cool and don’t over do it.

DD

Thank you everyone for your feedback and support. I have follow up surgery with my wound specialist on Thursday which is promised to be less intrusive, etc. than the initial one. I still wish it was not necessary but with the various infections, and the tunnel connection the two scabs, all my doctors seem to agree this is the way to go. Hopefully I will only be in a cast for about 1 week as opposed to 4, but I guess we will see. For the record, what an expensive freaking injury this has turned out to be. co-pays, meds, mris, etc. ugh!

Hi Matt –

I’ve been reading your posts and was meaning to respond earlier. I was in your shoes in May after my wound would not close and painful lesions kept popping up along my sutured areas. I developed several infections which required very aggressive antibiotics, including a 2-month intravenous treatment.

It may or may not have been an allergy, but it was certainly a reaction to ETHILON, the nylon suture that was used on me. My Infectious Disease specialist said that bacteria likes to lodge between artificial material and that such material does not have the natural antibodies to fight them. As a result the tissue surrounding it gets infected, irritated and delays tendon recovery. The antibiotics can work during their rounds, but unless the cause of the infection (the sutures) are removed, it can be a constant battle.

My second surgery to remove my sutures happened almost 6 months after my first procedure. My second opinion surgeon agreed with my original surgeon’s recommendation for a debridement and also said that a 6-month window is usually when doctors go in a second time. This way, some tendon has already

Matt, sorry to hear about what you’re going through. “Allergic” is not really the right term, but I’m not surprised to hear that your surgeon put it to you that way. The suture that is most commonly implicated is called vicryl (long i, short y, accent on vi). It is an absorbable (dissolving) suture that is usually used to close deeper layers. I am an anesthesiologist and have taken care of people who have had these sutures pop up years after their surgeries. Personally, when I had some skin cancers taken off of my face, I “spit” all of mine. Fortunately, the deeper layers had already healed, so I don’t have strange-looking scars. Unfortunately, I forgot to tell my achilles surgeon this, and he used them, so I am just waiting for mine to start popping up. One thing that the wound specialist may tell you is that they might be able to be taken out with just local anesthesia (which is what my dermatologist did for my face). Good luck, Ron

Matt,

Look at it this way - at least he’s not going in to redo the surgery on the Achilles! At this point, it’s been so long, and you have other issues “popping” up that it really might be best to just have them redo the wound, you know? Like 2ndtimer wrote, this time, your wound would likely close fast and normal.

Your wound specialist (and they are pretty amazing) may have a totally different take and make a suggestion that does the trick without surgery, too. Whichever way you go, you’ll be better for it to get it resolved sooner rather than later.

Tamar

I am sorry to hear your trials are still not over yet….
But I hope the removal of the stitches will not disturb the tendon much (that should be healed by now) and your wound will close fast afterwords.

Mattmecs- I left a pretty detailed comment about sutures on butrackrunner’s page: http://achillesblog.com/butrackrunner/2009/09/30/6-months-post-apocalypse/. I’ve had a patient who needed to have deep sutures removed from her neck several years after her initial surgery. Good luck. Ron

Wow, Matt! I can’t believe this kind of stuff is still happening to you! What’s the verdict? Did you see the doc yet?

How does your PT know you use only the lower part of your calf muscle?
What are the reasons - consequences of that?

I am sorry to hear that you have yet another problem - at week 22 one would have hoped that you would be over these!
Wish you luck.

Matt,

How does that work? Having only the lower calf muscle move? What does that feel/not feel like?

And that wound is still open?! Goodness gracious.

Tamar

Hey there! I had an open wound (staples didn’t hold the incision) so, 1 inch diameter hole w/tendon exposed, MRSA, etc. My wound was large (and I am young, healthy, etc. as are you) and it took 6 mths to close and it only closed with the help of regular visits to Wound Care Ctr where I used a wound vac, and had a few synthetic grafts on. So, since Oct. when it closed…I’m left with this scab..it’s gotten slowly smaller…but, your scab will eventually go away…it’s just going to take a while. Daveleft and I had the similar thing…you’d think after mths and mths that finally the scab would come off and be nice skin…but nope, only more scab. In time though, you’ll be scab-free. Happy healing!

Hey there! I had an open wound (staples didn’t hold the incision) so, 1 inch diameter hole w/tendon exposed, MRSA, etc. My wound was large (and I am young, healthy, etc. as are you) and it took 6 mths to close and it only closed with the help of regular visits to Wound Care Ctr where I used a wound vac, and had a few synthetic grafts on. So, since Oct. when it closed…I’m left with this scab..it’s gotten slowly smaller…but, your scab will eventually go away…it’s just going to take a while. Daveleft and I had the similar thing…you’d think after mths and mths that finally the scab would come off and be nice skin…but nope, only more scab. In time though, you’ll be scab-free. Happy healing!

[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ‘0 which is not a hashcash value.

Agree. I took the stiches too early and had a small opeing in my scar short after. Only about one centimeter. But it still kept me from doin proper rehab for a while and, as mentined above, kept my phys therap from working on the scar. After towo rounds on antibiotics and loads of creams and what not one doctor finally said: “U’re overdoing it. Just leave it to the body to take care of it. Leave the wound for some days, then just soap and water and no more creams and u’ll see that the body takes care of it itself”. And it did… So now it’s a “good looking” scar tissue on it. But once again: this was a very small opening and not especially deep. But it was open for a months and a half before finally producing the sufficient scar tissue.

Matt,

After having my own wound issues, I highly suggest that you get help in closing yours. The longer it seeps and stays open, the more prone it is to infection. Booklady is also a HUGE wound infection sufferer and if you read her blog, it’ll make you get on the phone right now to contact your doctor.

Even a teeny tiny part of the wound not being closed at almost four months is a risk. Definitely get it taken care of.

Now that you’ve started PT/rehab, I would also find it unlikely that your Physical Therapist will be able to do adequate scar manipulation, and this is very important for getting in there and breaking up the scar tissue.

Don’t delay - a wound being open for this long is a sign that something is amiss.

Mine was closed at 5 weeks first time around. Whether or not you ditch the boot should not be based on the scabbing. It should be based on your doctors opinion and your progress toward recovery.

Chuck

Matt-I’m sure the antiobiotics will work. I guess what the Dr. is thinking is he’ll go back in and clean all around the area. I guess he thinks there’s enough tissue around to sew it back together. If you don’t opt the surgery route I would find a really good Wound Ctr in your hospital…they specialize in Wound Care and have all the latest greatest potions and thinks to try and heal your wound. All will be ok…don’t worry…you’ll be good in no time! Trust me, I know. Sending happy, healing thoughts your way!

Matt, you may have rsd. I hope not, but some of the signs are, discolored skin, thin skin sweating. felling of cold or hot in limb affected. irritation of anything touching limb even a small breeze may irritate. im not even on antibiotics so i have no advice for you there sorry, but look up rsd on google you will see the signs and symptoms there. Just curious what the doc would do if he went back in??? I feel for you I am going through the same thing as you. wendy

Hey, matt, read your question. Is cipro a steroid or antibiotic? dont know much about it. I am a 2x rupture myself. 1st surgery was in 11/09. never fully recovered from that with constant pain and swelling. 2cd surger was may 12/09 i am now 6 weeks post op. I had two insicions because i had tarsal tunnel as well ant then the at repair. Well the tarsal tunnel scar healed great, but the at insicion, i had my stiched in for 4 weeks. Now my wound is still ozzing, open, very red and swoolen and actually larger then the insicion itself! I am very worried. I start pt today, the doc mentioned rsd which is very scary, hope i dont have that. He tried to put me on a steroid again and I declined. I have still yet to recieve an antibiotic. I was never in a cast just a regular walking boot non weight bearing. any suggestions? thanks….. very worried about recovery so slow. Wendy P.s. if you want to email me or ever need some support you can email me at wendyluvlights@aol.com. good luck

Hi Matt,

If by “citro” you mean cipro, or ciprofloxacin, you might want to talk with your doctor about this! There is great concern about cipro as an actual cause of tendon ruptures. (Do an internet search on ciprofloxacin and tendon, and all sorts of hits will come up, including lawyers looking for business.) Cipro appears to interfere with tendon metabolism and healing. Given that you, like most of us in this “club,” probably already have a strong tendency toward tendon issues (tendinosis) anyway, the use of cipro could be especially risky. I suggest you ask your doctor if there are other antibiotics, (and not another fluoroquinolone antibiotic, either), that might do the job. While interfering with your injured tendon’s healing alone is an issue, the scariest thing would be if it weakened your other tendon and led to its rupture, which is about the last thing you need right now.

Good luck,

Doug

Matt,

My girlfriend told me I was over stepping with my involved foot putting most of my weight on my heel. I know exactly what you mean. I’m 9 months post op. I was in a cast for 6 weeks. 4 non weight, 2 full weight bearing. 2 weeks in a boot.

First step with the full weight bearing cast was very hard. I was very hisitant. Now I may favor my involved foot now and then. I try not to, but it happens. Just a matter of getting your leg back to pre injury strength.

I had the same experience as you.

Good luck

Glen

I think it is totally normal to have the weight on your heel at first, I know I did. In fact the sole of my foot under my heel got quite sore. I wore birkenstocks around the house which helped and gradually over about ten days my weight started to transfer to the forefoot. I had a weird hesitation in my walk for a long time - up to 15 weeks at least. Hope this helps.

Im in the U.S and mine is the same way. Cast for 4 weeks and this is my 4th week with the boot, but I did have inserts in my boot. Each week I took one out and now the boot is flat, will probably ditch the boot at the end of the week. I think it has more to do with the doctor and your age.

I’m in Ontario, Canada. My protocol is different, maybe more conservative. Had total 8 weeks non-weight bearing broken down with 2 weeks in a cast after surgery(March 19). Then switched to a boot. Started at 30 degree plantar flexion(away from head) for two weeks. then up to 20 degrees for 2 weeks, 10 degrees for another 2 weeks. Partial weight bearing allowed after 8th week doc appointment with start of physio 3 times a week for 2 months. Still PWB with 2 crutches. Quite slow going.

I’m in the US NY and my treatment was very similiar. Hard cast for 5 weeks into boot for almost 3 weeks then 2-shoes. No wedges in the boot either.

Thank you for the feedback folks! i guess I will just suck it up and listen to doc…..

I have been reading this blog for a year now, and I have read about reruptures when people took risks or were unprotected. (and of course, some just happened despite everything…)

I absolutely agree with the doctor on this one and would strongly advise you to listen to him. If you are not as fearful of a rerupture, another surgery, or increased healing time, then ditching the boot would be ok.

Hi Mattmecs,

Good to hear that you are healing well. I was wondering if your consultant fitted you with any wedges/heal inserts in your boot. If not, then I don’t see it being a problem for you to walk barefooted indoors on a flat surface (must be very carefully - making sure you DON’T have any accidents/slips).

However, if your consultant did place inserts/wedges/heal lifts in your boot - then I guess he/she does not want your foot/tendon to stretch beyond a certain angle. But, since you are not experiening any pain - I think you should be ok. The only concern is that at the 5 week mark the tendon may not have fully healed yet. It’s one of those situtions which is difficult to provide advice. On one hand everyone heals differently and in some cases it may be good to pursue a rapid rehab protocol. On the other hand this needs to be balanced with complacency and the risk of reinjury. Sometimes, I think it’s important to just listen to your own body and how well it responds to movement/exercise.

With regards to muscle atrophy - most of this occurs during the first few weeks of imbolisation and will take some time to re-bu

I’m 8.5 months Post OP. Swelling took months to go away. Try and keep your foot elevated and ice it after walking or Therapy. As I remember, I had swelling for about 5 to 6 months Post OP. My repaired Achilles is thicker than my other one. Now I have to keep my uninvolved achilles healthy. So far so good.

Good Luck

Glen
San Diego

I had the same question for my trainer when I started walking with my boot. She said that it’ll be at least a little swollen for awhile; it will probably be a few months until it goes down completely. I’ve noticed mine is gradually getting smaller over the past few weeks, but I can still tell it’s puffy. Also- the repaired Achilles will always be thicker than what it originally was. My doctor went through this whole ordeal himself a few years ago and I felt his repaired tendon- it was noticeably larger than the other one, but nothing too crazy.

I want to thank everyone for their input. Unfort, I will have to live with what the doc says, but I can at least gingerly try to do things on my own. stay tuned, and good luck to everyone as well. i really appreciate all the advice!

The key is to listen to your body and what it tells you. My Dr. was more conservatiive and wanted to wait a full 8 weeks for all the biological healing to take place. When I was out of cast at 4 weeks I did a lot of ROM stuff and light resistence with a towel or theraband. Have not regretted going slow. Granted I did push myself in a very deliberate manner. I always knew what the Dr. would say or what the next step would be because I was already trying PWB, FWB and finally two shoes. As a result of being conservatively aggressive. I should be back on the tennis courts at around the 6 month post op mark. Also doing PT 3 times a week as well and highly recommend it.

mattmecs - Here’s the average days gathered on the Group Marathon Tracker:
Average Age (when injury occured): 37.1
Average Time to PWB: 4 wks 5 days
Average Time to FWB: 6 wks 6 days
Average Time to 2-Shoes: 9 wks

It’s really best to follow what your doctor says. It’s probably not likely to happen, but during the boot to 2-shoes is the most vulnerable time for re-rupture.

I am at the 7 week post op mark. I also would say start the theropy sooner, my doctor had to go as soon as I got the boot on. It really helps too, just to get the range back and the massages. They know what they’re doing and they wont push you to the point where you would re injure.

Hi Matt,

I was in cast NWB for 6 weeks (which felt like eternity). I was then in boot FWB for about 1 week. and in two-shoes at around week 7 post-op. I started PT at around 6.5 weeks post-op. 12 weeks does sound rather long - especially as you are FWB in boot.

Sounds similar to me. As soon as I got the boot (week 2 after hard cast) I felt I could do more. Went from PWB to FWB (no crutches) and like found I could actually walk around in bare feet and then went to two shoes. Do you have the option of seeing some “private” PT, might be worth getting their opinion on what you can/could/should be doing. I did this and went from thinking I could do nothing to being able to swim, static bike and drive! Life somewhat back to normal even if I have no strength in the leg.
Good luck.
JG

I personally would begin PT right away. Even if you’re not doing anything with your Achilles, you can start builidng back up your calf and quadricep muscles that will make your achilles recovery faster.

i would keep the boot on for the next week + all the time. then perhaps wear it only when you’re outdoors walking around until week 7/8. sort of a compromise…

Matt -

I started PT at a little over 5 weeks. I think it was the best thing I could have done. The PT was real light on me, only whirlpool and some light flex exercises (picking up marbles, sliding towel, etc) and light stretching with the band. Seems that earlier helped me. Its up to you of course, and your ability to get the therapy done.

All the best. Matt

If anything I think it just goes to prove what a huge variance there is in the way the medical profession treat the injury.
I was NWB cast for 2 weeks.
Then removable boot (which I should still be in!) for the next 6 weeks with gradual increase in weight bearing. I ditched it and the crutches after 2 weeks and was in 2 -shoes at 4 weeks. The NHS physio has just expressed concern that I appear too flexible on dorsiflexion. I think (hope!) she is wrong and is just being over cautious. Have private physio tomorrow and then consultants appointment on Monday so I guess we’ll see. The “offical” physio started a week ago, i.e. at 7 weeks post-op. Your schedule looks like 12 weeks post-op before you start rehab, which does seem a little long, but others have posted differently. So there you go, no one size fits all, although I think at times are treated more on the Doctors “personal standard preference” than as individuals.

Good luck with it all.
JG

I agree. Each doctor is different. It also depends on the extent of the injury. I had a complete rupture of my left AT. Feels strong today.

Good Luck

Glen

Hi Matt,

Had my first post-op with the surgeon today 11 days after surgery. I was in a plastic splint wrapped in bandages and now am in a hard cast for 3 weeks, so a total of a month immobile. He said it was a danger to rerupture the tendon if I don’t let it heal completely, and that takes about a month. After that I will be using the boot and gradually put weight on it. I guess all docs are different. mine seemed to emphasize that all patients are different as far as recovery goes. I suppose a good doc takes that into account and everyone doesnt fit into a cookie cutter.

Hi Matt,

I just past 8 months Post OP. I had a none weight bearing cast for 4 weeks, full weight bearing cast for two weeks, then a walking boot for two weeks. 4 weeks does seem a bit soon.

My left calf muscle was the same. Freaked me out when I saw it. Slowly but surely you’ll get back t where you were pre injury. You’ll experience a lot of swelling for awhile. Keep it elevated as much as possible. Ice it as well. You’ll have a limp for awhile, but that will pass as well.

Good Luck!!

Glen

Hi Matt, I’m only a week and a half ahead of you, so I can’t comment on the long term, but here’s my experience and what I’ve found through my research. The “classic” method is a cast for 2 months; most people I’ve met who’ve had an ATR more than 10 years ago have had this method. So 4 weeks isn’t overly conservative. However, the most recent trend seems to be less than 2 weeks before getting some sort of removable boot, but there’s huge variation still. I had a half-cast for 2.5 weeks and then the boot.
My doctor forbade me from doing any calf rehab until at least the 6 week mark. Although recent research seems to show that some gentle early rehab is good. Either way it won’t be a ton of rehab since the tendon is still really weak. My tendon will only allow me to push with about 30lb with my bad foot, whereas my good one I can push 250lb. So you can try to keep your calf to a 30lb strength level, but it’s not going to really come back until the tendon is strong enough to support a real workout.
If you’re walking on your cast, then the boot really won’t be any different other than being able to take it off to wash and stre

Can’t answer one…although for me I can tell it is repaired as it looks and feels connected but much thicker than before.

On (2), I think the boot is there for support. Personally I came out of the 2 week cast went into the boot with heel wedges but soon got fed up with it. Found I could walk without the crutches, took it off for sleeping and then after two weeks with the boot just went to two shoes. The risk of not using the boot is that if you slip or have an “accident” then you are increasing your chances of a re-rupture. I took the view that I was safer in shoes (and more comfortable) than I was in a flaming great boot.
If you want some inspiration on faster rehab check out doug53’s blog (linked from my first post in mine).
I’ve been 2 shoes from week 5 and just at week 7 I’ve already had 4 private PT sessions and my first “official” NHS one. Things are feeling good, but the long recovery road is really getting the strength back and like doug I was working on the basis that the sooner you are able to start this the better.
Good Luck Matt.

Hi Matt -

Elevation is key. Blood pools down in that area when there is nothing to pump it up (calf muscles, counter pressure on the bottom of the foot). Keeping it elevated helps blood flow up and down again (think of a river flowing downhill). New blood = better healing. My scar looks much better and my tendon overall is stronger having kept it up.

Hang in there!
Matt

My doc told me the same thing..elevate elevate elevate..he also said an aspirin a day too..hmm. Exercise? Thats a new one on me..I was flat on my back for two weeks straight elevating. And now the only exercise I get is to hobble step and crutch my way around the house..and the occasional outing when I get cabin feverish. How did you luck out and get by with the inflate a cast? I went from a half cast..(explained in my blog) to a vader boot. And I’ll be booted for the next 2 1/2 months. I still get swelling around my ankle from time to time..so I elevate when I’m on the couch just for that usually later in the day. Otherwise chin up..this is supposed to get better!

Hi Matt,
I’m no doctor so I can’t comment on how important elevating the leg is, but for me I pretty much let my body tell me when to elevate it. Getting exercise is very important for your body in general. When I was in my first few weeks, I’d try to do as much exercise as I could; chin ups, push ups, crutching up and down the stairs. Then my leg would be so pressurized I’d lie down and keep it up for a few hours. So in effect I did do what your doctor said: kept it up pretty much all the time but also got exercise.
For me the boot made a huge difference. My doctor told me to keep using the crutches with the boot, but I am able to fully walk on it without them. For the first day I would use 1 crutch as a cane, but soon discarded it. If you look at some of the publications on this site about early weight bearing protocol, it mentions that the average time to discard the crutches in favor of the boot was 2.5 weeks - just about when I did. I think if you’re relatively athletic you should have no trouble walking on the boot a few days after you get it.
Good luck and keep us posted!

Hey Matt -

You’re asking questions we all asked - good ones. I’m in the boot now after 5 weeks. When I was in the cast, I had similar confidence in the strength of my foot until they took the cast off! Then I saw how much it had atrophied and how weak it really was.

I wear the boot during the day, taking it off 3 or 4 times just to stretch and do some light toe lifts. I sleep with it on, but more because the dog sleeps right next to the bed and its hard not to trip over him in the middle of the night! I sleep well with it.

My doctor didn’t advocate putting too much weight initially, but said let “pain be my guide”. I had one PT appointment already and I’m in more pain than I thought. So, if you can go more, go more, if not and it hurts, let off for a while. Everyone’s recovery is different, so try not to be so quick to worry if you don’t have a shorter recovery than others on the blog.

All the best.. Matt

Hi Matt,

I also live in NYC. Have you noticed how inaccessible the city is when you’re disabled?

I am 3 months post-op right now. Have been in 2 shoes and doing PT for about 6 weeks.

The best advice I can give you is: be patient. Everytime you think you are feeling good and want to test your foot, just remember that the timeframe for a full recovery is 6 months. Right now, my PT and doctor both told me I would not be able to jump or run for another 3 months!

To answer your questions, at 3 weeks, I was put into an inflatable boot and was told to elevate my leg for at least 23 hours a day. The most important thing at this point is getting your surgical wound healed - any complications there will set you back. There is not a lot of blood flow to that area, so elevating it will accelerate the healing process.

1) Do NOT ditch the crutches once the boot is on. You are not supposed to be partial weight bearing til about the 6-8 week mark.

2) My doc told me to think of the boot as if it’s a cast. He said I can remove it to take a bath, but that’s about it. I kept it on at night when I slept.

3) I was