I went to see my OS yesterday and he checked my tendon and then asked me to walk back and forth bare footed. I was limping and he kept telling me to walk normally, but I was too nervous to try it.
He was happy with my tendons healing and said that I would be OK to go back to 2 shoes.
I felt it was too soon and so did my Physio so I am going to wear the boot while overseas but I have been given exercises to do whilst in a pool. I have to do 5 minutes of walking in chest high water, followed by heel lifts and then finally balancing on my bad leg only to strengthen it.
I did these exercise fully weight bearing yesterday as well and when I put my full weight on my bad ankle, it was quite painful, so that is why we decided to wait until my calf is stronger and my Achilles has healed for a few weeks longer before going back to 2 shoes. When I’m walking around the hotel I will try 2 shoes to practice and I walked around last night at home in 2 shoes to make me feel normal again for a short time.
I need to get out of the mindset that I need the boot 100% of the time, but as I’m getting around OK now its hard to push to the next step and risk rerupturing my tendon. I’ll get past this but am feeling good about my current healing.
11 responses so far ↓
1 kmay312 // Aug 6, 2015 at 10:44 am
Wow you progressing well. I just completed about 10 “laps” around my house with PWB with crutches. No problems. Thanks for the encouragement.
2 Mattycee // Aug 6, 2015 at 11:02 am
I started practising my boot “walk” while on crutches around the 3rd week. I was good at the heel to toe roll by the time I was properly partial weight bearing and that made going to full weight bearing much easier.
You’ll be there really soon and then its much better.
3 donna // Aug 7, 2015 at 2:22 am
It seems to me that for some it needs to be all or nothing…two shoes or boot…I found that transitioning helped me. I was in two shoes most of the time, however, used the boot when the tendon was tired on days I had to be up on my feet a lot or walk a lot or when I was in scary situations. I think you’re on the right track knowing you don’t need it 100% of the time but it would still be wise to use it some of the time.
4 rhino // Aug 8, 2015 at 5:52 am
WOW that is pretty good. I am at 7 weeks and not ready to be bootless as the risk of starting at day 1 is not worth it. My PT says I just need to keep doing the exercises and at 9 weeks I can try to rid the boot. Its still very sore and painful when I try to walk without it.
5 Mattycee // Aug 8, 2015 at 8:24 am
I had a Physio appointment yesterday and my boot was unlocked so I have a greater range of movement. To be honest it worries me walking in it like that and I’m back on Monday to have it set back to neutral.
I take it off at home and walk around of a night and this morning I took it off in bed for about 3 hours and it seems OK still.
6 oscillot // Aug 8, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Keep it up! I went pretty quickly (~2 wks) from testing 2-shoes in the house to going bootless outdoors. A cane can occasionally be helpful to let people know to walk around you, without having to explain / apologize.
Are you in a Vaco cast? I found hinging (unlocked) to be painful without much benefit, but I suppose it is an intermediate step if you’re scared to be out of the boot. Don’t feel bad if you have to temporarily lock it in neutral when your Achilles is barking.
7 oscillot // Aug 8, 2015 at 5:08 pm
What are you going overseas for?
8 Mattycee // Aug 8, 2015 at 6:09 pm
My boot is a hinged cam walker but not a vacocast and I agree with the unlocked boot being no good, it just hurts and I feel better without a boot on at all. (I will wear it when I am at Disneyland)
I am going to change it when I go back to the physio on Monday anyway. (I set it to what I think neutral is but I am not sure if it is right so I will get them to check it on Monday)
I am going the Hawaii and LA for a holiday as my wife is on Maternity Leave and is about to go back to work so its easier to go while she is on maternity leave.
9 ejbvmi // Aug 8, 2015 at 7:43 pm
Matt, I think you are on the right track. I just started “two shoes” this week, but keep my boot in the car in case I need to make a long walk in less time than I can manage at my two shoes pace. I have only needed it a couple times, but it is nice to have it in reserve when needed.
Using the boot at Disney will be a good risk mitigation and help you enjoy the day more, I suspect.
I’m not sure what model of boot you have, but the only choices are “locked” and “unlocked” I can see why it unlocking would be avoided. My boot has 10 degree increments in each direction, and I found it helpful to open up a little plantar flexion range of motion during my last full week in the boot. I didn’t push off with my calf, but it felt good to allow a little motion instead of keeping the foot immobilized all day.
Keep up the good work!
10 Mattycee // Aug 8, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Thanks for that. I am getting there! (Although today I am pretty sore!!)
My boot is this one:- (AllCare Ortho Rom Walker)
https://whiteleyallcare.com.au/product_detailed.php?category=Braces+%26+Support&subcat=Walkers&template=Braces&code=AOWK002R50
It was set to neutral and I was comfortable with that but when it was unlocked I could move my ankle past 90 degrees and felt uncomfortable. It could also be that I am now doing heel raises and balancing on my bad leg only in the pool that I am sore. Either way I am taking it easier to make sure I don’t damage my tendon before I leave next Saturday (15/8)
11 jakerdog // Aug 9, 2015 at 1:57 am
It’s so great hearing success stories
There is someones blog on here, TKDCO’s Achillesblog…and he shares his success story and what he used. I think it sounds great…may be able to help others speed up the process 
Happy healing!
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