mlaro’s AchillesBlog

So a quick update.  As you know if you read my earlier blog, I had bilateral ATR’s, so getting into shoes is a little bit tricky as I am finding out today.  I started PT last week and was given very gentle ROM exercises to do 3 times a day, which I did religiously ( I can post them if there is interest ).  Last week my dorsiflexion was measured at 3 degrees in my left and 0 degrees in my right.  The gentle ROM exercises gave me confidence in moving my feet more and adding the stretching.  I was glad to be measure at 3 degrees dorsiflexion in both ankles this morning.  Since I have been riding my bike on a trainer for 45 minutes to 1 hr every 2 days for the last 4 weeks (in my boots) I think that it actually strengthened my calves a fair bit and I think that helped me a lot today.

So the PT had me warm up on the bike without boots, which was great but felt very strange. She then had me take one boot off and put my running shoe on … this was the first time in 9 weeks I had worn any shoe, quite epic and I was very nervous.  I grabbed the crutches and she had me walk up and down the corridor concentrating on gait and walking normal (I guess many people end up walking like they are still in the boot at this stage).  This was hard at first and felt very weird, no pain but just so tight from neutral on.  This was repeated for the other foot.  She then gave me some strengthening exercises and said I should try to spend 1 to 2 hours a day indoors in shoes alternating left and right.  I will see her on Friday to see if I should/can be in 2 shoes at the same time.

On the way home I decided to get my first pair of Crocs (seen above)  … I love them!  They are quick to put on, stable and easy on the heel.

So, though it is a good day, it is a little frustrating as I have a very small house and trying to practice walking is awkward.  It also hit home that it will be a while before I am comfortable going outside in 2 shoes.  I am determined to have patience though and not screw up.  This site has thought me that pushing to gain a week or two is just not worth the risk of re- rupture.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 at 5:06 pm filed under Uncategorized and. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.