Hello every one,
It has been 2 weeks since my last update. They were quite interesting weeks.
Between week 3 and 4, everything was Ok, however, all my tries to walk with one crutch or put more weight on my leg didn’t result in any useful outcome. I can walk with one crutch, but it was quite difficult because of the position of my foot in the Vaco Cast, I was at position 3. I didn’t have any balance at all, I would do 4 or 5 steps and then give up.
At my 4 week mark, I was scheduled to see surgeon, according to the protocol, I knew that this meeting would be exciting as I would be able to shower and sleep without the boot and also he will give the green light to move the boot down one position each week. Indeed it was a very happy day for me, didn’t get to see my surgeon, I saw the physician assistant. She checked the wound, moved the boot to position 2, explaining to me that I now have Range of motion between levels 2 and 3 while I’m walking! and that every week I drop it one more level till I reach neutral. She advised to shower in the boot and then wash my leg after that especially that I like standing up in the shower.
My next follow up will be at 7 weeks, she told me I should be walking in neutral position for a week, and to bring a shoe with me :):)
I was very very excited to have this ROM. It was a great/weird/difficult feeling when I took a couple of steps where my foot actually moves. It took me almost a day to get used to it before feeling comfortable to increase weight bearing on it. As I felt I was able to walk relatively better, I decide to ditch the knee scooter (I only use if I’m walking a distance more than 10 minutes, Like between the train station and my work). It wasn’t a very smart decision, the under arms crutches although putting more weight on my foot were very uncomfortable, I decided to ditch them and bought a pair of forearm crutches, they were the best.
I started using the forearm crutches and I immediately felt more improvement on my weight bearing, ease of movement, pain tolerance and speed as well.
During that past week, walking with one crutch was better, but not sufficient to ditch the second crutch my balance was still so impaired, however I think I was able to walk without crutches at all for few minutes around my house, but still balance was a problem. I didn’t feel much pain on my leg, It was more of feeling pressure on my heel and occasionally, some pins feeling in my tendon.
Yesterday, It was the time to change the boot again, to position 1 this.. I was very excited, more ROM, more progress. I knew what to expect when I put my foot on the ground, it will feel weird so I changed the boot, secured it and started walking for 10 minutes to eliminate any weird feelings, it worked quite well. I was ready to put more weight and resume my normal routine after 30 minutes or so.
Today, First day to walk 0.4 miles between the train and work with the new boot setting, It was quite easy, only pain is occasional pain in the back of the heel (Donna, you mentioned that this might be not good right ? ). I felt that I wasn’t putting that much weight on the crutches because my arms didn’t hurt as they normally do. This encouraged me when I got up to work to try walking with one crutch again and OMG, It feels so easy now, there are some balance problems still, but I feel Im putting all my weight on my leg.. I freaked out to the extent that I felt I re-ruptured it or something that’s why I can do all that on it. Same with walking with no crutches, it feels very easy too!!! Although I’m very excited, I will try to take it slowly and not ditch the crutches until I am in neutral next week, especially I will lose the high sole in the boot and change to the flat one!!
I think weeks after the first month are very exciting, each week there is a change/improvement, so for all who are before 4 weeks, its doable and I believe the worst is over!!!
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