First PT appointment at 5 weeks post-op
December 10, 2009
So I had my first PT appointment yesterday. The guy worked on stretching my tendon and for some reason I got really hot and felt nauseous. He said this happened because I have not moved my foot in a while so my nervous system was responding to it. I am not so sure of that. I do have a really high pain threshold and am worried that he micht have pushed it too far.
The we did some ROM excersises (Alphabet, moving foot to the sides, ets) and he massaged a bit my toes and the bottom of my foot. It fetl great, but then …
I got home and my ankle got really tight around the calf and tendon area. I had hard time sleaping and by the morning my foot swell more the usual.
Since then, I have been massaging my foot and ankle and doing the ROM excersises (although I think I am the only one who would be able to notice my foot movements at this point). The tightness is gone right now although I can still feel my Achillies. I hope my PT knows what he is doing. He is certainly experienced with other injuries as he did a great job for my husband and the two kids who are all competitive tennis players. So I will continue my excersises and give it some time.
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized. .
8 Comments Add your own
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
1. Christine | December 14th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I’m lucky to have found a physical therapist that I was really able to be comfortable with right from the start and have no problem trusting. The thing is, physical therapy is going to be painful, and there are times when they’ll stretch your leg and your thinking it’s just going to re-rupture. So a little stretch is good, but if you really, truly feel like maybe they’re pushing a little too hard, there’s no harm in checking out another place or two. It’s a serious injury, a long road to recovery, you might as well have someone working with you that you can trust through the pain. Definitely see how it goes, but don’t hesitate to visit someone else if it just isn’t working for you.
2. mshap | December 16th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Christine,
I have had 3 PT sessions by now. From the conversations with my PT it sounds like he has experience with this injury. I am worried though that he may be pushing me to move too quickly.
Im am 6 weeks post-op today. Had a half-cast for 2 weeks and then an ACE wrap, which I turned out to be allergic to so I had to remove it all together. So, for the last couple of weeks I have nothing on my leg - no protection (not that I ever considered my ACE wrap a protection).
My PT called the Dr and was told that I can do FWB, which terrifies me. Dont get me wrong - I would love nothing more then to work again. I just want to make sure when I start walking I will continue to do so for a very long time.
For now I am told to do foot lifts 30×4, toe crunches 30×4, and the alphabetx4. I think I did many more yesterday (stopped counting) so my Achillies began pulling by 7 pm yesterday to the point where I had to ice it.
Also I keep my foot on the floor for short periods of time and massage the foot and ankle as often as I can to supposedly improve the sencitivity in my leg.
At my 3rd PT session I did 1 min on a stationary bike. The next day it felt like I ran a marathone
I am going for another PT session today and then will see the Dr. tomorrow.
3. fitnessgenie | January 18th, 2010 at 12:05 am
Give your PT feedback with lots of facts about what happened after your appointment. Write it down and discuss it with him at the next appointment. My PT uses my feedback to determine if things were too much, just right or not enough.
4. rosamundi | January 18th, 2010 at 3:40 am
Well, am totally scared to walk on it now. After yesterday its inflamed as hell and swollen. Until I see my physio at lunchtime will rest and do gentle stretching and ice. I just wish I knew what triggers the ‘two steps back’. If Steve says work through it, will try, until then……
5. rosamundi | January 18th, 2010 at 3:53 am
Well, the bit of work I was agonising over being late is dealt with, in that I have phoned them and advised them of the truth that until my fears are checked out and pain subsides, cannot think straight, let alone write. Feel better now, at least in mind!
6. Jocylyn | January 18th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Hi All. I had surgery for a ruptured archilles 5 days ago. I am in plaster and on crutches. My toes are swolen and I have aching pain; am taking pain relievers through the day. Is it normal to still have pain 5 days after surgery? Thanks Jocylyn
7. MaryK | January 18th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Are you keeping your leg elevated? Really, really elevated? Like knee higher than heart, foot higher than knee? At day 5 I would say I “had” crutches, but I wouldn’t say I was “on” them- I really wasn’t moving about much yet. I wonder if you are doing too much? Or if your cast is too tight? Call your surgeon first thing in the morning- better safe than sorry. It does get a little better every day.
8. peteco | January 18th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Jocylyn,
I had surgery 3 days ago and haven’t taken a painkiller for almost 24 hours now. Did they do anything special while they were in there beside re-atttach the achilles? Bone spurs? High tear? Also, are you only taking the narcotic painkiler or have you added in Ibuprofen? I found the Ibuprofen did more for the actual pain than the narcotic stuff did.