Week 7 - 4th Cast - Foot finally in neutral - 2 more weeks to shoes!! January 21, 2009
Posted by neteng in Uncategorized.trackback
For the past week I have been in a “walking” cast that wasn’t especially easy to walk in as my foot was still not to neutral (see week 6 post for pics). After a few days however I was able to walk without crutches albeit a loose interpretation of walking. It was more of a step-shuffle, step-shuffle gait.
Yesterday 1/20/2009 I went back to my doctor and was successful in getting my foot to neutral (relief!!). It was quite difficult and painful to do but managable (and worth it). Now my “walking cast” is much easier to walk in. I am only using the crutches for getting around outdoors as change in elevations along with snow and ice cause stability problems. In two weeks 2/3/2009 I am scheduled to have this cast removed and go into 2 shoes with a heel-lift on my left one. I have had two shoes (one work show and one athletic shoe) fitted with 3/4″ heel lifts. I will have the lifts reduced by 1/4″ each month for the next 3 months. I am a bit concerned about stability when I go into the shoes so I may order an AchilloTrain to give me better lateral support. The last thing I would want to do is roll an ankle and re-rupture.
I am also concerned that walking without crutches will take a bit as right now the cast is providing a lot more support than just a shoe will. I’m not sure if I should change my status to FWB as I am currently walking with this cast but may be back on crutches for a bit when I initially transition to shoes.
Neteng: I took a look at the pictures of your walking cast. In some ways I like it better than my boot. The boot that they put me in is a half boot so it is more like a ski boot. Actually it reminds me a lot of the double plastic boots I had to wear for climbing Aconcaqua. They hurt the back of my leg just like this boot does. Your walking cast seems like it would be more comfortable.
Except for your walking cast, our recovery plans sound very similar. If all goes well I will get two shoes next week and they did tell me about the heel lift things. I am going to ask about the AchilloTrain you spoke off. I hadn’t heard of it before.
Yes, I know right where Janesville is. I will be going thru there on my way to Madison in March. We are going to come up to go to canoecopia. I know your area was hit pretty hard with layoffs. Hope that you have dodged that bullet!
Wilddog,
Good to hear that you will be in two shoes soon. It seems like the AchilloTrain with shoes is even some peoples alternative to a boot. Mine is scheduled for delivery next Tuesday (the same day as my appointment). I ordered it with free shipping from dickssportinggoods.com last night. Hopefully it will allow me to avoid being in crutches too much during the transition to shoes.
Janesville has been hit hard with GM and its suppliers closing recently. I have quite a few family and friends who are affected. It is great that your trip to Madison is still on schedule despite your injury. I saw that you are a mountain climber. My boss who is 61 is going to attempt to summit Mt. Washington in NH the second week of February. He has never climbed a mountain but is with a small group of climbers who have various levels of experience. Any advice I should give him? Good luck next week and continued success on your recovery.
Not that it matters in your case, but when I asked my PT tech about AchilloTrain she emphatically said “NO”. She feels that it won’t allow my ankle to build up the strength it needs with it on. I’m not having a problem with my ankle, but I thought about being cautious. At least I saved my self about $120 by not buying one.
Denny,
Thanks for the post. From what I have read about the AchilloTrain it doesn’t inhibit plantar flexion (movement that increases the angle between the foot and the leg). My ortho was concerned about a standard ankle brace like a laced kind that would restrict this kind of movement. I am looking to use it for lateral support and compression on the tendon to prevent swelling. I will have a heel lift on the bottom of my shoe anyway so I won’t be pushing off on my heel with any great force for a while. I still plan on doing ROM stretching and strengthing exercises without the AchilloTrain on. Once out of the heel lifts I will have to decide if the AchilloTrain is inhibiting the strengthing of my ankle. Reviews of this device have been quite positive from other postings so I guess I will have to try it and find out as I cannot return it now.
Hey there neteng! Your boss is going to climb Mt. Washington in the middle of winter?! Does he realize that is the mtn with the highest ever recorded windspeed and is known for highly unpredictable weather? Sounds fantastic to me!!! Wish I could go. As for pointers, Even though it isn’t high mountain, doesn’t mean you still can’t get AMS, so go slow and listen to your body. Also, don’t get bogged down with the goal of the summit. break it down into smaller chunks and just whittle away at them and you will get there. I love little sayings. Two of my favorites that I have in my journals that I carry with me on my climbs are: “Getting to the top is optional, getting down is manditory!” and–your boss might really like this one: “the great thing about not knowing what you are doing is that you don’t know something is impossible!”
I talked to my therapist about the achillotrain and got the same response as Denny, an emphatic NO. I do hope that you find it helpful, especially since you said you can’t return it now.
Be sure and let me know how your boss does.