Week 9 - 2 Shoes!! Learning to walk again! February 4, 2009
Posted by neteng in Uncategorized.trackback
I had my 9 week post-op visit yesterday and brought my shoe that the shoe shop had added a 3/4″ lift to. They actually thinly sliced the bottom of the heel of the shoe off, added the rubber lift, then glued the bottom of the heel back on. It looks pretty good on the two shoes they installed these on. I was envisioning some sort of wedge but they almost look like they were manufactured with the lift built in. At my last visit my doctor and assistant spoke of reducing the lift each month to ween me off of them by the end of three months. Today they said I would keep this 3/4″ lift on the whole time.
I had been getting around with the walking cast pretty comfortably without crutches for the past two weeks. The cast certainly provided stability and peace of mind. It is quite different with just shoes. There is quite a psychological side to this injury that makes it a bit daunting transitioning to shoes. I am walking very calculated and slow but am crutch-free. It feels a lot better than I thought it would. I brought my crutches to the appointment just in case I didn’t feel comfortable right away in the shoe but didn’t have to use them.
It felt great to get my foot into some water and scrub the flaking skin off. The scar looks pretty good and I hope the next week of scrubbing will result in a much better looking foot.
My AchilloTrain came. I had heard nothing but positive comments for this device from other posts. As soon as I ordered it though I received 2 posts on my blog about how others were told not to use this by their doctors or PTs. I am a bit torn now. I am contemplating sending it back as the particular company I ordered it from will allow a return. Many of the online stores did not offer returns on this item. I ordered it while my leg was still in a cast and used my good leg as a measurement. My good leg measured at about 9.25in so I figured that if anything my bad leg would have been the same or a tad less. Well, due to the larger size of the tendon and perhaps some swelling ,my bad leg measured nearly 10in in circumference. The Achillotrain is sized for 9-9 7/8in. Due to the negative comments I have recently received, coupled with the question about sizing, I am strongly considering not using it. Maybe the heel lift on my shoe will be good enough.
Since my doctor isn’t a real fan of PT I am looking through other’s blogs for some suggestions on some PT I can do myself at home. The only recommendations my doctor gave me was to walk with the adjusted shoe on at all times and do some movement of the foot without resistance.
Hi Neteng,Glad to hear that you are in 2 shoes. I had my doctors appointment on 2/5/09 and he also said I could start wearing shoes….finally. It does feel good wearing shoes again although it is swollen and definetely tight. I asked if I needed lifts for my shoes and he told me I do not, he said because my foot was neutral in the cast and I did not have any lifts in my boot that I did not need them now. I start PT on wednesday and I am looking forward to that. It is so funny how people who had the same surgery on the same day can have different recovery programs set forth by our doctors. I saw your previous comments about your boss climbing Mt Washington, last June I climbed it with a few friends of mine. We had a great time, spent 1 night in the Lake of the Clouds hut. Wind and rain can be really bad there, I can not imagine going there in February, that is pretty extreme.