Week 12 progress update and Pics February 24, 2009
Posted by neteng in Uncategorized.trackback
I have been in 2 shoes for 3 weeks now. I am having gradual progress in my ability to walk somewhat normally. If I put both feet flat on the ground I can get just slightly (very slightly) beyond neutral. This has allowed me to walk much more naturally than a couple weeks back despite being a bit inhibited by having a heel lift on my shoe. I keep doing calf stretches and the ROM exercises that Dennis posted to the PT section of the site. I am thankful for that as it really is the only guidance I am getting on PT. When trying to get beyond neutral the tendon feels like a taught rope and the muscles on the sides of my ankle and lower calf feel like they had practically calcified. I do have ankle swelling that inhibits my ability to get much beyond neutral as well. The lower front of my shin and the top of my foot gets swollen and this also acts as a barrier to getting my leg to be able to push forward.
My doctor doesn’t want me using any resistance so I don’t know how far to push it when I am doing a calf stretch or trying to get beyond neutral. I go back next week for my 1 month visit since shoes. Hopefully my doctor will have some guidance on some sort of PT regimine I should follow on my own as he doesn’t recommend professional PT for my recovery.
Scar at 12 Weeks
Left Shoe with Heel Lift
At 12 weeks post-op I’d already been going to PT three times a week for six weeks. For the life of me I can’t understand why a doctor would not recommend PT. I know each person is different, but PT should be beneficial.
I’m lucky because I’m retired and I have all the time in the world to go to PT and not have it interfere with my life. I personally think that it has helped my recovery by several weeks. I’m about 14 weeks post-op and am considered fully recovered. The only thing left for me now is the progression of time and everything will be totally back to normal quickly.
Great to hear that you are recovering quickly from your surgery. My surgeon is pretty conservative about physical therapy. I will find out more next week at my visit what he would like me to be doing for exercises to increase ROM and strength.
Hey Neteng! How’s it going? I left the boot too early and have paid for it. Are you swelling up much? I swell up everyday. At times I look down at my ankle and can’t believe how big it is. But I have to be on m feet all day at work.
I was wondering how your boss did on his mountain climb? Did he and his group summit? Did they run into any bad weather?
Best wishes on your continued good progress toward total recovery.