Today I am in the middle of week 6 post op and I had the last appointment to change the angle in my fiberglass cast. From 15 degrees to close to zero now in PWB.
At the opposite of the last time, changing the angle was a piece of cake today, probably my sweet tendon is enjoying the stretching of the PWB phase since the last 10 days.
Next deadline is in 20 days, 8 weeks post op exactly, to remove the cast and go home in two shoes!! Once the cast will be removed, I will have a period of 10 days (approx) with 2 crutches, and then 5 days with only one to finally ditch them! And physical therapy will start 3 weeks after removal of the cast. Can’t wait to start using my home trainer.
This injury is quite a journey…
4 responses so far ↓
gravity // Nov 26th 2014 at 3:17 am
Happy to see you’re moving towards FWB and the freedom of ditching the crutches eventually, timing looks good for a Christmas present
Will they put you in a boot for some time following the casts, or moving straight from the (rather long) period with different casts to 2-shoes?
nico76 // Nov 26th 2014 at 8:54 am
thanks!! Christmas present will be most likely a Compex SP 6.0 to re-build muscle and help with recovery… can’t wait!
Nope there is no boot involved in the protocol. Straight from cast to 2-shoes (but with crutches for a while as described in my post).
cheers!
normofthenorth // Nov 26th 2014 at 3:17 pm
You’ll be at high risk when you first get into 2 shoes, so be nervous!
I generally like fixed protocols because they can be tested in RCTs and they produce excellent results. BUT our experiences in the transition(s) from equinus to neutral make me with for more personalization. I.e., if the new angle is painful, it’s too much too soon, and if it’s a piece of cake, you probably should have done it a bit sooner!
With a boot, it’s easy to change the angle at bedtime, then sleep in the boot NWB at the new angle, which is more ankle friendly than loading it up immediately. Tougher with casts.
herewegoagain // Nov 27th 2014 at 12:57 pm
Nico- I went straight from a cast to 2 shoes the first time around and had loads of swelling and soreness. I hope the transition is easier for you, take it easy for the first week or so!
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