AchilloTrain

Posted on January 9th, 2009 by nomada53

I’m just over six weeks post-op and am ridding myself of the walking boot this week and switching to two shoes.  My surgeon had agreed to put me directly into a walking boot at week two instead of her usual protocol which had been cast for three weeks and then the walking boot.  When I went in for my six-week post-op, Monday, I told her I had gradually gone to walking on the boot without crutches over the last few days prior to the appointment and had been applying scar gel and massaging the scar several times a day for the last several weeks.  She told me that she was so pleased with progress and scar healing that she thought I was ready for two shoes as soon as I felt completely comfortable walking in the boot without crutches.  She gave me an AchilloTrain to use as a walking aid with two shoes.  It is fantastic!  It is woven wrap that goes over the heel/achilles with a gel-like wedge under the heel and provides compression/support around the achilles.  I started walking around the house yesterday with the AchilloTrain and today I’ve been walking with it outside with two shoes and no crutches.  I’m walking slowly and not without a limp, but it does not hurt and it really feels good/safe to walk on my own.  I encourage everyone to check it out.  At PT today I also got to try something called the G-Trainer, which is really cool and helped me a lot with walking.  The GT is an anti-gravity treadmill, which allows you to walk without putting weight stress on the injured achilles while working on your natural gait.  I’m going to use it as much as I can.  Thats it for now.  I want to thank everyone on this site for all the great information and support.  I’m so happy that I went directly to the boot instead of a cast.  I only learned about this option from others of you ATRers.  Same with the scar gel.  Same with compression socks.  Now it’s my chance to share the AchilloTrain.

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postop rehab protocol

Posted on December 1st, 2008 by nomada53

Coming up on my first postop one week after surgery.  Believe doc will want to cast me for 3 weeks, then boot me for 2 more, then PT to begin 6 weeks out.  I want to push for more aggressive protocol with walking boot/modified orthosis and partial weight bearing, disuse of crutches, asap.  Read studies and seen protocols saying early functional treatment leads to faster recovery, less muscle atrophy, etc., without increased incidence of rerupture/complications.

Don’t know how doc will respond but want to push for this approach.  Anyone have this issue?  Suggestions?

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Hello world!

Posted on December 1st, 2008 by nomada53

Welcome to Achillesblog.com.

This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Following link will take you to your blog’s “command center” where you can write your posts:
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Please change this post’s title to something more descriptive. Just leaving it as “Hello World” leads people to believe that you haven’t updated your first post!

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  • Recent Comments

  • alan weiss | February 18th, 2009 | 4:29 pm

    I’ve been wearing mine for the last five weeks and I think it’s great. I took out the insert about a week ago and now just use it for ankle support and to reduce any residual swelling around the ankle, especially during exercise. The compression around the tendon is really a great feature. I pretty much wear mine now only when I exercise. I’m at 12 weeks post-op and everything is going really well. I’ve started running on a treadmill this past week and it feels very good on the tendon. My AchilloTrain was covered by my insurance.

  • landlockedtxn | February 18th, 2009 | 4:17 pm

    most insurances cover these as they are medically necessary for rehab of an ATR. I have one and hopefully will get the green light to wear mine with TWO shoes on 2 19 2009…and if they dont cover them, most docs will give a private pay discount…all you have to do is ask if they can give you a break on the price..and most will work out a payment plan with you as well…..IT IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY TO BUY ONE!!!!

  • nomada53 | January 10th, 2009 | 11:47 am

    I think it’s worth it. The gel-like heel works really well. And it also provides compression/support around the achilles to reduce any swelling. I’m pretty sure my insurance will cover any charges for it. I’ll let you know.

  • Smish | January 10th, 2009 | 8:06 am

    Wow, I was interested in getting an Achillo Train but are they seriously worth $120. You said that your doctor just gave you one? Wow! I wonder if insurance would cover any of it.

  • dennis | January 9th, 2009 | 10:03 am

    Glad to read that you like the Achillotrain. It would have been helpful for me too early on..

    For others on the site, here is a link to it: (Towards the bottom)
    http://achillesblog.com/things-you-might-need/

  • MarilynRD | December 5th, 2008 | 2:04 am

    Nomada,
    GREAT news! I love it! A true health care “consumer”
    Keep up the positive approach…my anti spam word happens to be “active”.
    MarilynRD

  • nomada53 | December 3rd, 2008 | 3:25 pm

    Just got back from my one week postop attpointment (actually 8 days post surgery) and am very upbeat. Sutures removed and everything looks good. Best news is that surgeon put me directly into Bledsoe boot instead of hard cast for 3 weeks and then boot for 2 more, which is her normal protocol. Because of all the great information and personal stories on this cite, I explained my reasons for wanting a more aggressive recovery process, earlier physical therapy and range of motion than she normally allows. I was pleasantly surprised that she was happy to accommodate this. My next appointment with the doc is 4 weeks out. Meanwhile, I picked up a super icing machine that will help to reduce remaining swelling for the next week. First phys therapy is 3 weeks out, 4 weeks post-surgery,

    Don’t get the idea that I’m going to be out walking around and doing anything crazy. She advised me to keep sleeping in the boot for 2 more weeks to be safe. She also told me to keep the boot on when I shower since slipping is the biggest risk of re-repture at this point. I will also keep using the crutches until I feel comfortable enough to try

    [...]
  • Smish | December 2nd, 2008 | 6:20 am

    Having done this twice already and having both the slow rehab protocol and the early rehab protocol done, I prefer the early protocol. I agree, you end up in the same place eventually but I had a much easier time and much less pain along the way with the early. The big key was the early range of motion not the early strength building. Oddly it seemed like a lot of the strength I had to fight for with the slow, just came out of nowhere when I had the early. Again I think it really helped to have that range of motion right away. I understand that some repairs are so tough that the early rehab protocol is not an option.

  • nomada53 | December 1st, 2008 | 7:43 pm

    Richard,

    Thanks for the sanity check. Appreciate the exercise suggestions.
    I’m just looking for a way to speed up the recovery process, like everyone else, and also just as important to provide a mental boost that I’m not getting weaker than necessary before trying to rehab. Will see how the doc appointment goes.

    Nomada

  • JasonK | December 1st, 2008 | 6:10 pm

    The protocol you just described was exactly what I had and most people I have talked to think it was aggressive. Some of the exercises you may want to ask your doctor about when you are in a cast are riding a stationary bike and leg lifts/hamstring curls to minimize the upper leg from atrophy. Good luck!

  • Richard | December 1st, 2008 | 5:44 pm

    Hello Nomada,
    Studies also tell you that it takes up to a year to heal properly whichever protocol you follow.
    I’d go steady if I were you, its a risk. However there are some people on the site who have got back on their feet slightly quicker than others - it will depend on how much of a risk -taker your Doc is

    Richard

  • Mr WordPress | December 1st, 2008 | 4:48 pm

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