Mar 02 2012
II - Weeks 2 - 6: In the Boot
Boot Time = Muscle Atrophy
I spent post-surgery weeks 2-6 in the boot, full weight bearing. I used it to work, but a clock started ticking as soon as I put the thing on. I could stand it (pun intended) for about 4 hours on my feet, then had to get the thing off & get the ice on. I think I was icing at least 4 times per day during this period. Doc’s orders were that I could move foot in dorsiflexion, bringing toes up and let it fall back with gravity. That’s it, nothing else til next office visit at 6 weeks post-surgery.
I think around week 3 is when reality sunk in. Looking at the non-existent calf muscle is frightening… brain sending signals for your calf or toes to do something and getting no response is terrifying. I was wrapping the straps of the boot further and further around as there was less and less meat on my leg. I am an active person - I enjoy snowboarding, mtn biking, xc skiing, rock climbing, surfing, SUPing… like many people, its part of what keeps me sane. This time was the hardest psychologically for me - being able to get on my feet to work and then have to just sit back down… bit of a downer.
At week 4 I took another shim out of the boot as instructed by the doc, so only one left in there.
At week 5 I was really chaffing, I wanted to start some PT- I felt the time was right. I got some info through this site and connected with someone on a PT "fast-track" who had started in on PT at week 5. I very gently started some ROM exercises, & it felt good to be doing something!
Week 6 office visit:
So I show up for week 6 visit and the doc checks out my Achilles. We chat a bit about how its feeling: pretty good all things considered. And he tells me to start wearing 2-shoes with heel lift around the house and try to wean myself off the boot over the next 2 weeks. This was a bit of a shock for two reasons - firstly I had been instructed to do just about nothing up to this point, and secondly, per reading a lot of the stories on this site, I was given to understand that this was a BIG step. He also said, when I asked, that I could get on a stationary bike.
And that was it… so I asked, "What about PT?" To which he responded that he would write me a script if I wanted, but claimed that there was no evidence of PT getting people back to normal activity any faster than just easing into walking, etc. Now, I like my surgeon. He’s given me good information and been very straightforward throughout the process… but this seemed really strange to me. I took the script and went to a PT that I know and trust (we have some really good PT’s here in Vail). The whole process is a reminder to me that I need to really take time to organize my thoughts and questions before seeing the doc - the only way to get the information I want is to ask.
One thing I suggest is, before you go see the doctor, spend a little time and actually write down a list of questions you want to ask. So much happens, so fast, during those appointments, that it’s very easy to forget to ask an important question. It helped me to have a list to check off.