2nd Physio Visit
On Wednesday November 17 (34 days post op) i went to physio for the second time. I explained that i was down to a 1cm heel lift in my aircast boot and that i was not using crutches anymore(following my surgeons protocol). My ankle was heated and i showed my ROM to my physio. She was pleased to see that i could dorsiflex to neutral. She manipulated my ankle/foot and commented on some stiffness which she said was to be expected with being in the boot most of the time. She took my foot past any point i have (inversion, eversion and dorsiflexion). She also said that we were limited at this stage as to what i could do with regard to exercising beyond what i am already doing and that many patients do not start their physio this early. I was given some new exercises using a wobble board. I sat on the bed and rested my legs on the wobble board and rolled my feet in different directions. I found this to be a useful exercise and am considering buying a wobble board to continue the exercises at home. I also spent time riding the stationary bike(boot on), which i enjoy, but knew that other than increasing blood circulation in the leg and working the upper part of it, this is more for cardio. The visit ended with leg raised with e-stim and icing. I felt no discomfort after physiotherapy and am looking forward to my 2nd post op visit to the surgeon next week.
Filed under: Uncategorized and
Good stuff! I made myself a wobble-board or two, years ago. IIRC, a local lumber yard sold hardwood hemispheres with a big woodscrew buried inside, sticking out in the middle of the flat side. I bought one, turned/screwed the whole thing into the middle of a small sheet of plywood, flipped it over, and voila! A wobble board!
Wow. I’m really stunned at how fast you’re progressing! I’ve been told this week to start putting full weight on the foot, in the boot but I’m finding quite difficult. Also the bottom of my foot seems really tender - I haven’t really walked on it for nearly three months though as I was in a boot for 6 weeks before surgery.
I live in terrace house as well and the stairs are quite steep, so I did try stairs but struggled to fit the boot on the step and have gone back to sliding down on my bum
Anyway - you’re doing fantastically well. Hope it continues for you x
ems72, every injury is different and the fact that it has been so long since you have walked makes FWB all the more tentative. I hope you will find, as i did, that when you start to FWB that you will see a vast improvement in mobility over a short period of time. When i first started FWB two weeks ago i would never have thought i would be going for walks, shovelling snow and basically doing everyday activities two weeks on. I do still use my crutches in the house when out of the boot.
Take it slow at first and soon you will be surprised at how much more you can do. Stairs are awkward and a handrail is invaluable. I found going up easier than down. When i go down i use the handrail to stop me from falling forward as i ride and roll the step in my boot(this is when i take most care).
Good luck with the FWB and i look forward to seeing good reports. Paul