6 week post-op Dr visit and some good news
Uncategorized December 17th, 2012I had my (long awaited) second follow-up visit with my specialist last Friday and to was hoping he would put me on the next level of recovery and go PWB and finally let my foot touch the ground after the 6 weeks of NWB. To my total surprise after running the standard strength tests etc. he was very happy with my progress and how the total rupture was healing, that he said I was fine to go straight to FWB plus loose the boot.
I had to ask him again to repeat all of this as I was not taking it all in, and yes the boot could go and I could start wearing shoes again. Now all I need to do is find all the missing left shoes.
I pushed it a little the next day as the office xmas party was on and it was lawn bowls. So the boot came off and the shoe on but after an hour of back and forth on the bowling green the foot started to swell big time (worse than ever) and the heal pain around the area where the back of the shoe would cut into the achilles area was not feeling great.
Had my first Physio treatment the following day and even though the pain levels increased (plus the fact that my Physio takes great pleasure in inflicting pain over many years on me) it started to feel alot better as if I was finally getting somewhere. He did have some good advice: Wear the boot still to places I am not familiar with or where I will need to walk longer distances and then wear joggers etc. to other places like around the house.
I started doing this that day and even made it to my wife’s xmas party and so far things are looking better even if alot slower that when I was on my knee walker.
The one thing I have noticed is every time that I now stand sup, the blood rush feeling to the whole leg has started.
December 18th, 2012 at 7:42 pm
The swelling is normal, and since I’ve went FWB and back to work I’ve been dealing with swelling. As my Physio said, ” Well, it just part of the process. Just make sure to ice and elevate whenever you can and keep up with your home exercises”. I would heed your physio’s advice about the boot, mine will have me ween off the boot in a couple of weeks.
December 19th, 2012 at 3:27 am
Going straight from a knee walker — TOTALLY NWB and elevated — to FWB in two shoes is a big leap, and I’m not surprised your foot and leg are complaining. Just having your foot that ~2′ lower, down on the floor instead of above the walker, would increase your swelling and “blood rush”, even without the extra WB and everything else. Me, I like incrementalism in this rehab, and spending a couple of weeks (preferably starting at 2 weeks post-whatever) PWB, gradually introducing a “booted” leg to WB on crutches, makes a lot of sense to me.
The rehab progression is generally NOT about getting around faster, as you’re discovering. In fact, several steps (from crutch-walking to FWB, and from boot-walking to 2 shoes) involve significant slow-downs. But they’re steps back toward normal and healed, so we’re glad to take them even if they slow us down.
You’re also at a vulnerable stage of your rehab, so don’t feel wimpy to put on the boot, or even to grab crutches if they help. I kept switching between boot and shoe for weeks, though I never did go back to crutches after I quit them — but that was after two weeks of PWB on crutches, all inside the boot.
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December 28th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Thanks north! I have been kneewalking NWB 6 weeks. I have noticed that I am getting that blood rush and swelling feeling when sitting without leg up. I guess I need to do this more often to help recovery.