robertinsouthafrica’s AchillesBlog

Thanks for the feedback. My cast came off a day before yours on 15th September. It was a weird feeling starting to put weight on the foot again. I had been treating my leg like a land mine for 4 weeks and had to re-calibrate my mind again to start using it. I have been doing physio for the last couple of weeks and going back to gym for some light exercise.
Every day I start to feel more normal.
Good luck with your recovery.

Hey, I think we are on a pretty similar schedule.

I ruptured it on 8/19. I just got my cast off on 9/16. Now I am on a Vacocast for 2 weeks (PWB). Then FWB.

Glad to hear that you are getting hang of things. Things are really getting better after the first few weeks. 2 limbs in a cast that’s quite an experience. Kudos to you for hanging in there!

You can always discuss with your doc other protocols and he/she might adjust your timelines based on your progress of healing. I know we tweaked things here and there in my protocol.

And the tiredness will slow down. I felt it too in early weeks. The workouts definitely helped with that, but listening to the body in the early weeks is important and take as much rest as possible will help. Especially that your body is fighting 2 injuries at the same time.

Good luck this Thursday!

Hi Agnes,

Thank you for the feedback.

Into week 3 (post op) now. And I am starting to feel more “normal”. I started using the iwalk 2.0 on Friday and can now manage 90% of things for myself. I am enjoying not feeling totally useless. It’s horrible when you are totally dependent on everyone else. Its surprising nice to be able to cook a meal and then also be able to carry it to the table.

I found that coping with this experience is 90% mental. I really battled to accept what was happening during the first week. After the operation I managed to accept what lay ahead over the next few months and have been far more positive since then. I must just accept it and move on.

Compared to some of the awful experiences that I have read on the website I am lucky - only 2 limbs in casts! I am also lucky that I work from home, so haven’t had any pressure of having to be at work.

I have my first follow up visit on Thursday. I am expecting to be in a cast for another 2 weeks (4 weeks in total). The PWB discussion will be interesting. I feel that the protocols in South Africa are more conservative.

I have started to tr

Robert,
I really like your humorous attitude in your writing! I chuckled few times reading your entries. I do not envy you - with both of your left limbs injured, but it looks like you got some good care with the smart crutches/PT daughter and wife. It’s also interesting that they kept you in the hospital after your surgery. From what I read most places do it outpatient. Keeping patient overnight, especially after applying nerve block, seems logical to me.

Hope you are doing well and your recovery is coming along!