Four through to Six weeks - Crutchless Now
I’ve not updated this blog over the Christmas period (partly ’cause I failed to get onto it?) so I have a bit of catch up to go.
Week 4 to week 5
I was at my in-laws over Christmas, turning up able to touch my good foot down, but still needing crutches to get anywhere. During the days over Christmas I was waking up every day feeling like there was less pain and being able to put more and more weight onto my foot. It was during that time that I realised I was managing with a single crutch and could even manage a few tentative steps without. My improvements continued and by the time I left again (28th December I was walking about without my crutches - 5 weeks after my rupture)
Week 5 to Week 6
The progress throughout this period seemed slower, not noticing daily improvements until a few nights ago (3oth Dec) when I realised that i was managing to swing my good leg through past my bad one when walking, this just sort of happened. I even managed to walk into town on the 31st for the anual New Year fireworks celebration, this was painful but on the heel sole where the neoprene seam of my boot is not on the actual tendon itself. Also on the same day I managed the holy grail of climbing and decending stairs with only puting one foot on each tread.
This is all excellent progress, but I have also started taking my boot off to wash my foot, and got a massive shock at the shape or “lack off” that my leg is in, it looks like a piece of string dangling down below me. While in this boot free condition I attempted the first few steps and it is a whole new phycological game (scary stuff).
I have managed (1st Jan 2014) to take a shower standing up bootless, so it’s all progress and I can basically put full weight on it now right through to where the consultant has it stopped (I believe thats 10 degrees off flat-foot), and even put presure onto the front of the boot (shin area) without any pain
My next appointment is tommorrow where I believe I’ll get the stop changed to allow up to flat-foot angle, and I’ll be making enquiries about driving and removing the boot for sleeping.
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Sounds great, Ross! Don’t forget to Watch Your Step, and be especially careful on the shower. If you haven’t started doing gentle foot-wiggling exercises (seated bootless), you probably should. And PT could have started back at 2 wks in, too. Keep an eye on bit.ly/UWOProtocol and the Exeter protocol for guidance.
Looks like good progress so far. I remember how nervous and excited I was when I could take my first shower. LOL.
Be careful about driving because insurance may not cover you if something happens and being able to take you boot off when you go to bed is awesome.
Regarding driving, some on this blog have ordered special gear for their cars because their right foot was in a cast or boot.
Good luck and let us know how that next appt. goes.
Ron
My right foot is in a cast. I simply drive with my left foot, and I haven’t found it to be too difficult at all.