OK, so now I’m like 12 days post-op and I had the soft splint removed only to be replaced by a hard (just below the knee) cast. I saw the incision site and it was OK. My surgeon states that I’ll be living with this cast for the next 4 weeks (yuck). There goes the rest of the summer!! The crutches are lightweight but you have to use them to get around EVERYWHERE. The stairs are particularly daunting but I manage. Anyone know of exercises for people in crutches? If so let me know. Here’s a picture of my best new friends.
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August 19th, 2009 at 10:15 pm - Edit
Going for a hike on the crutches gives you a good upper body workout!
Any upper body exercises should be fine. Up the reps/speed and decrease the weight to give more of a cardio workout instead of just strength. Situps, pushups (a couple of books under your cast at shin level will let you push of the affected leg at least a little, or you could take all your weight on you good leg) work fine. Leg extensions and leg press (using the good leg only) also work.
Cycling on a stationary trainer (hold your bad leg out of the way of the pedal somehow if you aren’t allowed any weight bearing) also worked well for me.
Dylan
August 21st, 2009 at 10:30 am - Edit
Nice to see you’re enjoying sharing with your friends, fam, and the WWW via a blog! It’s a really great way to communicate, as I discovered while I was on my trip :o)
That cast looks pretty major, I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. Either way, enjoy your time off!! Hang in there!
Love,
Your niece
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm - Edit
Just focus on getting through the next few days, before you know it the cast will be off & you will feel a lot better. Two weeks after surgery - how is the muscle wastage going - I am about the same stage as you & I can feel my leg withering day by day - can’t wait to get back on a cycle again!
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:40 pm - Edit
Highflyer I am six weeks post opp, and due to pain and swelling, still mostly in bed. My muscle wastage is getting quite bad. if I sit on the bed, and lift my right damaged ATR leg, my outer thighs looks concave, it hollows in. it was never like this before. I can almost put both my hands around my thighs, which means I have lost at least an inch in circumference, maybe more. And all my leg muscles have gone flabby. I think it will take a fair bit of PT to get back to normal. If you can keep wiggling your toes, it stops the swelling, and helps recovery later. It takes a while, to get your head around the fact, that recovery is many weeks away, not days. Any the road to recovery is a marathon, a long one at that, and after a while, you will get better. Hang in there.