My recovery protocol
Reading the web I found all sorts of long protocols (cast for 12 weeks) and then crazy fast protocols (walking again in 2 weeks). My doctor seems to be a mix of both and I’m good with that. At week 6 he told me my recovery is one of the best he’s seen from the standpoint of my healing, the incisions, my range of motion, strength in my calf, and the anatomical shape of my Achilles.
Supplements and Medications
Percocet - Since I had no local anesthetic, see why here, I had one percocet every 4 hours for the first 5 days. After that I took just one percocet every night before bed. I don’t have an addictive personality and the good sleep was well worth any side effects of the medicine.
Diclofenac - Diclofenac is a powerful prescription anti-inflammatory. I think it was important to keep the joint as unswollen as possible. I took one in the morning and sometimes one in the evening, as well as wrapping my leg and keeping it up.
Multi-vitamin - My doc said to take a good multi-vitamin. I took BeachBody ActiVit because, you know, I want to be like Tony Horton.
Digestive enzymes - I tried to eat as healthy as I could, but took digestive enzymes after each meal to try and get the most out of the food.
Fish oil - Just to make sure I got my Omega3’s I took fish oil, one or two a day. It was actually Krill Oil.
Whey protein - My doc said I’d need more protein while recovering, so I took about a half serving of whey protein each night before bed with orange juice.
Vitamin E - The doc said to put vitamin E topically on my incisions after week 2. I did it once, then forgot. Now I just put lotion on the incisions when I remember, which is about once every 2-3 days.
Surgery - Week 2 - No cast, no boot, move foot as much as you can gently with no pain. Don’t put any weight on it.
Week 2 - Week 4 - No cast, no boot, put foot on ground while sitting, work to getting 90deg at the foot and 90deg at the knee. Move foot and ankle as much as you can without pain. Flex calf a lot to keep it happy and keep strength in it.
Week 4 - Week 6 - Same as prior weeks but start gently doing calf raises while seated. Wear splint to get the foot to 90deg.
Week 6 - Week8 - VacoCast set at 1 (+10 deg), ditch the crutches as soon as I can, full weight bearing. Cleared to walk in the boot, walk in water without the boot, bike, and swim, all gently. Also, go to physical therapy, but really just to get any inflammation left in the joint out of it and to gently work the joints in the foot that may have stiffened up. Luckily, not being in a cast of any kind has left me with little inflammation and lots of range of motion.
Week 8 - Week 10 - Same as prior week, but start moving boot every few days for more dorsiflexion simply based on what feels good.
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