Had my 6w post op check with my surgeon a few days ago, nothing exciting to report, he had a feel of the tendon and said it was doing well, not too hypertrophic like some ATs can become. It is still bumpy in some points and likely to remain that way permanently, but this is normal. Incision healed well, but does take 6-12 months to fade.

The brusing around the inside bottom part of the ankle has finally disappeared, think it took about 5w after surgery. Swelling is minimal even at the end of a day being up on my feet or sitting with legs not elevated.

My ROM is also finally coming along nicely! Still not the same as my normal ankle yet, can only just dorsiflex a little (maybe 5-10 degrees? hasn’t been measured) but plantarflexion is pretty much normal, same as my other ankle. I think compared to some others my dorsiflexion has been very slow to come back, even with starting gentle ROM at 2 weeks post op. I only got to neutral around 5 1/2 weeks. Because I only got to neutral recently, even though my protocol says to remove my 2 heel lifts at 6 weeks, I decided to phase them out a bit slower, a bit similar to what Norm did. I removed one about 5w 5d and didn’t feel a stretch on my AT. The last heel lift was removed 5 days after that, felt a little bit more of a stretch this time. Followed another suggestion by Norm which was to remove the lifts at night before bed, to allow the AT/calf to adjust to this overnight before weight bearing - a really good idea as this morning my ankle felt comfortable in the neutral position in the boot and weight bearing has been fine.

Second PT session a few days ago, he massaged my calf and tendon, working a bit on the scar tissue. Also increased my strength/ROM exercises to 3x daily with the green theraband. Each time 4 sets of 15 reps dorsiflexion/plantarflexion, 3 sets of 10 inversion and eversion in the plantarflexed position, and then again in the neutral position. Next week when i see him I will begin proprioception training without the boot and learn to walk again without the boot (although the boot will still be worn at least in scary situations until 10-12w)

I am now FWB comfortably and can go for walks around shopping centres etc in the boot without crutches and my leg holds up well. About 2 weeks ago at 4w post op it would still ache a bit after walking a bit, but this has settled. A few days ago I managed to do grocery shopping by myself  holding a basket for the first time since the rupture!! And tomorrow I am finally going back to work for the first time in 7 weeks.  My job requires me to be on my feet quite a bit, I am starting with just 3 hours tomorrow and seeing how i go. Life is finally starting to return to normal!