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Staples out, PWB, now what?
October 1, 2013 | |
Hi all,
I feel like I’m walking on air, though really it’s 50 percent of my body weight. Thirteen days post-op for a partially torn right achilles, today I had my staples out and the OS said I can put half my weight on my bad (soon to be good) foot.
I am not sure what exactly 50 percent feels like but am sure I’ll figure it out. I tried navigating the stairs on crutches coming into the house and almost fell so I know stair climbing is still out. I kneed my way up the stairs and that’s how I’ll have to do it.
My doc has instructed me to start doing basic movement exercises, up and down, 3X a day for 10 minutes, and I’m about to do my first set. I am psyched.
Comments
9 Comments so far
I didn’t know how to estimate how much weight I was putting on my foot when I was PWB, either. I think some OSs use numbers more to remind patients that they are NOT FWB; my doctor said to bear weight as tolerated, which worked for me, but I’m sure some people take those instructions to push beyond what they should be doing.
ryanb has a video on his blog that shows one technique for navigating stairs on crutches; you might find it helpful.
Happy exercising!
Yeah, it’s a little confusing but I’m way happy. This has been one crazy experience.
thanks, Upstate. I’ll check it out!
Steve
There are two ways to go up and down stairs on crutches, and nobody’s born knowing how to do — or feeling comfortable while doing — either of them. One is the conventional common way, and the other is Ryan’s as shown on his video(s). I went conventional, but if I’m NWB on crutches again, I’ll try Ryan’s way.
With the conventional way, the best trick is to keep your center of mass at the same level (height) while you move your uninjured foot from one step to the next. Basically, when climbing stairs, you stand up super-tall before switching, and when walking downstairs you slump down short before switching. (Try it, you’ll like it.)
Just think of Heaven and Hell- Good foot leads going up, bad foot leads going down.
believe me I have to go up a huge flight of stairs to get to the gym at one of my schools (it was built in the 1890’s and no real renovations) railings are good- you can also go up/down on your butt (especially good if you have to get anything up or down)
Steve01,
I”m at 2.5 weeks now as well.
Essentially ditched my crutches now.
Feels great. Still have my Vacoped boot on still.
Boot dialled out to 20-30deg now.
Live in a double story myself. 24 steps to the top.
Safest without crutches.
Cheers
thanks for the feedback and good tips. I like that Heaven/Hell idea! I’m climbing up the stairs on my knees (they’re carpeted) and sliding down on my butt but if I go outside I need to get up/down like five exterior steps.
You guys go out much? I took went out for a drive yesterday (wife drove) and it was awesome to get out of the house. May do it again today.
I’m at 7 weeks after similar surgery to you. I still remember very well how great it was to get outside early on after surgery. Just a drive to the doctor was glorious. I would make a point of going outside everyday if you can. Even if it’s just in the backyard. I never bothered with the crutches on my stairs. I just stayed downstairs for the first 2 weeks then crawled up after. Now I use the boot. I was in two shoes until doctor ordered me back in boot.
I’m at 7 weeks post op as well. 50% is so hard to gauge. My doc just said put as much on it until it feels uncomfortable haha. To go up stairs, I would put my good foot first, then bring the crutches up to the step. Repeat. Going down would be crutches down first, then foot. And repeat.