Well, I continue to be bad (in my opinion) and walk around my house without the boot. I know the protocol as mentioned by normofthenorth states that this is acceptable at my stage in healing but I still feel guilty. I’m not good with breaking rules when it comes to this injury even though I’m pretty non-compliant (or complaint as I see fit) in my other health issues. I think it has something to do with being accountable at PT every week… However, My gait (walk) is getting really good! No real limp when walking slowly, I don’t attempt fast walking or much other than around the house type things. I am 10 days from legally being out of my boot!
I can’t believe this whole experience is moving right along. I remember in the beginning each day was dragging but now that I am ambulatory my life seems a bit brighter! I do have a bad day here and there. I’ve progressed in my Physical Therapy to where my AROM is essentially perfect, my PT no longer even manually stretches my foot out because it’s pretty worthless. I honestly feel like she’s just playing with my foot. I do my own ROM, leg exercises and upper body exercises without guidance, honestly, I feel like PT is a waste of time at this point!!
I’d give anything to be at the strengthening phase of PT. I hate going and feeling like I’m just getting checked off without being able to see any further results. December 19th can’t come soon enough. I am worried about coming into PT when I’m out of the boot because I know it’s going to be obvious that it’s not my first time walking! Maybe I should get back in the boot and stop practicing walking… but is it worth saving face at PT and delaying my return to normal function?
4 responses so far ↓
kkirk // Dec 9th 2012 at 9:59 pm
Nice RN! That’s exciting. I just started walking in my boot during the last 24 hours and that is a great feeling in itself. I won’t be out of the boot until NYE or so. Don’t push yourself to hard/too fast. Good luck with the rest of your healing process.
normofthenorth // Dec 10th 2012 at 12:42 pm
Sounds good to me! But don’t stop Watching Your Step! Have you tried sharing the UWO Protocol (& study) with your PT? Many of them are educable, often less hide-bound than OSs.
What’s the A in AROM?
The longer strides of fast walking use more AT-&-calf strength and more DF ROM, both of which are usually still a challenge. Keep the challenges incremental!
kkirk // Dec 10th 2012 at 2:20 pm
AROM = Active Range of Motion.
BTW my PT has been very flexible after showing her the UWO study
rupturednurse // Dec 10th 2012 at 2:53 pm
Hi guys! Thanks for reading… Norm, My PT is very by the book, the doctor gave her orders for only ROM exercises, she agrees that I’m ready for strengthening but will not do something without a physicians order. I don’t fault her there. Honestly, I’d be better off researching what they are and doing them on my own if I don’t want to wait another week. Next Wednesday I’ll start strengthening. It’s to the point where I can wait. Plus when asking her about whether or not I should go back to the physician she thinks that this length of time before starting strengthening is because the OS wants the actual length of time, not the ROM accomplished, in her mind, for the tendon to heal. So, it all goes back to seeing the OS and I guess I can wait 1 week…
Kirk, welcome to the hard part! LOL, I laugh because this is where my real pain started, those first few days were rough but I am gladly took the pain rather than being stuck in a cast and immobile!
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