5 weeks post op
Today marks exactly 35 days since surgery and only 5 days until my 6 week follow up where i swear on all that is holy I better get to transition to PWB. I don’t even think about the fact that i’m on crutches now as they’ve kind of just become part of my life and don’t really hinder me from doing anything. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve been putting some weight on it with the crutches, but never more that a few steps in a row. I know I’m stupid and taking a huge risk for not following orders to a tee but I do know my own body pretty well and haven’t had a shred of pain in the achilles for weeks….even in the two instances where i was falling and put my full body weight on the booted foot.
Physical Therapy and rehab is going pretty well. My strength and range of motion feels better every day and my confidence in the achilles has gone through the roof. Theraband work drastically improved my strength and ROM over the past few weeks and my PT started me on a passive stretching program earlier this week.
I’ve been on the stationary bike (barefooted) 3 times in the past week and i’ve increased the intensity each time.
first time was 5 mins at 17 rpm. left foot was extremely shaky and i was probably putting less than 5 lbs of pressure at max….not gonna lie, i was scared and being kind of a pussy.
second time was 5 mins at 25 rpm. was able to keep constant pressure of the left foot on the pedal and actually give a little bit of push…no shakes.
third session i kept it over 30 rpm for full 5 mins and was able to evenly keep pressure on the left foot.
The achilles itself feels like a steel chord back there these days. Really, really tight…but at least it feels strong. I can get to 90 degrees with no problem and plantarflexion is almost even with my other foot. I get a little soreness and swelling in the foot and ankle ligaments depending on how hard i push myself each day with rehab stuff.
My goal since surgery was scheduled was to golf 12 weeks post op so I’m counting down the days to July 10th.
May 25th, 2012 at 3:37 am
You actually have a good deal. You’re already in a boot and doing PT. I’d kill for that protocol. Im still in a cast until my 6 week mark with no PT.
May 25th, 2012 at 8:44 am
Strange that your physician allows strengthening and passive ROM prior to PWB. Sounds like you’re doing great though. I would guess you’ll be PWB for all of 24 hours or so then you’ll be ready for WBAT, in the boot of course. Maybe with one crutch for a day or two. Keep up the good work.
-GK
May 25th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Love to hear that the guys are scared to use the AT for the first time, lol! I’ve been a big wimp, too, as I’m so afraid of damaging the repair job. The doc rolls his eyes and says only a fall will rerupture at this point. You sound safe with what you’re doing. My schedule is the same, except that doc says PWB next week at 4 weeks along with the start of PT.
May 25th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Kimjax,
“Only fools, have no fear” - Lieutenant Worf, Starship Enterprise.
May 25th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Love the quote! My son had his surgery today and will need uplifting stories to get him through. He is a senior in high school and was ranked 2nd in state prior to his accident. Not how he wanted to finish his season.
May 25th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
State Champ: sorry to hear your son had this happen at such a young age. How did it happen? What sport was he ranked 2nd inthe State? On the bright side, hopefully his youth will help speed up his recovery. Best wishes to him with a full and speedy recovery., brian
May 25th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Bunk: I would suggest that you move your foot as much as the cast will let you. You don’t want to move it to the point it hurts, but pressing your foot up, down, and side to side will help with ROM. My PT said the cast would allow about 10 degrees of movement.
May 26th, 2012 at 10:16 am
My son is a state ranked track and cross country runner. His specialty is the 4X800 meter relay, second leg. Running is his life. It seems he was either pushed or tripped during his state qualifying race on Monday night. He’s pretty devastated and worries about military eligibility now… He was to leave for basic training in September. His surgeon says the stitches will come out in 2 weeks and he will start PT immediately. I am glad to have found this resource during his recovery!
May 26th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
+1 to GKraemer’s post. Tate, several things you’re doing seem much more aggressive and AT-scary than FWB, so I’m glad you don’t hate the crutches!
Following the evidence to a tee has always made more sense than following the advice of one professional. (Would you use similar language if you decided to ignore a stock-broker’s advice??)
May 27th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
State Champ, Sounds like your son is in fantastic shape and I am sure that he will gradually start running again within 10-12 weeks post-op. He should be able to start upper body work very soon and will probably be able to get onto a stationary bike within 4-6 weeks post-op…I started riding my mountain bike on the roads just 1 week after FWB and believe this has been the most important element of my recovery (just 1 week later and am already walking in 2 shoes with almost no limp)… By the time your son starts running again he will probably already be in much better shape than most of the others who will show up at basic training a couple months later. I think the key will be to not overdo it and re-rupture in the 1st 6 weeks or get an infection (don’t let the incision get wet the first 2-3 weeks!)–his fitness level is so high and he is so young that his pre-injury fitness level will all come back very quickly (also, if he has insurance for PT, take advantage!!). Which armed forces is he joining?
May 27th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Brian, thanks for the response to my post. My son joined the Army, military intelligence. He is in excellent shape and hopefully will keep his muscle mass during recovery. It’s good to read some success stories after a few that only mention site infection and set backs. He is currently casted and will be so for 2 weeks. I’m sure he will try to keep the incision dry…he’s not doing much swimming these days! it has been a bit difficult keeping his spirits up thugh. He is missing the remainder of his senior year and wil have difficuty getting across the stage at graduation. It is a humbling injury.
May 28th, 2012 at 10:49 am
The 400m and 800m are a perfect blend of speed and endurance, and being a state class athlete in these events I am sure he will probably be the fittest one there by the time basic training starts in September. The shower is the place where he needs to be careful not to have any water leak into his wound. I started off with plastic bags that I taped at the top but it’s very difficult to prevent them from leaking–one time 10 days post-op, the water leaked down the cast and filled up at the bottom of the bag all the way up to within 0.5 inches of my incision…they replaced the cast and sanitized the whole area with iodine. The doctor said that if the bacteria-containing water had reached my incision, there is an excellent chance it would’ve caused an infection. After that scare, I bought a specialized shower bag that never leaked a drop all the way up until I got the cast removed 6 weeks post-op…
May 28th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Brian,
Thanks for the heads up about not getting the incision wet. We is bagging his leg with a turniquet around his thigh that I use at work. He is not using the tourniquet to actually stop blood flow, but to hopefully keep moisture out. He is also strong enough to balance for the amount of time spent in the shower on his good leg and has his injured leg outside the shower. This seems dangerous and I asked if he wanted a shower chair, but I think at 18 his pride forbids it! He is anxoius to have the stiches out on Friday already. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for proper healing! It seems others have struggled with open incisions and infections.