quick 8 weeks update
June 27, 2012
I am now 8 weeks post op, and 1 week out of the cast in the boot. I’ve had 4 PT sessions since I got my cast removed last week.
The progress I’ve made in the last 7 days:
1. I can now walk in the boot with just one crutch full time. I still get aching pains in my ankles while walking in the boot. It comes and goes depending on my stride and form. I feel nothing in the achilles area.
2. I can now stand stationary while barefoot with zero pain and complete balance. This is great for showers. When I first got out of the cast this was a very difficult thing to do. Every part of my foot would ache, I had poor balance, and I would have to extend my bad foot out about 6 inches above my good foot just to relieve the tension on my achilles. I can now stand completely straight up with my feet even with each other without any problems. I can bare probably 60% of my body weight on my bad foot before the pain kicks in.
3. I’ve upgraded from the yellow resistance bands to the red ones. The red ones dont appear to be much of a challenge either to be honest.
There are probably a few more I’ve missed, but those are the biggest. I think this is solid progress considering I’m only 7 days removed from the cast. There are some things I couldnt do last week that I still cant do, but I’m okay with that. Different parts of the foot show progress at their own pace I guess. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to say I’ve made more progress.
June 27th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Congrats, Bunk. Sounds like you’re making steady progress. Standing on a barefoot is huge - I can limp on mine so I don’t need the crutches in the bathroom anymore!
June 27th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
wow- fantastic progress!! I’m a little over 3 weeks in so your post just made me excited to see that the end of this cast is indeed in sight and that 2 feet on the floor will happen. Thanks!
June 27th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
kimjax,
thanks. i still need crutches to hop into the shower, but the entire process is still a million times better than it was week ago!
onhiatus,
hopefully your doc has you on a more aggressive protocol than mine did. but its over before you know it.
June 27th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Great news, be vigilant in working within your own limits but it looks like getting the basics back together is coming along nicely………It must feel great!!
My wishes for a continued successful recovery and look forward to reading more of how things are progressing for you.
Andrew
June 28th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Hi Bunk
I am 8 weeks post rupture today so quite near your timeline although, being in UK, I am non-op. I still have my cast on for another 10 days but last week was given a walking shoe so have been walking around in the cast and shoe. I seem to be able to stand on my bad leg in the cast no problem, although it does ache after some time of being up and about.
Did you walk in your cast? Do you know if it will it be more difficult for me to walk and stand once it is removed and I go to boot/shoes?
June 28th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Hi Hala
I never walked in my cast so I cant really compare it to the boot. Last week was the first time my foot had touched the ground or bore any weight at all in 7 weeks. But even though you arent in a boot you are still re-introducing your foot and brain to movements and stress they forgot they could handle. So my educated guess is that your transition to the boot will be smoother than someone transitioning straight from strict immobilization.