2 shoes! 10.5 weeks
July 15, 2012
I ditched the boot full time about 4-5 days ago. I was originally told to only do it for about an hour a day, but I quickly out-grew that. I’ve been having difficulty pushing off my toes but my PT says that will take a while. I’m also back in the gym full time again, and I’ve been riding my bike every day. It feels good.
July 15th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Sounds good Bunk! How is your ROM? I am at 10.5 weeks too and my doctor said no cycling but am wondering whether to give it a gentle go tomorrow?
July 15th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Congrats Bunk! 2 shoes is my next goal!
July 15th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Congrats, Bunk! I know what you mean about push off - its a conscious decision vs. habit. I have to concentrate on not limping. Are you using heel lifts? My PT said no to them. My calf has been sore from using it!
July 15th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
hey Hala,
my ROM is pretty good. my plantar flexion and going to the left and right is about 90% equal to my good foot. the only thing thats lagging is my dorsiflexion, which is about 75-85%. my dorsiflexion is actually good enough to walk without a limp, but i lack the calf and ankle strength to fully push off my toes. my goal is to be limp free at 12 weeks. im not sure why you cant cycle on a stationary at least. i do that before every PT session and i ride my bike to to and from work. as long as you watch where you are going and stay seated a bike is perfectly safe imo.
July 15th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
hey kimjax,
heel lifts hurt my heel so i stopped using them a long time ago. my PT didnt mind as long as i was comfortable with it. i havent really gone full bore with trying to maintain a proper gait and pushing off the toes yet. ive just been so excited about being in 2 shoes that i’ve been somewhat content with the limp lol. but i’m going to go hard this week and see how i progress.
July 15th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
I can’t imagine being able to walk without a limp at the end of week 12, my leg is so tight. You’re doing really well bunk!
How’s your DF coming along Kim? Mine is getting frustrating now!
July 15th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Well…if I’m right off the exercise bike, I can force it to about +5. But I take Sundays off from hard exercise, and I can barely get to zero when it’s cold.
Walking doesn’t help as it swells and my pace is too slow. I tried a heating pad on the tendon to loosen it up, but it’s really stiff today. Sleeping without the boot makes it hard to flex it in the mornings as well. Sometimes, I feel like I’m going a little backwards. Sigh. Tomorrow, I’ll get in a good workout and see if resting helped and if I can move forward a bit. It seems to be sticking at an adhesion point - I’m going to ask the PT about this tomorrow.
July 15th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Bunk…I’m about 1 week behind you in terms of rupture (May 1st playing pick up ball) ans surgery (May 10). Just ditched the boot at week 9.5 and it feels beyond awesome to be in two shoes again!!
Your comment about having newfound respect for people with permanent disabilities is right on the $. I was traveling at week 6 for work getting wheeled through the airport and was waiting with a group of newly trained seeing eye dogs and their owners. This ATR has sucked beyond words but truly does make you appreciate all you can be thankful for too.
Good luck with the rest of the process!
NYC Guy