June 23, 2009
After 6 weeks I finally got approval (yesterday) from my specialist to get rid of my grotty splint/cast thing (small but very unsafe and smelly) and get into the boot. While I had initially expected this would be life changing, I now know that this is only the next step and comes with its own set of challenges, namely:
- I cannot get my pants over the boot (see pic), meaning my pants need to be all scrunched up around the knee (very uncool here in trendy Beijing);
- the boot is waaaay heavy;
- the boot is not as comfortable to sleep in as the cast was (I have t deflate it a bit to stop my foot aching around the ankle)
Aircast Boot
On the good side, I can start PWB (sweeeet) and ROM exercises on the foot now that the cast is off. This all starts Thursday so I am pretty pumped for that. The Doc says I’ll need to be in te boot for about 4 more weeks, and has basically released me to the Physio now. He was really not keen to see me again, hahah, I think he has had enough of me actually wanting to know about my injury.
The coolest part of all of this was, as anticipated, getting rid of all the dead skin on my foot. There was HEAPS of it! It was pretty gross as the foot has n’t been washed for 6 weeks, here is another gross picture of the foot sans-boot:
6 weeks in a cast - I'm a long way off being a foot model.
Last but not least, here is the scar at 6 weeks. again, has healed nicely and appears to be going ok. My ankle is pathetic though, and the lower calf muscle is almost non-existant, as you can see:
Scar at 6 weeks
That’s all I have time for now. Will update with more PWB-news next week.
Tommo
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Tommo
thanks for your detailled account and photos, think my scar will look like yours once my cast is off. have appt with hosp to get cast changed next week, then foot re-angled and cast back on. Had surgery on 21st May but it feels much longer ago than that
Deb
June 24th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Looking good there tommo, Ive got the basic boot on at the moment but I’ve ordered one like yours(should be here end of week) so I can go back to work next wk. Looks like stormtrooper armour. Had my first shower this morning sans cast and walked around VERY carefully, felt soooooo good. Crappy sleep with the boot but getting used to that.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Tommo,
The incision looks great! You’ll barely notice it in a year. I’m completely jealous that you are PWB with a fancy boot just two weeks shy of surgery. I just took one of my three wedges out today and expect to be PWB or FWB next Thursday. You’re doing awesome!
Tamar
June 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Holtman - thanks dude, I am quietly proud of my new artificial Stormtrooper limb. Will be wearing it tonight to the pub to watch the State of Origin - go Maroons!
Tamar - don;t fret, it’s actually been 6 weeks so my progress isn’t that spectacular actually. I tried a bit of PWB today, feels awesome but a little scary. Am starting proper physio on Thursday so am expecting it to be pretty painful, especially the scar mobilization bit.
Hey Debbie - don’t worry, your progress sounds pretty normal to me! Although the boot is clunky it does feel much better than the cast, although now I get less sympathy and more “what the *^%* is that?” from people. Look forward to that!!
June 24th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Tommo,
yes I will look forward to it, tee hee. And all because I wanted a good game of badminton. Think I’ll stick to the running - once I’ve learnt to walk again.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I’m sticking to marbles after this!!!
June 25th, 2009 at 6:22 am
HA, marbles. That’s funny, because it’s true (that’s how I feel right now anyway). Although, on second thought it could be hard on the wrists, no?
Congrats on the milestone. I hit the same one myself this week and I’m really enjoying it.