Broken in Alaska

It sounds like compression of some sort might help you, be it compression socks, tubigrip, or an ace wrap. I also sometimes used a little homemade pillow that wrapped around the back of my tendon, to press the swelling out of those little hollows between the tendon and those ankle bones on each side. Compression devices worked great for me when I had to be up and around a lot.

Tracer,

I, too, am just about 4 weeks and have been in a CAM walker for a little over a week, NWB. For the most part, I have minimal swelling that mostly occurs toward the end of the day. I still elevate at night when I sleep. To have enough swelling that you can’t get your CAM walker on seems like alot, however, I’ve read many an ATR blog here where people are still experiencing swelling at the 6th week and beyond, so your PT is probably right. If it starts being accompanied by other symptoms like changes in color, or something else, then I would talk to your MD.

I’m sorry to hear about your swelling. I had a full surgical repair of my ruptured achilles. I am exactly 4 weeks post op and have very little swelling. As a matter of fact my worst swelling was right after surgery. I don’t know if it is just luck or perhaps that I do not move around alot as I work out of my office. I do keep my foot elevated while I am sleeping, at least I did for the first 4 weeks so far. After PT do they ice you there at the gym? One thing I also did early on and still do is ice my tendon from mid calf down to my heel and I also put ice on the top of my foot and wrap it with ace bandage. It might help if you see alot of swelling on the top of your foot. Does this help?

I picked up a second one from my PT (they had lying around) so I can use it to go salmon fishing with my son. I can still get my waders on, then just hose it down when I am done.

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I suffered a re-rupture while wearing a short boot. Needless to say, I definitively do not recommend one…there just is not enough support (one strap around the upper leg vs. three in the high boot). Second time around, I was in the the high boot.

Did they know that you were referring to a boot for after achilles tendon surgery? I know the ankle high boots are used alot now for broken foot, etc.

I have the knee high boot for my ATR and wouldn’t even consider an ankle high.

hi peterh
my husband now has a air-cast/boot up to his knee(4.5 weeks after OP). He could have gotten a shorter one, but the doctor pointed out that these ones often irritate the stitches at the back of the ankle, so the higher ones end up being the wiser choice. Hope all is well and wishing you a speedy recovery.

I have a full calf boot and I like it. I don’t think a smaller boot would have any benefit for me. I like the high level of support of the tall boot so I can go out and do stuff and feel totally protected. My boot is narrow enough that my pants can go over it.

She just said that the Army guys tend to push it to much..which, being I wanted the walking boot so I could go salmon fishing is probably right!

Good pun, tracer! That was a diss, wasn’t it?

I suppose Air Force guys don’t use their feet as much as Army guys, eh?

Thanks for the “welcome”. My biggest complaint is that it happened right at the start of our very short, but oh so fun, Alaska summer. My 8 year old is not happy about the delay in his salmon fishing season. Looking very forward to getting into a walking boot so I can at least be a little more mobile.
Todd

Hi tracer,

Well I hope all is going well after the operations, quite an ordeal to have both but you might as well get it all done at the same time.

I have cervical spondylosis after two accidents years ago so I know a little of your condition and I ruptured my achilles 13 months ago.

Welcome to our ‘club’ you will have plenty advice on here for any problems. Take care.

Annie