tyty’s AchillesBlog

It’ll be 8 weeks tomorrow. My surgeon said at 8 weeks I could stick a couple of heel pads in a boot or high-top sneaker. My physical therapist seems dubious. I decided to give my Ugg boots a try since a) living in Texas I rarely have an opportunity to wear fleece-lined boots and b) everyone hates them so, now, I actually have an excuse to wear them.

I’m feeling a little naughty and reckless. My doctor said it was ok but she hasn’t felt my tendon since she stitched it all back together. My physical therapist spends an hour with it 3 times a week. But he’s also a very cautious.

I’m trying to follow Norm’s UOW protocol http://achillesblog.com/normofthenorth/the-non-surgical-protocol-ive-been-following/ as best I can with all the mixed signals I’m getting and my family wanting me to be as conservative as possible. In the protocol it goes up to 12 weeks but I don’t see where shows enter the picture. Also, I don’t know where bare-feet fall in.

Now I just have to figure out how to get the darn boot off without taking the achilles with it. In hindsight a zipper boot or lace up would have been preferable

Had my six week followup yesterday. On my last visit, at 3 weeks, my doctor said to continue no weight bearing and she would give me a prescription for PT at the next visit. So, I was a bit surprised when she walked into the exam room and asked a) if I was practicing my walking and b) if I started PT yet (insert rolling eyes here).

So, after we got that sorted, she said I could go ahead and start walking. I asked her if I had any restrictions and she said my added cadaver tendon and tissue wrap made it it very secure and I shouldn’t worry about anything. She said in a week or two I could put 2 heel pads in a high top sneaker and drive. Mind you, I hadn’t put my foot in the ground for 6 weeks. Anyway, that was a bit weird and scary.

When I got home last night I tried to walk but it hurt and the whole family was “encouraging” me so I just went to sleep. (Bootless. Yay!) (Before I went to sleep I looked up Kevin’s exercise sheet and did some of the exercises)

This morning, when I was alone, I tried again. I stood up, in the boot, holding the crutches for balance and walked around the house a few times. It felt great!

Today I had my first PT appointment. (I WALKED in with crutches and boot) The therapist took a lot of measurements (both feet and ankles were equal but a 4 cm difference between calves) and then did ultrasound therapy, some sort of uv light therapy ad a tissue massage. It’s amazing how exhausting having things done TO you can be!

I’m very thankful this site exists. Navigating through all this can be very confusing and it’s really helpful to see everyone else’s stories.