tyty’s AchillesBlog

Nothing new to report but in case it helps anyone… I’ve been FWB for two weeks. My progression from the boot (Vacocast) to a high top sneaker to a regular sneaker took less than a week but that’s mostly because Ive been fortunate enough to have very little pain. Walking barefooted or shoeless with socks is fine in the morning but after I’ve been wearing shoes all day it’s painful on the bottom of my heel. The little spikes things on the bottom of a Croc also hurt my tender foot.

My doctor, who I visited yesterday, seems very pleased with my progress and seemed surprised I was walking so well. I told her my “other” achilles seemed tight and she tested and said I had more ROM in my surgical foot than the “good” one. She gave me a night splint to wear. (Anyone have experience with these?)

I discussed this with my physical therapist (who is great) and am going to do the home exercises on both legs to see if that helps. I lifted 7.5 lbs on one of the foot machines today and then my PT told me of another patient who did 30! Something to aspire to. My doctor’s “protocol” seems to be 3 weeks of PT. I had to push a little for more time. I don’t think she has a problem with it, I just think her perspective is a bit more limited. (I.e. I couldn’t really walk well, or painlessly, when I first saw her so this is a major improvement) I’m learning a lot at PT so I think I’m actually going to end up in better shape ths pre-ATR.

I had moved my bed and everything downstairs during my recovery and am having the movers come tomorrow to out everything back to normal. A little anxious about going up and down stairs all day because prior to surgery it would take a long time to shuffle up, placing my bad foot on each step and the dragging the good one up, one at a time and painfully. I keep expecting pain because I waited so long to have the surgery it’s etched in my brain!

I still get a lot of swelling after walking a lot (going to the mall for example) and the it takes a good day to recover so I’m trying to pace myself but all in all still moving forward for now.