Last Ortho Appointment
OK, so I am cleared from seeing my first ortho; no more follow ups. I have done 8 weeks of pt and the dorsiflexion on my foot is still at zero. My workmans comp carrier has been awesome. I have a case manager nurse and a private nurse that comes with me to all my appointments. Since my original ortho will not even look at my foot nor help I have been approved by the medical director to find any specialist that I want too. I found a great foot and ankle ortho from UofM in Ann Arbor, but they only have an opening on valentines day lol. My nurses have found another great specialist out of st. Joseph mercy so I am going to give them a call and see if I can be seen sooner. I was also approved for something called a dynasplint. This crazy gadget puts constant tension on your foot in dorsiflexion. They said it will be “uncomfortable” but it will probably help a lot. I will have to wear it whenever I am home. So right now I am just waiting to get into the next ortho to find out where we stand. It’s either going to be a lengthening surgery, orthodics, or a surgery where they remove the scar tissue (if that is the problem). I don’t want another surgery, but it I have to get it to fix this mess then I will. Depends on the MRI results. Besides, I cannot get any type of surgery until after the coumadin is finished and the blood clot is gone from my leg.
Pity about the DF, VL, but everything else sounds great(!). The dynasplint is probably worth a try. I am paranoid about stretching’s ability to over-lengthen an ATR in the early healing phases, but skeptical about its ability to lengthen one that’s healed, or the attached calf muscle.
I know PTs think that stretching is magic, but I’m from Missouri on that, so I’m thinking you’ll want the AT-lengthening op. Of course, I’d be happy to have you prove me wrong! Meanwhile, I’m religiously stretching my own right calf and quads, in the hope (PT-driven) that doing so will help my right knee stay in alignment, so I can keep playing competitive volleyball, mostly indoor beach. I hope to play tonight (only 3rd time this Fall/Winter), if the forecast freezing rain isn’t too scary. And BTW, I blame my trick knee on my too-short surgical ATR repair from ~11 years ago (see my blog) and my ROM was always much better than yours.
Good luck! I envy the care you’re getting, though not the problems.
Thank You. I have been blessed so far with my workmans comp carrier; they have been really helpful.
The medical director at workmans comp said that I do not want this surgery unless all other options have been exhausted. He said it’s pretty bad so I think everyone is really hoping that this dang shortened issue can be fixed by some other means and so am I.
I really do not believe that stretching is going to help, but I will give the splint a go if it makes everyone happy
I agree that any non-surgical solution would be better than getting sliced and stitched again. I just doubt that anything will turn up that solves your problem.
I agree that any non-surgical solution would be better than getting sliced and stitched again. And a non-op solution that didn’t involve the kind of long handicapped rehab that an op entails would be the best. I just doubt that anything will turn up that solves your problem, sorry.
What a relief that you are going to get a fresh set of eyes on the situation. There might never be an answer about how this complication happened, but you deserve to how the most successful future possible. I’m experiencing many frustrations and my situation is nothing like yours. My surgery was July 1 and I still have to wear my boot for a few hours everyday. My surgeon has a compassionate view and is quite attentive. I only let you know this because even when things aren’t as serious, my doctor says to consider my boot my friend. HA!
Hi…. So I read about your situation and was curious what the outcome was.
I had the vy lengthening procedure and it’s definitely not a walk in the park, but it sounds like your experience has been no picnic.
How are you and how is your recovery going?
Take Care.
Hi, my achilles has healed too short, it’s now 9 months since the op, and i can only just stretch my knee to just over my toe when keeping my foot flat (3 inches difference to other foot)… I am wandering if my tendon has the ability to slowly change if I keep stretching it, or is 9months too far gone and it will of solidified, here in the UK I have been trying so hard for a reconsultation but the NHS just put you on a huge waiting list… please email me if you have also healed too short:
danielhodgson86@gmail.com
Daniel UK - I prefer to keep messages here as we all get to see them and can benefit. Hope you are still around. It does seem to me you have healed short but you are still at 9 months and I would not consider the alternatives for a while yet. Basically you can live with it or you can go through it all again and have it lengthened surgically. You may find over the next year it will improve and not give you as much grief so that is why I would wait. The lengthening operation is common in children who are born with the condition. You may see children who always walk on their toes. There may also be some scar tissue build up restricting the tendon and if that is broken up you may get back some ROM. Persist with the NHS and do not be worried if you have to wait. Speak to your physio about it as well and mention scar tissue to see if there are other ways to help break it up. BTW I think I healed a little short and have no problems.
it’s just it is 3 inches difference which is quite a lot really at 9 months, it has been at this stage for about 3 months now and 100% not changed, this is what worries me, it seems to off settled there, thanks for the quick reply, really nice to have someone to share the problem…