While the doctor had only allowed me to put 50 pounds of weight (still with the boot), I started testing my limits and gradually putting more and more weight. If you have the boot on you are pretty safe, since it will not allow any extension of the tendon. There would be moments in which it felt as if I was putting one ton of weight on the injured leg, because it was still very week. I could also feel a tingling sensation (like needles) if the weight was too much. I let those “needles” be my measure of when I was putting down too much weight. By week 10 I was already taking a few steps with one crutch only (since my injured foot was the right one, I used only the left crutch). After a couple of days I started trying some steps with no crutches, leaning on tables or walls. Two or three days after that, I was already walking without crutches. By week 12 I had another appointment with the doctor who, seeing that I was already full weight bearing (with the boot) gave me the OK to start physical therapy.
Once the doctor allowed me to start putting weight, I decided it was time to go back to driving. Since I was still on the boot, I used my left foot to both accelerate and break (I drive an automatic). At the beginning it felt weird but with one weekend of practice I was ready to take the plunge. I don’t know if it is legal or not to drive with the left foot, but I figured that I could do a better job with my left foot than many of the 85 year olds that you see driving daily here in South Florida. In fact, I got so comfortable braking with my left foot I still do it now (six months post-op) out of habit.
28 comments:
I am 7 weeks post op, cam walker one week. Twenty percent WB. I can't wait to drive. I was wondering about driving with the left foot. I am scared to try.
why is everyone so scared about driving with the left foot? just go out and practice!!! at least you don't need two feet to drive a manual and are stuck at home/dependent on others for three months! c'mon, look at the bright side...
I would check with the laws in your state or area where you plan to drive. Some states prohibit vehicle operation with the left foot. There is also a possibility of you being liable if you are in a accident. It has been about 9 weeks since my achilles ruptured and every thing is going well. I just can't wait to ditch this boot. Just be careful driving it can be very scary at first.
I had my achilles totally raptured during a play of tennis. I had operation the same day. 7 weeks in cast.
I am in my 9th week post operation and 15 days physical therapy.
I can walk with crutches with no problem.
The last few days I try to walk without cruthes but feel yet unstable. I will probably need at least one more week for a more confident walk.
hi everyone, i have been about 8 weeks post op and i have been able to weight bear with my boot on. Its summer time and I cant stand not swimming or not doing anything. Is there a way that I can go into the pool or ocean where I wont hurt myself. I mean do I have to wear the boot in or is there a shoe i can buy where I would be ok? Please if anyone has any suggestion please let me know.
What's the big deal about driving? I had a complete achille's rupture and was driving a manual transmission a week after the surgery. Or maybe it was less than a week. Anyway, you just figure out how to use the pedals with whole leg motions rather than with the foot/heel.
There is a wide range of where your progression should be at 8 - 10 weeks. I spoke with a guy who at day 8 had his cast removed and started PT at 14 days. He was WB at this time too. At 8 weeks, he was able to lift his entire weight onto the toes.
I'm also told by my Chiropractor that I should stay off of it or heavy scar tissue may form.
My surgeon has given me no information or exercises. At week 6, I asked if I can do further damage and he says no, but don't over do it. He told me not to use weights but I can use all of my own body weight. Very vague. The surgeon hasn't recommended anything to me. My friend told me that I should go see my GP as the surgeon's job is not to provide info on rehab. (maybe this is a Canadian thing) I'm seeing my GP shortly.
From week 6, I haven't used my boot during the day and have been walking (limping) without any aids. I've also been stretching the tendon at night by wearing the boot to bed and gradually increasing the wedges on the toe side. I'm careful not to over stretch it as it will become inflamed. It also becomes inflamed when I'm on my feet for several hours.
I have a theory that if your leg muscles atrophy, blood circulation is reduced thereby causing blood pooling and swelling. Can anyone verify this?
Also another theory is that when the ankle muscles are weak, there is a much higher risk of rupturing your Achilles tendon. I ruptured mine after playing on a weakened ankle after spraining it 4 hours earlier. Any one have a comment about this?
I had my achilles fully ruptured May 1st and had surgery May 5th. I just left the doctor's office (June 17th) after 6 full weeks from surgery and now have no boot or crutches and am walking FWB around the home and office in my regular shoes with the aid of a small lift in the heel. I even golfed this last Friday with my boot on and hit the ball quite well. I read numerous comments on a few sites when I first had surgery and was not happy about the down time based on what I was reading. I am here to say that if you keep off it the first 2 weeks, have a healthy diet and I used magnetics around the foot at all times you will have a great recovery time.
I am in week 10 post surgery for a full rupture and this appears to be the "magical" week for everyone else on the site too where you can walk w/o crutches yet still w/boot. Did mine rounding first chugging for second in softball game.
I am in week 10 post surgery for a full rupture and this appears to be the "magical" week for everyone else on the site too where you can walk w/o crutches yet still w/boot. Did mine rounding first chugging for second in softball game.
This is my first post on this subject but I've been watching reading for a while. I'm 8 weeks post op. Started PT 4 weeks after surgery. 2 weeks later I was in street shoes (not with doctors approval mind you). Just saw the doctor he wants 3 more weeks of PT, he'll see me one more time and then I will be released. Since surgery I've had zero pain and my only discomfort comes from swelling. Life is good.....Randy
Last labor day I jumped on to the Tennis court without warming up.Huge mistake!As I sprinted to the net to play a drop shot,I felt a pain as if I was shot.I fully ruptured my right achillies.A week later I had surgery to repair my ankle,everything went really well.11 week's after surgery,believe it or not I was back to work.I am a Union Electrician in NYC building sky scrapper's so it was a big deal to be back on the job.Any way almost a year after my accident/injury I played my first round of Tennis.I moved around o.k. but i'm trying to stay off the ball's of my feet.Good luck to all who suffer from this terrible injury.with hard work and determination you can make it back quickly doing the thing's you love to do.
has anyone been experiencing a tremondous amount of pain in their heel after ditching the crutches and just using the boot
Tore mine, July 4th (water volleybal) surgery July 9th. First soft cast until July 21 then hard cast until Aug 4 (2 weeks). At this time my option and I opted for removable boot. Aug 5 first PT and after paranoia and confusion of Weight Bearing (Dr. stated I would know when, PT is very agressive and said within a week) and basic motion drills with big rubber bands and 20 min sound waves, felt somewhat better. That night with first full bath to scrub leg was slice of heaven. Went back to PT 2 days later and actually walked out with 1 crutch and Boot. 3 days later limited motion without boot and big time limp and stiffness with forward motion. Tried heel lift in tennis shoe an limped around house. Not ready to go outside with this until I go back to PT. Gets better daily go back to PT today (2 days shy of 5 weeks post op) with no crutch an walking boot. Will be interesting to see this weeks progression. Goal to be out of boot all together by next Mon. we'll see. I have been driving with left foot since 1st week of surgery. No Problems, just careful. What a awful physically and emotianally draining injury!!
Tore mine July 4th (water volleyball) had surgery on 9th of July. Wore soft cast 2 days short of 2 weeks then went into hard cast 2 weeks. Removed last Mon (4 weeks post op) then graduated to boot.
1st PT Tues basic motions and worked on strength with bands. Electronic pulse treatments and more stretching and strength. 2nd PT Thurs actually did above and progressed to paralell bars with light walking training. By end of session was walking with boot and 1 crutch. Limited weight bearing. By weekend put lift in tennis shoe and was shuffeling around house. Leg very stiff without boot and limited forward motion. Continued to stretch with bands daily. I have been in Gym riding bike 20 min every day since boot has been on 1 week. Cumbersom but re-building muscle in bum leg is my mission. Yesterday bought portable hand massage to break up stiffness and increase blood flow. Awsome results. Go back to PT today and hope to be out of boot with confidence by end of week. All my surgeon buddys tell me 6 weeks (next week) for tendon to fully heal and mend and 7 to 8 my surgeon tells me he is not worried about re tearing. He keeps telling me I will know where to stop and start on weight bearing and positively streatch and re-build muscle daily (limited).
I have been driving since 5 days after surgery, no problems, left foot and careful.
Go back to PT today and looking forward to progress. Physically and emotianally one of the most draining injuries I have ever had.
Just returned from PT and did basic range of motion, thera band stretch, then put my tennis shoes with heel support on right foot. Walked on machine that measures stride. Today is 5 weeks from surgery, go back to doctor Monday but PT says "possibly" no boot after monday. Ankle still weak.
I also suscribe to the daily, routine of what ever your body will allow you to do. I will say I ride stationary bike (with boot) level 3 for 20 to 25 min daily and that has rebuilt strength in right leg.
wow, I'm scared now. I'm 2 weeks post op and am partial weight baring with my boot, one stick when out and about none in the house, my advice I guess every surgeon has his own method. Anyone else have such an aggressive rehab plan?
JonM, yours seems to be on the aggressive side, but not unreasonable, I think. I had a full rupture of the right achilles. I'm a 38YO male.
Surgery 6 days later and left the hospital with a hard cast.
8 days after surgery the hard cast was removed and I was put in a cam boot with 2" heel lift.
15 days after surgery I had the stitches removed and was told I could put about half my weight on the right leg while using crutches. I wasn't comfortable doing that at first, but eventually put 1/4 to 1/2 my weight on it after 2.5 weeks.
Was told I could use one crutch at 3 weeks, but instead stopped using my crutches altogether at 3.5 weeks because my elbows, wrist and hands were starting to hurt from the crutches and I was afraid of getting secondary injuries (my right elbow still pops a lot now and I'm at 5.5 weeks post surgery). I started using a cane.
I'm at 5.5 weeks post-surgery and was told that at my 6 week appt that I can bring in 'normal' shoes (ideally a dress shoe with a heel). I'm excited to be in normal shoes so I can drive again.
I don't know what it will be like trying to walk with my emaciated leg and ankle that's frozen up. I'm sure I'll have a limp, but I'm committed to physical therapy (which I haven't started yet) to get back to as normal as possible as soon as possible.
I should also note (I made the previous post) that I removed one of the heel lifts at 4 weeks post-surgery. So I have a 1" heel lift now. Was a little difficult when I first removed the heel lift because I couldn't quite comfortably stretch my ankle that far, but it was fine after a few hours.
I'm now 7 weeks post op, and last night wore my first right shoe for the first time in nearly 2 months! It took me a good 30 minutes to find the Right shoe though, I haven't looked for it in some time.
Yesterday I had my first physio appt. It was great, but scary, having the tendons and muscles in my foot loosened up and getting a bunch of exercises to do to strengthen everything. The physio said I should stay out of the boot except when in 'dangerous' situations (e.g. in public, climbing stairs, walking down a street in Iraq etc).
She said I should be walking and driving in about 2 weeks - so I have a New Years resolution to take my first crutch free steps on January 1, and 12:01AM. And this year I think I'll be totally sobor!
In the meantime I'm heading to the gym evey 2nd day and using the exercise bike with the boot on - makes the foot feel great - and working out the thigh muscles as much as possible, to the extent that after a few weeks of this my upper thigh on my 'bad' leg has a bigger muscle than on my good leg. And using all the upper body machines too, gets the endorphins flowing and makes me feel good!
Anyone who has just done this, hang in there, things get better and if you make sure you stay busy and fit (with the help of friends and family)you will cruise over this small speedhump in lifes journey.
Cheers,
Paul T
Exciting news (for me) - I just walked without crutches or the boot, in shoes with a heel lift, for the first time in 7 1/2 weeks! It took me about 30 minutes this morning to get my balance and I haven't needed to use them since.
Also went for a short drive (my right foot is the damaged one. No problems but will take it slowly.
Cheers,
Paul T.
Hi
Am in Northern Ireland. My local clinic won't use surgery at all for any rupture, so have been in a cast since 6th Dec 08 and am due to go into the boot 7th Jan 09 - was banking on being able to drive 2 weeks after that so that my husband and son can get back to their routines, but have a manual car, bit concerned after reading this that I'm being overly optimistic.
FranD
Hello to all,
My name is David and I was refereeing basketball when I heard a loud pop and went down. It was my right achilles and I ruptured it about 1 1/2 inches above my heal. I had surgery December 24th and I would say Im doing great. Im now 5 weeks post op and can walk in my boot with a limp around the house. For longer walks I use crutches but can put weight on that foot. Saw my doctor at week 4 and he said my incision and tendon looked and felt"super". I still get swelling when the leg is down. I have my first P.T. next week at week 6. Doctor took half the wedge out of my boot and that was odd for a day, but tendon is stretching and feels good. I have found this to be a useful tool for what to expect throughout this process. I will continue with updates.
I am week 7, since my surgery. Full rupture of my left achilles. I guess I feel fortunate as I started driving once my hard cast was removed at 4 wks. That day I drove with my walking boot..of course having my leg down too long caused pain so I didn't drive too far the 1st week. It's weekn 7 and I'm in my shoe now and partially assisted with my crutch for part of the day, started physio which is great but I'm still pretty stiff in the morning, it's like starting over again but I guess that's normal.
Hello,
This is David again, just wanted to give an update. I had my first PT appt yesterday at 1 day shy of 6 weeks. The therapy included heat, electro stimulation, icing, massage and range of motion exercises. Therapist was very informative and I felt great after. I still get swelling when leg is down for any period of time over 3 hours. Im just starting to walk around the house (slowly) with no bootcast.I feel very good about where Im at on the timeline.
David, you're doing great! I'm at my 8th week now...I ditched my boot & Crutch at the end of my 7th week and I'm walking, at the gym, finished helping my husband take siding of a house today...it's still tight but certainly feels better when I move alot. I'm not half way standing on my toes on the injured achilles..bit of a way to go with building up the calf strength but really pleased so far. My brain is playing tricks on me and almost forgot I was injured...kind of ran to get the phone...bad idea yet! Everythings ok but whoah!
I had my achilles tendon severed on March 10. A sheet metal shed rolled over my ankle, slicing clean through the tendon. I had surgery on March 18 and its been 5 weeks since. I am still in a cast and plan to get a boot at week 7. Is the recovery much different if i severed my tendon instead of rupturing it?
Day 21 to 24 have been huge. I tested walking in the pool and felt good. Just for kicks, I tested it out of the water the following day and loved it so much that I am walking and doing stairs around the house. I have accelerated everything because it feels good. I am still careful on it just using it more which I hope will avoid massive atrophy. I am starting to slowly rebuild the leg. Mentally, much better since the blog. Stace
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