Out of the boot! Week 7

I saw my surgeon today for a follow up visit. He said my range of motion is excellent and I've regained some strength back in my lower leg and foot. Also...he told me to transition out of the boot over the next week. I told him I was already walking at home with a running shoe and only wear the boot to sleep or go out. He told me...than take the boot off! Yeah baby! No more boot! He did say that if I felt like I needed it for support, then by all means wear it. But...I'm stickin' with the running shoe.

We talked about the heel pain that I experience while full weight bearing; especially out of the boot. He said that's because the tough skin that protects the heel has weakened along with the foot muscles over the past 6-weeks. And, that it will take some time for that protection to build back up again. I do very well in the morning, but the heel pain creeps up in the afternoon. By the evening, I can't stand it, so I get off my feet and ice down the heel.

He said the Achilles has repaired itself by week 6. Now it's just mobility and strength that I need to regain in the ankle and lower leg. The chance of a re-rupture is there, so I have to take it easy. I cannot jump up, push off hard, or jump down from heights. He said the muscles of the leg are so week that it could put extra pressure on the repaired area and rupture it. I am restricted to carrying 20-pounds and I'm not supposed to walk for more than 4-hours at a time. So...I'm just walking slowly with a limp, riding the exercise bike and getting my physical therapy done. In 6-weeks, I head back in for a follow up. The doc said that the potential is there for me to return to full active duty as a fire fighter after that follow up.

Right now, it feels like my ankle is so weak that I could "roll" it at any time. It's going to be a mental challenge as I learn to walk again. I should be able to drive a car now, and will test that theory tomorrow when I go to PT. But for now...

Wow! No more boot! I'm walking!!

This is a long recovery process, and for those going through it, especially in the beginning phases.....hang in there! It does get better! People go through different treatments and rehab, I just found an aggressive doc that want me back to full speed.

Google: achilles tendon repair protocol. It will bring up a couple of .pdf files that show you what to expect over the next several weeks.

I'll check back in at Week 8 unless there's something new to report.

P.S. Here's a video of Misti Mae Treanor snapping her Achilles tendon on "Dancing with the Stars." Listen to the sound and then her description of the injury. For those reading the blog that have gone through this...or are going through this injury...the sound and her description are spot on!