Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
Sorry for the long post.
A few weeks ago I ruptured my Achillies tendon in my left leg. The damage was high up in the calf where the tendon fanned out into the muscle and, with hindsight, was probably a progressive tearing away over a week before the final snap.
It was decided that no surgery was required and that the tendon would be left to heal on its own due to the location of the damage and my leg was put in a cast. I then broke my big toe on the same leg when I fell over with the crutches when returning from the hospital. The cast was then removed and an inflatable 'Beckham boot' fitted.
That was six weeks ago now with my last hospital check up two weeks ago.
No advice was given regarding physio except the consultant asking why I hadn't already been putting weight on my foot and moving it. He had told me on my previous visit not to put weight on it at all and to keep it immobile.
I have also been told to gradually remove the heel wedges from the boot, each 10 days, to bring my foot back to a normal angle from the toe down position.
So apparently I now have to put weight on my foot, which I have been trying to do and can now bear maybe 1/3 of my weight on my foot with the boot on and maybe 1/10 without.
Though I was told I was not to remove the boot, I was also told I should remove it and move my foot.
I have had no guidance, other then some youtube and google findings as to what to do.
I have elected to remove the boot for an hour or so each evening to exercise before taking a shower.
So far I have been moving my foot up and down and have gained enough movement to be able to lift my foot, from its toe down position, enough to stand upright. I have about 3" of movement at the toe (down 3", up 0" from standing) compared to over 9" on my good leg (down 5", up 4" from standing).
I can tilt and rotate my foot left and right a little and so have been 'writing' the alphabet by pointing my foot, A-Z and A-Z in mirror writing, to catch all the movement and control.
For one week now I have been sitting with my feet flat on the ground and pushing down with the ball of my foot to raise my heel. I can only just get my heel to leave the floor. After 4-5 repeats I get a sharp and lingering pain in the calf muscle area.
Any suggestions as to what I should be doing, if different, and how I deal with the pain barrier?
I am uncertain as to whether I should ease back or work through the pain.
Some of the exercises I find online are beyond me due to the broken toe. My foot is also quite swollen, and tender under my heel.
Thank you.
A few weeks ago I ruptured my Achillies tendon in my left leg. The damage was high up in the calf where the tendon fanned out into the muscle and, with hindsight, was probably a progressive tearing away over a week before the final snap.
It was decided that no surgery was required and that the tendon would be left to heal on its own due to the location of the damage and my leg was put in a cast. I then broke my big toe on the same leg when I fell over with the crutches when returning from the hospital. The cast was then removed and an inflatable 'Beckham boot' fitted.
That was six weeks ago now with my last hospital check up two weeks ago.
No advice was given regarding physio except the consultant asking why I hadn't already been putting weight on my foot and moving it. He had told me on my previous visit not to put weight on it at all and to keep it immobile.
I have also been told to gradually remove the heel wedges from the boot, each 10 days, to bring my foot back to a normal angle from the toe down position.
So apparently I now have to put weight on my foot, which I have been trying to do and can now bear maybe 1/3 of my weight on my foot with the boot on and maybe 1/10 without.
Though I was told I was not to remove the boot, I was also told I should remove it and move my foot.
I have had no guidance, other then some youtube and google findings as to what to do.
I have elected to remove the boot for an hour or so each evening to exercise before taking a shower.
So far I have been moving my foot up and down and have gained enough movement to be able to lift my foot, from its toe down position, enough to stand upright. I have about 3" of movement at the toe (down 3", up 0" from standing) compared to over 9" on my good leg (down 5", up 4" from standing).
I can tilt and rotate my foot left and right a little and so have been 'writing' the alphabet by pointing my foot, A-Z and A-Z in mirror writing, to catch all the movement and control.
For one week now I have been sitting with my feet flat on the ground and pushing down with the ball of my foot to raise my heel. I can only just get my heel to leave the floor. After 4-5 repeats I get a sharp and lingering pain in the calf muscle area.
Any suggestions as to what I should be doing, if different, and how I deal with the pain barrier?
I am uncertain as to whether I should ease back or work through the pain.
Some of the exercises I find online are beyond me due to the broken toe. My foot is also quite swollen, and tender under my heel.
Thank you.