Week 06: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 06 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 43 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 78 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 43: 1144am Stitches

Week 05: Physical Therapy Start

Week 05 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 42 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 77 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 42: 720am

12 Sessions of Physical Therapy

• 2 Hour Session
• TENS Machine
• First time to walk without crutches (held on guide rails for safety)
• Upright stationary bicycle for cardio

The first step

Purchase: Soft Rubber Crutch Hand Grip

Soft Rubber Crutch Hand Grip 

Replacement for hard plastic on forearm crutches. 

Shopee Online Store Price:

P140 ($3) / pair

Week 05: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 05 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 36 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 71 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 36: 449pm Stitches

Week 04: Sleeping WITHOUT a Boot

Week 04 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 31 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 66 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 31: Doctor allows removal of walker boot when sleeping. Ankle brace worn to immobilize foot during sleeptime.

Purchase: TENS Machine

TENS Machine 

For home use after hospital rehabilitation. 

Shopee Online Store Price:

P170 ($3)

Purchase: Ankle Protection Braces

Ankle Braces

To be worn when doctor approves sleeping without the walker boot. Ankle brace keeps foot at a generally fixed position.

Amazon Price:

Zamst A2-DX  P3,600 + Free (Shipping US to Manila) = P3,600 ($65)

Note: Maybe subject to tax.

Shopee Online Store Price:

Zamst A2-DX  P5,600 ($102)

No Brand Ankle Brace  P260 ($5)

Week 04: ON the Boot (FWB) with Foot in NEUTRAL Position and Return to Court

Week 04 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 29 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 64 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 29: Full-weight bearing (FWB) on walker boot. Foot has naturally returned to Neutral position after ten (10) days NWB on the boot and after three (3) days FWB on the boot.

Crutches are still essential.

Highlight: Stood at the half-court line and threw up a token shot attempt. Feet did not leave the ground. The ability to FWB and just stand on the half-court line felt good.

Week 04: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 04 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 29 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 64 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 29: 641am Stitches

Week 03: ON the Boot (FWB) and TENS Machine

Week 03 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 26 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 61 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 26: Full-weight bearing (FWB) allowed only when wearing walker boot. Without walker boot, non-weight bearing (NWB) is still enforced.

Crutches are essential.

Note: Doctor said that foot will naturally go to neutral position so boot wedges will not be needed. More so that weight will now be applied while in boot.

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) Machine used.

Link: TENS Machine Information

Week 03: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 03 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 25 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 60 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 25: 641pm Stitches

Purchase: Shoe Leveler

Procare ShoeLift

Shoe leveler to help offset the additional height from a walking boot and help reduce body strain.

To be worn when doctor approves full weight-bearing (FWB).

Amazon US Price:

Procare ShoeLift  $24.57 + $14.12 (Shipping US to Manila) = $38.57 (P2,300) 

EvenUp Original Shoe Balancer  $38.55 + $14.12 (Shipping US to Manila) = $52.67 (P2,900) 

Note: Maybe subject to tax.

Items not available in the Philippines so Amazon US purchase necessary. 

Benefits of a shoe leveler:

• Adds height to compensate for a shorter limb length when wearing a walking boot, cast or fracture boot.
• Improves uneven gait and balance.
• Eliminates low back pain and hip pain often associated with a walking cast.

Related Post: Shoe Leveler Ideas

Week 02: ON the Boot (NWB)

Week 02 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 19 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 54 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 19: Put on the Walker Boot with Non-Weight Bearing (NWB).

Boot can be rested on floor but no weight is put on foot when walking. 

Crutches are essential.

Note: Boot wedges not used as doctor said that the foot will naturally go to neutral position from the plantar flexion (-). 

Week 02: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 02 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 18 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 53 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 18: 634pm Stitches

Week 01: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 01 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 12 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 47 (Day of Injury day tracker)

Day 12: 941am Stitches

Information: What An Achilles Rupture Looks Like

Jaelan Phillips Achilles Injury

NFL linebacker Jaelan Phillips suffered a torn Achilles on his right leg with just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter in the Miami Dolphins Week:12 34-13 victory over the New York Jets.

The Kick and Other Symptoms

Although it's possible to have no signs or symptoms with an Achilles tendon rupture, most people have: The feeling of having been kicked in the calf. Pain, possibly severe, and swelling near the heel. An inability to bend the foot downward or "push off' the injured leg when walking. An inability to stand on the toes on the injured leg. A popping or snapping sound when the injury occurs.

The Flat Tire

Standing on the foot immediately after a rupture may cause a person to fall over as the foot has a sensation of having lost all air like a flat tire. 

Source: MAYO CLINIC: Achilles Tendon Rupture

Information: When Can I Drive Again?

When can I drive again following an Achilles rupture?

This depends on the type of car you drive, and which foot has been affected.

If your left foot has been injured, and you drive an automatic car, you are in a better position as your right foot will be doing most of the work. We recommend you wait until around 2-3 weeks post injury. If you have injured your right foot and you drive an automatic, you will need to wait around 8-10 weeks.

If your left foot has been injured and you drive a manual car, you need this to control the clutch and won’t be able to drive for around 8-10 weeks. Additionally, if your right side is injured, you need to be able to do an emergency stop, so it will likely be longer than ten weeks.

It is important to check with your consultant, physiotherapist and/or car insurance company.

Source: Complete Physio: Our Top 5 Tips

Week 00: Weight Bearing Grades (NWB, TDWB & FWB) and Develop a Hobby

Week 00 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 03 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 38 (Day of Injury day tracker) 

Day 03: No weight bearing but foot can rest on the floor. 

Information on Weight Bearing

Weight Bearing Grades:

• Non-weight bearing (NWB) means the leg should not touch the floor or support any of the body weight.
• The patient uses one leg, and crutches are essential.
• With touchdown weight-bearing (TDWB), the toes of the foot can touch the floor to maintain balance only. At no time should the individual place weight on the leg.
• Full-weight bearing (FWB) means no restriction to weight bearing.

Link: Weight Bearing Information

Tip: Develop a hobby to while away the time as it is safest to stay indoors to protect the injured leg for the next few weeks. Keep yourself busy as non-activity can make your mind wander.

Purchase: U Shape Sponge Leg Elevation Pillow

U Shape Sponge Leg Elevation Pillow

Provides substantial elevated leg support for injured leg.

Shopee Online Store Price:

P270 ($5)

Week 00: Leg & Foot Condition

Week 00 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 02 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 37 (Day of Injury day tracker) 

Day 02: 1154am Stitches

Week 00: Post-Surgery Toe Movement

Week 00 (Post-Surgery week tracker)

Day 02 (Post-Surgery tracker)

Day 37 (Day of Injury day tracker) 

Day 02: 851am Slight toe movement at approximately 23 hours after nerve block.

No feeling yet on leg. No pain.

Day 36: Surgery Day

Pre-Surgery Hand Preparation

Post-Surgery Images

Day 35: Burn / Skin Maceration Healed for Surgery

• Burn / Plastic Surgeon gives go-signal for surgery as foot has healed satisfactorily for Achilles tendon repair surgery.
• Nine (9) days healing from start of burn treatment
• Surgery scheduled for next day, November 18

Purchase: Thuasne XLR8 Walker Boot & Walker Boot Options

Thuasne XLR8 Walker Boot (2nd Hand)

Carousell Online Marketplace Price:

P2,300 (Used) ($42)

Shopee Online Store Philippine Price:

Thuasne XLR8 (Brand New) $143 + $3 (Local Shipping) = $146 (P8,000)

Walker Boot Options:

Thuasne XLR8 (France)

Aircast AirSelect Walker (USA)

Ossousi TRB-430 (China)

Amazon US Price:

Aircast (Standard) $83 + $32 (Shipping US to Manila) = $114 (P6,500) 

Note: Maybe subject to tax.

Shopee Online Store Philippine Price:

Thuasne XLR8 (Brand New) $143 + $3 (Local Shipping) = $146 (P8,000)

Ossousi TRB-430 (Brand New) = $40 (P2,200)

Information: Cast Alternative Method

Read More: Cast 21

Information: Boot (Functional Bracing) or Cast for Achilles Tendon Rupture

Report: Plaster Cast vs Functional Bracing for Achilles Tendon Rupture 

Day 31: Orthopedic Doctor Shift - Surgery Recommendation and Decision

• Consulted a different orthopedic surgeon / sports medicine doctor
• Ultrasound confirms 2.55cm gap after 31 days from injury
• Initial decision to go non-surgical is still an option but foot cast is needed to put foot in equinus position.
• Foot cast is no longer an option as macerated skin needs to heal
• Routine surgery option is good for 6 to 8 weeks from day of injury otherwise the surgery will now be reconstructive (good tendon harvested and scarring removed).
• Non-surgery at this point will still make tendon healing possible at 85-90%
• Surgery timeline recommended till the end of the month, November 30
• Patient decided for surgery as soon as possible dependent on healing of macerated skin in foot
• Go signal needed from burn / plastic surgeon before achilles repair will proceed.

Purchase: Shower Chair

Shower Chair

Shopee Online Store Price:

P1,500 ($27)

Day 28: Sleeping WITH a Boot

• To protect the injured leg
• Aircast boot lent by a friend

Purchase: Thuasne Wedge Kit / Walker Boots Options

Thuasne Wedge Kit

Shopee Online Store Price:

P2,100 ($38)

Description: 

• Helps maintain the foot in a comfortable plantar flexion when on a a walker boot.
• Offloads the Achilles tendon during rehabilitation along with the use of the Thuasne XLR8 Walker Boot.
• Has a 5-level height adjustment that can easily be adjusted anytime.
• Compatible with both the short and long versions of the Thuasne XLR8 Walker Boot and other walker boots.

Day 28: Burn / Skin Maceration Healing Progress

• Treatment working as blackened layer of skin is being removed
• Four (4) days since removal of cast

Day 25: Burn / Plastic Surgeon Vist

• Foot Status: 937am  (November 7, 2023)
• 24 hours after cast removal
• Burn / Plastic surgeon needed to assess damage to the skin. The black skin needs to be removed with treatment to determine extend of damage that may necessitate skin grafting. Timeline is two weeks.

Day 24: Burn / Skin Maceration

• Foot 'burn' confirmed
• After cast removal (10 days in a cast)
• Doctor theorized "excessive sweating" as cause of maceration*
• Doctor baffled why skin blackened. Normally, macerated skin will appear whiter than usual.
• Doctor recommended for patient to see a burn / plastic surgeon for diagnosis

*Maceration - is the process of skin softening and breaking down due to prolonged contact with moisture that is usually not present on the skin. Skin maceration can be caused by many types of moisture, such as water, sweat, urine, or the fluids escaping from an open wound.

Day 24: 3rd Visit to Orthopedic Surgeon: Removal of Cast

• Narrated pain and slight fever.
• Requested for re-casting.
• Doctor puzzled by occurrence of pain as extra padding was put.
• Doctor agreed to remove cast for replacement.

Purchase: Waterproof Protector for Shower

Waterproof Protector for Shower

Shopee Online Store Price:

P390 ($7)

Day 20: First Time to Go Out

Full weight-bearing on injured right leg (cast with heel) recommended by doctor.

Day 17: Pain

• Day 03 in a cast
• Round-the-clock pain killers for pain in the heel and right side of foot
• Rescue pain killer taken early morning
• No pain on injured calf or lower leg
• Sleep disruption
• Slight fever 37.4
• Requested early doctor visit to check. 
• Rescheduled for November 6 instead of November 10 (Could not go earlier due to long Halloween-All Saints Day break)

Purchase: Forearm Crutches (Regular)

Forearm Crutches (Regular)

Shopee Online Store Price:

P700 ($13) /pair

All You Want to Know About Crutches - Forearm and Underarm Crutches

https://www.friendsofpolarbear.com/post/all-you-want-to-know-about-crutches

Day 14: 2nd Visit to Orthopedic Surgeon: Decision

Decision: Conservative Treatment (Non-Surgical)

• Foot put in a fiberglass cast
• Doctor suggests weight-bear on the installed heel
• 3rd Visit set for Day 28 for followup checkup

Purchase: Forearm Crutches (Foldable)

Forearm Crutches (Foldable)

Shopee Online Store Price:

P1,200 ($22) /pair

All You Want to Know About Crutches - Forearm and Underarm Crutches

https://www.friendsofpolarbear.com/post/all-you-want-to-know-about-crutches

Day 10: MRI Results

"Complete tear of the plantaris tendon with evidence of tendon retraction."

Day 09: MRI

4:52am

Sunday Morning at Hospital

MRI Schedule (6 am)