Pain and Swelling
Swelling is often worse at the end of the day. Elevating your foot will help. Take pain medication as prescribed. Pain and swelling may be ongoing for up to 12 months.
Using Your Ankle
You must use the boot and wedges and follow the program below. Keep the boot on at night and during the day. You can put weight through your foot, as pain allows.
Personal Hygiene
You may remove the boot carefully for washing and changing your sock once a day. Whilst doing this you must, at all costs, keep the toes pointed down, as demonstrated in the picture.
Avoid any temptation to stretch the calf as this could mean the tendon heals in an elongated position which will affect your overall rehabilitation.
Area of Injury / Surgical Area
What To Expect: Rehabilitation Plan
Remove 1 wedge from from bottom of the wedge stack every 2 weeks.
Week 1
- Must complete 2 weeks with wearing the boot with 4 wedges all the time, including at night.
- Use your crutches and put some weight through your foot when you walk.
- DON’T STRETCH YOUR CALF MUSCLE.
End of Week 2
- Remove one wedge from your boot – always remove from the bottom of the stack.
- Continue to wear the boot with 3 wedges all the time, including at night.
- DON’T STRETCH YOUR CALF MUSCLE.
Week 4
- Remove one wedge from your boot – always remove from the bottom of the stack.
- Continue to use the boot with 2 wedges all the time, including at night.
- DON’T STRETCH YOUR CALF MUSCLE.
Week 6
- Remove one wedge from your boot – always remove from the bottom of the stack. Continue to use the boot with 1 wedges all the time, including at night.
- DON’T STRETCH YOUR CALF MUSCLE.
Week 8
- Remove one wedge from your boot – always remove from the bottom of the stack.
- Continue to use the boot with 0 wedges all the time, including at night.
- You can now begin to wean out of your boot, this may take a week or two.
- Start by trying short distances around your own home wearing your own shoes.
- You do not need to wear the boot at night while sleeping.
- You will see a Foot and Ankle specialist about 8 weeks after your injury.
- Physical therapy will be ordered to start.
DON’T START EXERCISES UNTIL GUIDED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN.
If you are worried that you are unable to follow this plan, or have any questions, then please call our office for advice at (559) 436-4820.
If you are experiencing pain or symptoms, other than at the site of the original injury/ surgical or surrounding area, please get in touch with us at (559) 436-4820.
