If you don't want to get hit, stay off the sidewalk!

Note: The past month has been fairly uneventful. I didn't want to bore you with how I'm taking a shower, caring for the stitches (now gone), etc. I guess if I was still using the regular crutches, I would have more to share (accidents, lounging around, getting served, etc.) but since I can contribute to my own care and feeding, there isn't much to say. And I'm happy with that.

I started a new job on Monday, and was concerned that I couldn't drive for a few more weeks. A cab ride is $80 each way (flat rate)! The company has been gracious enough to let me work from home the first week until I find out what the deal is with the injury.

I went to my 8-week update with the Orthopedic surgeon yesterday, and it's all good news! My surgery is healing perfectly. In fact, it's a little ahead of schedule (if there is actually a schedule to keep).

He mentioned that some surgeons allow their patients to walk after 4 weeks, but he's found that that the Achilles would stretch too much and therefore weaken the step later on. He knew that I'm not the sedentary type so he's kept me off it longer than most to keep the tendon a little tighter.

He's glad that I have kept off the foot as much as I can and now that my ankle can bend beyond 90 degrees, I will be able to officially walk on it. He also said I could drive (woot!) although I would have to wear a regular shoe since I really can't feel the gas pedal. No argument from me. Freedom!

But I won't be able to walk on it for two more weeks. Although I am grateful about the iWalkFree device, I think it's time to start walking on my own. It snowed a few days ago (in October!) and I had to take it off and hobble on the walking boot for a bit since I was afraid of slipping on it and tearing my groin muscle.

It's all uphill from here, and now that I can drive, I can do it faster!

Calf squish!

I can understand the medical reason for not putting weight on my foot (time to heal, don't want the calf working on the newly-stitched Achilles, etc.), but there is another reason not to put your foot down while wearing a cast; calf squish.

I had put my heel down on the floor by accident while reaching for my hands-free crutch and immediately felt my calf muscle trying to squeeze into the narrower space just above the ankle space in the cast.

That in turn put a little 'stretch' on my stitches (it felt like it did). I didn't like that feeling, so I will be more careful now.

Although I reserve the right as a man/husband/father to "put my foot down" from time to time, this would not be one of of those times.

iWALKFree? You bet your ankle!

Since I have never missed my kids first day of school, I wasn't going to start today. I was able to get out of the car with my wife and kids, walk to the back of the school where all the parents were waiting with their kids, and not feel crippled as I would with crutches.

I was able to get my own coffee, cook my own lunch and carry it all to the chair where I'm writing this blog. Thank you joely1957 for letting me try it out before I bought it.

Although I stayed inside most of today (it was almost 30C/86F), I took a little walk in the neighborhood after I dropped off the kids at school and then again to pick them up at the end of the day. Not very far mind you. I'm still getting used to walking with this wonderful device.

I got many interesting glances from passers-by and engaged in a few conversations about it, and my ruptured Achilles.

Later, I even made some meat sauce (see pic at left) and got water ready for tortellini when my love came home. I actually carried a large pot of hot water from the sink to the stove without spilling a drop! There was no way I could do that with crutches!

After dinner with the family, we did some groceries. I insisted that I walk behind a shopping cart instead of using their lovely motorized scooter thing. You know, the one with the little basket in the front. Although my kids and wife wanted me to use it, there was no way I was going to jam myself into that wide-load vinyl seat, grab those tiny handlebars and honk that anemic horn as I put-put through the isles. I'm sure the kids wanted me to use it so they could take a ride too.

Instead, I confidently WALKED through the isles and shopped like everyone else.

One funny side-effect of wearing it is that if I'm walking toward someone, it must seem to them that I don't have a leg below my knee and that I'm wearing some weird pirate leg!

Their facial expression and eye movement is very interesting; first they look at me, then they look at my 'missing' leg, their faces drop, then try to avoid me at all costs. I'm sure this is the sort of reaction that some of us have with real amputees.

Once they pass me and realize that my lower leg is still there, it's almost as if they breath a sigh of relief. Very strange.

Anyway, for those of you that are debating whether to get one vs. torture devices aka crutches, there are a few tips and testimonials from the iWALKFree website.

Note: I don't make any money from or have any affiliation with this company other than owning one of their great products.

Here is a sample of the instructions:
Wearing iWALKFree:
1. place knee of affected leg on tray; fasten tray strap to a snug, comfortable fit
2. fasten lower strap to a snug, comfortable fit around leg just above knee
3. fasten upper strap to a snug, comfortable fit around leg just below groin

Walking with iWALKFree:
1. use either a handrail or parallel bars while becoming accustomed to the device
2. maintain a wide stance with legs apart while walking
3. maintain an erect posture and watch where you are going

It's funny that they have to remind the wearer to "place knee of affected leg on tray". One wonders if users have called them and complained that the thing doesn't work, only to find out that they have the wrong leg strapped in!

Crutches are really from hell, you know

Can someone please tell me why, with so many advances in medical science, are crutches still designed as implements of torture? When did having a wrecked ankle mean that I would lose the ability to use my hands?!

The only changes to crutches that I have seen in my lifetime are the transition from wood to metal. That's it.

I went to Upper Canada Mall on Saturday and was glad that there was a wheelchair available for me to use. Now that may sound like fun but let me assure you that pushing yourself around in a fairly heavy, generic, vinyl, steel and plastic wheelchair is not that much fun. But at least I wouldn't have to hobble around on aluminum crutches.

When I was told by the doctor on Friday that I would have to be off the foot (non-load bearing) for at least two months until I got into the walking boot, I broke into a cold sweat. Not because of the length of time to recover, because I knew my injury would be getting better. I was more upset being crutch-bound for the entire time. The stress from the crutches on my body would NOT get better as the days clicked away.

I'm sure crutches are part of the arsenal of implements of torture in hell and Satan makes you use them to do things like go up and down stairs, carry hot cups of coffee, or even eat a banana without sitting down. Since I'm not going there, I figured I wouldn't want to experience hell for the months I would be off my foot.

There was no way I would be able to be out and about using crutches and/or a wheelchair.

While researching Achilles tendon injuries and treatments online, I came upon something called an iWalkFree Handsfree Crutch. Here is the story of why it was created. and here is a picture of it.



Interesting and made in Canada!

So I go hunting for a medical supply company that carries this amazing device but lo and behold, none carry it. Hm.

Although I knew that my insurance would cover it, I couldn't wait for it. I found a lightly used one on eBay for $175! I contacted the seller and asked if I could try it out. He was located 30 minutes from home, so on Monday afternoon, my family took a trip to check it out.

I tried it on, did a bit of wobbling and hobbling, then finally got the hang of putting it on and taking it off. That took me about 15 minutes. I was very impressed with the simplicity of the device.

Why in the world do hospitals and clinics not even mention that something like this exists? Maybe the company should boost their marketing and promotion of the product.

No matter. I have it and you can't take it away from me.