Achilles Help

_{Disclaimer – I am not a medical expert and this is NOT medical advice. Always follow the instructions from your medical provider. When in doubt, ask your medical provider. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn commission from qualifying purchases.}

• Have a plan for getting into shower once non-weight bearing (NWB)
  • What worked for getting into the shower after rupturing my Achilles did not work the same way for after being placed in a non-weight bearing cast. After tearing my achilles but before surgery, I was able to hobble into my shower and sit on a shower seat. What I quickly realized after surgery in a hard cast is I had no way to get to that seat. So instead, I got this shower bench which is how I showered for months after surgery in both a hard cast and after I transitioned to a boot. I explain more about how I figured out how to make showering work for me in this post.
• Create a station next to your bedside or wherever you will be camping out for the first few days
  • Water bottle
  • A container for the meds your care team wants you to take – consider making a calendar to help you and any caretakers keep track
  • Easy snacks
  • Phone charger
  • A good book
• Drink a bit of prune juice each day
  • If you know, you know. Stay regular. I found the over-the-counter stool softener didn’t do the trick and wish I had had a little bit of prune juice each morning beginning a few days before surgery.
• Space out the timing from people who have nicely offered to bring a meal (don’t be afraid to ask people for this!).
  • It will be nearly impossible for you to prepare food for the first week or so. Stock up on easy essentials for each meal that are easy for you to open, prepare and dispose of.
  • Now is the time to use paper plates
  • Stock up your freezer with easy to heat in microwave meals
• Have a plan for how to make your morning coffee routine easier. I made some changes to how I make my morning coffee which made it faster and easier.