< last edited Nov 23rd – work in progress >
There are actually two variants of this boot: one with a pumpable air liner and, seemingly a newer one, a XELGO version with a padded liner containing plastic beads (which is the version I got).
The Oped site in English has some good video resources, so I’d go start there, to be honest, if you’re new to this boot. In fact, the main thing I wanted to do was make people aware of this fantastic ‘tool’ … and if you’ve gotten as far as this bit of text, I’ve already accomplished that – yippee ^^! This page I’m creating here will be more about my personal experiences with this amazing, brilliantly engineered product – I’m a bit of a nerd, an engineer ‘to boot’ (dad jokes coming thick and fast š ), so I make no apology for a bit of product developer to product developer appreciation ^^!
Anyway, where to start? Perhaps with the loss of fear: I no longer fear opening up the VACOped temporarily / if necessary – I was told (and I stuck to it initially, like it was the law) to wear the boot 24/7 and not take it off for a shower … my GP said to me around week 3, “Sure they say that … they have to take account of the ‘lowest common denominator’ of course!” (read: stupid idiots … who might otherwise think the boot is ‘optional’).
It isn’t optional (or just part-time necessary) of course … but, with the right precautions, taking it off for showering (be super careful!) or a little airing (general massage too as well as limited Range of Motion – ROM – exercises) whilst resting on the bed is not actually a problem (in fact quite to the contrary). Also, I know how important it is to re-tighten any loosened velcro straps properly, otherwise the ‘grip’ of the boot may be reduced to an unsafe level for ‘walking’. I was super paranoid at my first physio appointment … and I still have to be careful that my 15 yr old doesn’t forget and come bouncing in and dump stuff on my foot (or even worse jump on it). But so far so good.
Achilles Rupture Recovery 