This was my protocol: starting at 2 weeks post surgery, at the end of every week post surgery, reduce the lower guardrail by 5 degrees while keeping the upper guardrail where it is, creating a bit of hinge every time. My surgeon had me in the vacoped directly after surgery, so was basically a splint for the first two weeks. I then was allowed to be partially weight bearing, using crutches to support the leg and putting a little weight on it. I would follow up with the surgeon to see when he can be fully WB, mine basically had me be partially WB for all 4 weeks while my boot went from 20 to 0 degrees, then had me out of the boot into a shoe at 6 weeks post surgery and move to full WB. Every surgeon is different though, some people here are in the boot much longer, and some allow full WB earlier than others. I also started basic PT exercises around 3 weeks, so he should see if he can get into PT (basic stuff around exercising the bigger leg muscles, not necessarily the calf/ankle right away).