Shannon’s AchillesBlog

Hello folks ~

this week marks my 7th week past surgery and the end of my first week in the boot. My first few days in the Aircast were rough. After experimenting with a few different kinds of socks and playing around with the tightness if the straps and the air pockets it became much more comfortable. In fact, I was given the green light to sleep sans boot next week and I can imagine letting my leg out of it’s protective case is going to take some getting used to.

I went out for something other than a dr appointment on Saturday! I went to hear some music. The chairs at the venue were placed very close together and I could barely fit the boot under the seat in front of me. After a couple of hours I could feel my foot swelling so I braved crutching up the narrow and dark aisle with worries of going ass over teakettle in front of the entire music hall. I made it out just fine and the bartender actually set me up with a tall barstool away from the crowd for the second half of the show.

Another first this week was tackling the bus. I rode it to an acupuncture appointment. I was surprised and pleased that the stairs to get in turned out to be easy peasy (I am back to NWB). Also made a stop at the pharmacy. All in all it was productive and tiring and I am now certain that I am not ready to make the 35 mile (and 2 bus changes) that would get me back to work.

Also had my 1st pt appointment. They gave me an exercise and a stretch for my left leg because my Achilles on that side had become very painful. That ankle also got an iontophoresis treatment. The therapist was very helpful and she gave me more info about my injury than anyone else has. She showed me a litte scar massage and eased my mind (an left leg) by telling me that it was okay to use the boot occasionally for balance… On the same day I removed a wedge.

Yesterday I was still feeling strong so I worked on many chores around the house. The more I did the more ‘normal’ I felt so I kept on pushing. Today I am paying the price. Even my fingers hurt. It has been a good lesson about pacing myself.

So, in a nutshell, that has been my week. As always, I have a few questions for te group. Please chime in if you would like. The knowledge and experience of this group is what has gotten me through thus far. Thank you all

Scar sensitivity and healing. Any thoughts? I had been using vit E but stopped because it seemed to get super tender. Now it is getting dried out  and angry again.

Bathtime. Is hot water bad for my healing leg? The rest of my so badly wants to soak but it gets tingly and seems more swollen after being in the hot water. Is this common?

Swelling after removing wedge. Normal?

phew, sorry for going on and on.  :)

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No. I am not a Paula Abdul superfan, I just have heard that song in my head ever since my atr journey began. It has definitely  been on replay for the past couple of days.

on Tuesday I saw a new doctor and traded in my cast for an aircast boot. New doc gave me much more info than my ortho surgeon would give. I found out that I had actually experienced a full rupture. I was told pre surgery that it was a partial tear and I never had a reason to question it. This doc also listened to my concerns about the pain in my left achilles and is sending a note to PT provider to address proper stretching and exercise.

My foot had been swollen since falling on Saturday. The doc referred to it as sausage foot. Between that and my scaly , hairy, smelly  toothpick leg I felt quite glamorous. He thought things looked good but when he asked me to flip over so he could compare my legs he was not quite satisfied with how they lined up. He asked me to go back to NWB. He put 3 wedges in the boot. I will take one out each week.

The last week in the cast had been difficult and I was counting the hours until I would get the boot. The first few hours with it were great.  When I felt breeze from the fan on my bare leg I nearly cried with delight. Immersing my sad limb in water and giving it a good scrub was amazing! That night, all happy and scrubbed, I strapped myself into the boot and tried to sleep. I then had one of the most painful nights since surgery. The following night was less painful but equally uncomfortable. I do think it will get better as I get used to it and when this heat and humidity wave calms down a bit. Loosening the straps and deflating the air pockets at night seems to help.

if anyone wants to chime in about boot life I would appreciate it. In particular I wonder about socks- I have not been wearing any. Tried a soft and relatively loose ankle sock and it felt like barbed wire on my incision. I have also shied away from socks because it is already so hot. I also could use any pointers about sleeping in the boot. I am trying to be - I wear it anytime I move around but whenever I am reclining I need to let my foot out or at least open up the front of the boot.

Hope your healing journeys are all moving on quickly

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Tomorrow I should be getting my cast off for good. Of course I am pretty stoked by this notion. Remarkably, the cast has not been  itchy as I thought it would be. The past 3 or so nights have been annoying but nothing too awful. I hit a small puddle in the kitchen Saturday night with my crutch (dogs? Son? I am not sure and pointing fingers will not sooth he situation at all). I went down hard am d I hope with all hope that I was not reinjured. My toes are definitely more swollen than they were pre fall but they are not red or purple. I was pretty shook up yesterday so I went back to elevation and staying put. Today I have gained some confidence back but am still feeling skittish.

i have noticed that across the board it seems like stationary bike exercise is a big part of healing. I have been checking Craigslist and other online sites to purchase one as I there  is not  a feasible way for me to get to the gym. Anyone have suggestions on what I should look for? I would like something that doesn’t take up much space but also want something sturdy.

Hope you all had a nice Monday

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Today I got my last cast and was told to begin PWB. I should go into a boot next week and have a PT appt the following week. Milestones, right?  I should be happy and a movin and a groovin… But it has been a heavy day. The past week had felt like progress. Less swelling & need to have cast elevated constantly. I also had become much more comfortable on my crutches. Things finally had started to feel normal and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The nurses all remarked that I seemed so much better today at my appt. (This might have something to do with the fact that I was not crying, hissing or growling this time round). However, something changed when my foot was released from the cast and I was able to give it a good scrub and a rub. It felt so weird. So foreign. So….. Icky. I was scared.

now I am back at home. As I step gingerly on my tingly yet numb foot it feels so wrong. Not painful, just wrong. I am back in my weepy dark mindset and it is strong enough that I am going to let myself wallow in it tonight. Tomorrow I will take a deep sigh & will  hop back on the mean old  Achilles ‘horse’ and will keep moving forward but right now it just feel like this is never going to end….

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Located on tumblr blog.

http://shannianigans.tumblr.com/

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